Tailgate question - what is this?

[OmahaBravo]

Does anyone know what these three fingers do? Why is this on the tailgate? The black piece it aligns into is plastic.

TIA

 

[ccw]

Does anyone know what these three fingers do? Why is this on the tailgate? The black piece it aligns into is plastic.

TIA


View attachment 163709

Also curious to know definitively. My guess has always been alignment, to prevent the tailgate from shifting side-to-side. Potentially related to the torsion bar.

 

[OmahaBravo]

Some times this method works. This time it didnt yield anything helpful.

https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/tailgate-striker-plate-center-p-hc3z99404a42d?pdp=y#/sectionId:4419978

 

[OmahaBravo]

Also curious to know definitively. My guess has always been alignment, to prevent the tailgate from shifting side-to-side. Potentially related to the torsion bar.

it certainly looks like alignment but... why would you need that with the two end pieces that tailgates have ALWAYS had keeping them in place?

 

[ccw]

it certainly looks like alignment but... why would you need that with the two end pieces that tailgates have ALWAYS had keeping them in place?

No idea. Maybe there’s too much slop in that joint, particularly since the tailgate needs to be removable? Though I don’t know what problems that bit of slop could cause. Really am at a loss for the need.

 

[MrFancypants]

I think it’s so that when you remove the tailgate, which is pretty heavy, the fingers can rest on the metal bracket rather than the letting everything contact the bumper. There are slots in the bracket that prevent contact with the fingers until you slide the tailgate laterally.

 

[Vermonster]

I cut mine off to increase payload capabilities. No issues so far.

 

[HeavyAssault]

I had the same thoughts and conclusion as already discussed. They must had thought people needed to make sure the driver's side pivot point was far enough over to engage the torsion bar properly. Additionally to keep the gate from sliding to the passenger side causing the torsion bar to disengage.