UPDATE :( Odd tailgate difference between 2022-2023 model years

[Medical_Bartender]

Weird thing happened a week or two ago when my wife opened her tailgate on her gladiator. Her's is a 2023 model, and when she was closing the tailgate the right side nearly fell off of the truck. I looked and sure enough there is a little cutout where the tailgate pin slides in and out of the truck body. She must have put just enough upward force on the tailgate at just the right moment to slide it out. Thankfully the tailgates are lightweight and she was able to slide the pin back in the notch without any difficulty.

For the odd part, my 2022 also has the cutout for the pin but I have a plate/bracket bolted over it so the tailgate cannot inadvertently come out. I compared mine with hers and I see where the plate would go on hers. Any idea where I could get said plate? I'm assuming this is yet another cost cutting measure...but what say ye?

Photos for reference, (mine is a 2022 gobi, hers is a 2023 hydro blue):

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[LouisvEarlleJT]

Yes, they stopped putting those on sometime in late 22. My early 23 doesn’t have one. You can order one from moparparts though. The only way the tailgate comes out is if you pull on it at a very specific angle though so it may not be worth the effort

 

[BlueScapegoat]

Yeah pretty sure that plate was just a theft deterrent.

My '22 also has one.

They probably could have saved money by only installing them on Jeeps without locking tailgates. Otherwise I don't see the point. Although to be fair your wife almost dropped the tailgate for lack of one but I don't really know how she managed that

 

[Rockabillyroy]

Yeah pretty sure that plate was just a theft deterrent.

My '22 also has one.

They probably could have saved money by only installing them on Jeeps without locking tailgates. Otherwise I don't see the point. Although to be fair your wife almost dropped the tailgate for lack of one but I don't really know how she managed that

My old ford ranger was the same way. Sometimes you would pull upwards instead of swinging it and the tailgate would slide up and out.

 

[Gvsukids]

Any idea where I could get said plate? I'm assuming this is yet another cost cutting measure...but what say ye?

@AllMoparParts.com

 

[GeneralMaximus]

Yes, I also made a post and a poll about this after the same thing happened to me while opening my ‘23 JTM tailgate. I even went to the dealership to take a look at other Gladiators on the lot. Quick fix is, just put a zip tie or tighten a metal band around that hinge.

It appears that they stopped installing these towards the end of 2022

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/tailgate-hinge-lock-plate.76606/#post-1250681

 

[Minty JL]

My '23 JTM (build date, 10/22) does not have it.

 

[AllMoparParts.com]

Hi Guys,
If anyone wants to add this it can be ordered here
https://parts.allmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-tailgate-pivot-bracket-68369041ab
And youll need one bolt
https://parts.allmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-pan-head-torx-screw-6512906aa


Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,
- Benny

 

[Janster]

yea... that bracket would be theft deterrent. Although..... only 30 seconds more time (or less) .... they'd be able to steal it anyway.

I absolutely LOVE the locking tailgates!! You don't even have to think about it - locks with the doors. LOVE IT!!

 

[whiteglad]

Rams have had the removable tailgate feature for a long time. I installed a worm drive hose clamp around the notched pivot so the gate could not be stolen so easily.

 

[MrBones]

My '23 JTM (build date, 10/22) does not have it.

'23 JTM here same build date (10/22) has the plate.

 

[BlackRuby23]

My '23 does not have it.

 

[Medical_Bartender]

Thanks for the info y'all. Will go ahead and order the parts to install it thanks to @AllMoparParts.com and @Gvsukids . Glad my 2022 has it!!!

 

[Medical_Bartender]

FYI parts were delivered and I cannot install

Apparently I'm a doofus and didn't realize that there was no threaded insert for the bolt to screw into. My quick glance assumed the part would fit using the black bolt higher up, but nope. The plate fits in the area, but where the Torx bolt is on the tan jeep is just a solid plate on the blue jeep. I could drill it out, but I have a feeling that would just leave a hole with no threaded insert behind it. Will look into fabricating a plate extension to maybe use the black nut seen in the blue jeep photo...but that may interfere with tailgate closure.

Dead end for now.

 

[GeneralMaximus]

FYI parts were delivered and I cannot install

Apparently I'm a doofus and didn't realize that there was no threaded insert for the bolt to screw into. My quick glance assumed the part would fit using the black bolt higher up, but nope. The plate fits in the area, but where the Torx bolt is on the tan jeep is just a solid plate on the blue jeep. I could drill it out, but I have a feeling that would just leave a hole with no threaded insert behind it. Will look into fabricating a plate extension to maybe use the black nut seen in the blue jeep photo...but that may interfere with tailgate closure.

Dead end for now.

Thanks for the update. I guess I will just stick with the steel band I wrapped around the hinge last year. Cost me pennies and has been working fine.

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