- OP 🔹
- #21
Thanks for the update! Considering there a number of affected trucks I’m hopeful this will be addressed by Ford in relatively short order.
‘24 Owners Who Removed Tailgate
- OP 🔹 cs0430
- Start date
New to the forum and following this. I have a 2024 F-350 Lariat Tremor that was built in January, 2024, and am having the exact same issues with the tailgate delete (IE: auto-folding mirrors don't work, tailgate open warnings, backup assist doesn't work, etc). I'm not sure what the bypass harness does other than protect the frame mounted connectors.
On mine, three of the items included in the tailgate removal kit are blank plugs (for camera connector and two others) simply to protect the connectors while the tailgate harness connectors are removed. I think one of these connectors might be what triggers the tailgate to drop down. The other might be for the light in the tailgate. There is an additional connector down there that is already capped with a blank plug so some feature my Lariat tailgate doesn't have (perhaps to trigger the tailgates with auto lift).
The main part of the "tailgate removal kit" that seems to be the issue is the harness with two big plugs and associated wires that connect the large gray connector with the large black one. That is supposed to tell the pickup electronics that all is good and to ignore any sensors that indicate the tailgate is ajar (among other things I assume). But it is not.
Correct.
Dealership just called and they are requiring I drop off the truck for an entire day to "diagnose". I explained it's checking a plug. I asked if I can swing by and we can plug in a different one in about 60 seconds. Nope. I have to drop it off all day. Blah. At least they are taking a look on the first date I can swing it by which is next Tuesday (they are currently backed up until August for appointments, so glad they aren't making we wait until then). I asked what they did for the other customer that had the same issue and scheduling department didn't know. Hopefully they have another plug in stock, or from a new arrival, they can try and if it works, I can have that good plug the same day rather than waiting for them to "order one in". Unless all of them are bad and there is not yet a known solution/replacement.
There is a small chance it's more than the plug so guess it's fine to drop it off all day. That just means two trips rather than one. Hopefully they get to the bottom of it in one day and then I can post the outcome here.
And while it's in there, guess I'll have them correct some of the screw ups from the winch install (one of the huge main bolts is cross-threaded and not even close to being threaded into it's hole, plus two of the large nuts in a different location on the winch bracket were installed with no washers and the nuts are tightened and dug into the steel. I already rerouted all the winch wiring a few weeks ago as they had routed it poorly and zip tied the pos/neg wires to the A/C hoses. Blah. I'm reluctant to have them touch anything so was going to do the bolts and the washers myself, but since it will be in there anyway, I'll at least provide them the feedback and have service manager look at, and acknowledge, the deficiencies.
There is a small chance it's more than the plug so guess it's fine to drop it off all day. That just means two trips rather than one. Hopefully they get to the bottom of it in one day and then I can post the outcome here.
And while it's in there, guess I'll have them correct some of the screw ups from the winch install (one of the huge main bolts is cross-threaded and not even close to being threaded into it's hole, plus two of the large nuts in a different location on the winch bracket were installed with no washers and the nuts are tightened and dug into the steel. I already rerouted all the winch wiring a few weeks ago as they had routed it poorly and zip tied the pos/neg wires to the A/C hoses. Blah. I'm reluctant to have them touch anything so was going to do the bolts and the washers myself, but since it will be in there anyway, I'll at least provide them the feedback and have service manager look at, and acknowledge, the deficiencies.
Good luck, and looking forward to hear how they diagnose this. I also have the factory dealer installed winch. Sounds like I better take a look and make sure they performed the install correctly as well.
BTW - I'm a fellow "Tramper". Took delivery of #94 last month.
BTW - I'm a fellow "Tramper". Took delivery of #94 last month.
No sir, that's not me. I took delivery on Good Friday so I may have my number wrong. I do know that I'm not #100! Oldsheimer's...
- Jul 29, 2023
- 3,465
- 9,530
- 2023 F350 XLT Premium Tremor, SAP, 7.3L
- 2023 F150 XLT Lightning, Extended range, 312A, Tow Tech/ Max Tow
Truck Campers Only, w/ an Overland & Off-roading theme
Trucks and Campers, they go together like PB&J, like Big Blocks and gas stations, like bacon and…. Well everything. But more specifically Truck Campers. My wife and I have ten’s of thousands of miles traveling the country and have seen and camped at some of the most amazing places. The common...
www.fordtremor.com
Come on over to the home of Truck Campers and Off-roading!!!!!! Post up a pic of your ST!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s mine… number 73, the REAL TRAMPER
Or they issued two #94. Ha.
So you were March 29th. He took delivery of #94 on 3/20 and I took #95 on 3/22. Jared (an employee there) is getting #100, but they delivered more than 5 since we picked up ours and they didn't announce #100 so they are likely holding that VIN for him and have already started delivery of triple digits to others.
But, I commit thread drift. So, like @TRAMPER said, jump over to the camper thread in this forum.
And/or join us in the Expedition Portal Supertramp thread at:
Supertramp Flagship LT pop-up slide-in pickup camper
Thought I'd start a new Supertramp Flagship LT Camper thread thread since the other threads were started when there was a fair bit of speculation and/or the specs were evolving where as now there are quite a few examples delivered and in the wild (50+ campers) . The Flagship LT model will...
forum.expeditionportal.com
Last edited:
I'll be rolling without a tailgate here in a few weeks so I'll report back on how my '23 responds.
Sounds good. Thanks. But I've not heard of anyone having issue with the '23 tailgate removal kit in regards to the "tailgate ajar" message. The '23s were the ones with issues with all cameras going dead (blue) when the tailgate camera was unhooked. But I think that was resolved with a pickup update as it was software related rather than plug related. Guess you'll give us another datapoint in a few weeks! Ha. You could give yourself a headstart by unplugging all the connectors and plugging in your "tailgate kit" (but leaving the tailgate installed), just to see how it reacts. At least then you'll know and if you need to reach out a dealership, it will give you a few week head start vs waiting until you actually remove the tailgate.
Good idea. Now I just need to find where I holed that stuff away to 10 months ago lol 
.
.
- Jul 29, 2023
- 3,465
- 9,530
- 2023 F350 XLT Premium Tremor, SAP, 7.3L
- 2023 F150 XLT Lightning, Extended range, 312A, Tow Tech/ Max Tow
Check your glove boxGood idea. Now I just need to find where I holed that stuff away to 10 months ago lol
Good idea. Now I just need to find where I holed that stuff away to 10 months ago lol
Hopefully the packet of plugs (maybe 5" x 10") is still in your glovebox or console.
When you do to experiment, perhaps do it one plug at a time. And, do all this with your tailgate lowered which would simulate it being removed compared to being secured up in place.
Since yours is a '23, start with unplugging the small tailgate backup camera connector (light blue) and adding the blank plug there (which I think is brown), then starting and seeing how your cameras are effected. One would expect only the backup camera area to go blue and all your other cameras still work. If not, then you have the '23 camera issue. Informationally, plugging in a replacement backup camera will resolve the issue with the other cameras not working when the backup camera is unplugged, but like I mentioned, I think an update corrected this, so hopefully all your other cameras continue to work even with the tailgate backup camera unplugged and blank in place.
Then there are the two large, 2.5" wide plugs (one gray and one black). See picture in this post: https://www.fordtremor.com/threads/24-owners-who-removed-tailgate.18096/#post-377326
Those are the two connectors where the short tailgate kit harness goes between and seems to be the one that is not working to tell the computer the tailgate position can be ignored and allows the "tailgate ajar" message. This harness was working fine for all '23 owners as far as I know.
To test, first unplug those connecters without adding the harness and start pickup. You should get the tailgate ajar message as well as little red ajar light in the lower right of your gauge display. Shut off truck, add in the "tailgate removed" harness between those two plugs, start truck again. Hopefully you will NOT receive the Tailgate Ajar message.
There are two or three other medium sized connectors (depending on your options). None of those have seems to give trouble, but they must be unplugged when you remove tailgate and the "tailgate kit" has blank connectors for those as well. If all your above tests work, might as well disconnect those plugs and start truck to see if anything else weird happens, but no need to put the blanks in those during this short test as the blank is just to protect the end of the connector long term while driving. Like the blank plug for the backup camera, for these three connectors, the plugs don't "jump" anything; just cover the open connector.
Check your glove box
Nah, I pulled all of that stuff out of the truck week one and put it in one of a number of bins. I just have to figure out which one that is.
So, I had my '24 Superduty into Ford dealership for the Tailgate Removal Kit not working. As noted above, Tailgate Ajar message always pops up and I have to OK it away constantly, plus the small red tailgate ajar light is always on. There are other side effects like "auto-folding side mirrors upon door lock" doesn't work and backup emergency braking is disabled. Yesterday was my appointment. They confirmed it's not the plug/harness itself as they tried the ones off another truck. They first said it was normal for the tailgate ajar message to come up even with the tailgate removal kit installed, so I had to explain that the '23 trucks don't have the issue nor do the previous generation superduty. The light will come on if the tailgate is down or if the tailgate is unplugged, but the '23 tailgate removal kit makes the tailgate ajar message not happen and that is the point of the kit. Why does this not work with the '24? If the tailgate ajar message was normal, why would a tailgate removal kit be included? They conceded and opened a ticket with Ford.
Meanwhile, they offered to use their software to make the truck think there was no tailgate. Even though that would mean the tailgate ajar wouldn't work when I put the tailgate back on every winter and if I wanted it to, they would have to program it again (likely at a cost to me), I said to go ahead and do it for now until Ford finds the issue and has a fix. They went to reprogram it and the software said it won't allow the truck to be reprogrammed to not have a tailgate on Lariat trims and higher. So, a day spent with no resolution except the ticket open with Ford, but at least that is progress. The mother ship is aware and I have a ticket number to prove it (and follow up on every few weeks).
If you are having this issue, please bring your truck to a dealership and make them open a ticket. Don't let them tell you it's normal. And, if you have a trim where they turned off the message (sounds like this may be possible for XL and XLT trim levels), understand that is a workaround and not a fix, so please insist they open a ticket with Ford for a permanent fix where the tailgate removal kit functions correctly like it does on '23 and older pickups (and correctly eliminates the tailgate ajar message).
For those that have not yet removed their tailgates, but want to know if their truck has the issue, you can easily test it. If you do test this, please report back, in this thread, the year of your truck and if you do or do not have the issue. I've not heard of a '24 yet that does not have the issue, so would be great data if someone's '24 works (meaning, with tailgate removal harness installed and tailgate removed (or lowered), you do not get the tailgate ajar message). Note that there is no need to remove the entire tailgate to test this; just lower it and install the harness/plugs.
To test, do the following:
1. Lower your tailgate and start the truck. Tailgate ajar message should pop up as well as the little red tailgate ajar light in the lower right of your gauge cluster. That is normal. Shut off truck.
2. Find your tailgate removal kit in your glovebox or console so you have it in hand. There a several blanks in there for camera plug and other plugs for when the tailgate is removed, but the one in questions seems to be the one with large gray plug, a short section of harness, and large black plug.
3. Tailgate doesn't not have to be removed; just keep it lowered for the test. Under the drivers side rear of your pickup bed, locate the plugs on the frame. Unplug both the large gray and large black plugs. Just to confirm, start the truck and you should still get the tailgate ajar messages. Shut off truck.
4. Plug the short 'tailgate removal kit' harness between the large gray plug and large black plugs. Ensure they seat fully. Start truck. You should no longer receive the Tailgate Ajar message. If you do, your truck has the issue so you should take it to your dealership and have them confirm and open a ticket with Ford so they receive data regarding the affected VINs/software/hardware having the issue. Thank you!
Meanwhile, they offered to use their software to make the truck think there was no tailgate. Even though that would mean the tailgate ajar wouldn't work when I put the tailgate back on every winter and if I wanted it to, they would have to program it again (likely at a cost to me), I said to go ahead and do it for now until Ford finds the issue and has a fix. They went to reprogram it and the software said it won't allow the truck to be reprogrammed to not have a tailgate on Lariat trims and higher. So, a day spent with no resolution except the ticket open with Ford, but at least that is progress. The mother ship is aware and I have a ticket number to prove it (and follow up on every few weeks).
If you are having this issue, please bring your truck to a dealership and make them open a ticket. Don't let them tell you it's normal. And, if you have a trim where they turned off the message (sounds like this may be possible for XL and XLT trim levels), understand that is a workaround and not a fix, so please insist they open a ticket with Ford for a permanent fix where the tailgate removal kit functions correctly like it does on '23 and older pickups (and correctly eliminates the tailgate ajar message).
For those that have not yet removed their tailgates, but want to know if their truck has the issue, you can easily test it. If you do test this, please report back, in this thread, the year of your truck and if you do or do not have the issue. I've not heard of a '24 yet that does not have the issue, so would be great data if someone's '24 works (meaning, with tailgate removal harness installed and tailgate removed (or lowered), you do not get the tailgate ajar message). Note that there is no need to remove the entire tailgate to test this; just lower it and install the harness/plugs.
To test, do the following:
1. Lower your tailgate and start the truck. Tailgate ajar message should pop up as well as the little red tailgate ajar light in the lower right of your gauge cluster. That is normal. Shut off truck.
2. Find your tailgate removal kit in your glovebox or console so you have it in hand. There a several blanks in there for camera plug and other plugs for when the tailgate is removed, but the one in questions seems to be the one with large gray plug, a short section of harness, and large black plug.
3. Tailgate doesn't not have to be removed; just keep it lowered for the test. Under the drivers side rear of your pickup bed, locate the plugs on the frame. Unplug both the large gray and large black plugs. Just to confirm, start the truck and you should still get the tailgate ajar messages. Shut off truck.
4. Plug the short 'tailgate removal kit' harness between the large gray plug and large black plugs. Ensure they seat fully. Start truck. You should no longer receive the Tailgate Ajar message. If you do, your truck has the issue so you should take it to your dealership and have them confirm and open a ticket with Ford so they receive data regarding the affected VINs/software/hardware having the issue. Thank you!
Last edited:
- OP 🔹
- #38
Great follow-up here. I reached out to Ford chat, who had a "Subject Matter Expert" tell me it was normal behavior. Again, I would love for them to explain to me what the point of the harness is if not to convince the truck the tailgate is off and is acceptable and to tell me in writing that they changed this behavior from 23 and prior to 24. I will be heading to my local dealership to also have them open a ticket.
As far as working '24's, I did have Four Wheel Camper tell me both of their '24's didn't have this issue when removing tailgates. I took a look under their '24 flatbed when I was there and it looks like they used some custom harness or deleted the wiring altogether, so I don't know if we're really comparing apples to apples.
As far as working '24's, I did have Four Wheel Camper tell me both of their '24's didn't have this issue when removing tailgates. I took a look under their '24 flatbed when I was there and it looks like they used some custom harness or deleted the wiring altogether, so I don't know if we're really comparing apples to apples.
This will be an uphill battle until enough tickets are opened. Interesting chat with the "SME" that said it was normal. Same conversation I had with dealership but with logical analysis, they conceded. It may be how all '24 work, but that doesn't mean it's right, so when working with the dealership, it's is likely that you'll have to be nice but firm about it not being "normal" based on the '23s not working that way and that being the entire point of the tailgate removal kit. Would love to hear the online SME explain why Ford includes a tailgate removal harness and it's intended function if it's not eliminating the tailgate ajar message/light, making the backup emergency braking function and allowing other options, like the "autofold sideview mirrors upon lock" to continue to function. If the functionality is no difference between leaving everything unplugged and having the harness in place, wouldn't that harness simply be two plugs to keep dirt our of the connectors rather than a wired harness? I might ping the online SME just to mess with them. Ha.
You mentioned earlier that you manually fold the mirror via remote. How do you do that? I still have my tailgate, but as you know come late September ...
Featured Tremor Photos
Featured Tremor Photos
