Fleetside Tailgate Cables

[Palf70Step]

I have been wanting to get rid of the factory arms and go with a cable setup on my tailgate. I know some others have done it but wanted to find one that might be less work, especially since our tailgates done come off that quickly. I just wanted less racket from tghe arms.

Well I think I got something that works pretty good.

The cables that work are for a 2003 Dodge Dakota. I picked mine up at Advanced Auto Parts, Part number 38521 - Dorman made. About $11 each I believe is what the tab came too.

Next cut the rivets that hold on the factory arms. You will also have to trim your tailgate to clear the cable. I didn't take a before picture of the tailgate to show the cuts, but basically I trimmed the inside gate cover edge even to the frame layer it's welded too. Hopefully the picture makes sense more than my description.

Now to the cable hookups.

[Palf70Step]

It's a little different, but I am using the cables backwards as it came be done with less work, and like was mentioned earlier, it's not like the gate will come off that quick anyhow. If yo did remove the gate, it means the cable stays attached to the truck and not the gate. Again, I was doing it to get ride of the clatter.

To mount the cable to the tailgate bracket latch, I used a 3/8" x1 " carriage bolt. As you can see, the square neck of the bolt is just thick enough to not wedge the cable to the bracket and the cable rotates freely around the head. I experimented with one bolt where I filed the edges a hair so the cable did not rub against sharp edges. It did not make a difference in the end, so I would not worry about it. You can get by with a shorter bolt, but I had the 1" length ones on hand, and ground the edge down flush to the nut. You can't have much hanging out or the bracket will not bolt back onto the truck flush.

[class01]

looks great, is that an aftermarket tailgate? if so did they improve the quality

[Palf70Step]

Now here is the cool part. On the tailgate end, you do NOT have to do anything. The slip end of the cable goes around the stock squared end, and slides and stays in place without any issues.

I have a damaged end on my tailgate, so I did some modes to mine, but as you can see from another gate I had, it fits fine. I could not make it fall off either so it works out OK.

If you want to get crazy, or like me you had to repair an end, I took and ground down the squared end and welded on a washer to the end of the Stub.

You could also cut it all the way down and tap it for a 3/8" screw and use the screw to do the cable. I experimented with both and not sure what the final way will be on mine as they both do the job.

If you don't use the stock nubs, whatever you try the connector cannot stick out further that the factory nubs as it will hit the cable end on the bed side and not permit the tailgate to close right.

Anyways, the final product looks clean and should not have any of the rattles for the stock unit.

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by class01

looks great, is that an aftermarket tailgate? if so did they improve the quality

Yes it is an aftermarket gate.

Honestly the quality seems fine and the fit seems OK. My bed was so tweak to match a messed up original talgate, so I don't know if I would have done any better with an original.

As far as holding up, it seems to be just as heavy and as sturdy as my original.

[Indyuke]

How does the cable length work out? Does the gate come down and rest in the same position as before, or does it tip up or down slightly? In the last photo it seems to tip up slightly, but that could just be an illusion on my computer.

Very nice writeup. I can't stand the rattle on mine when, especially when I open the rear slider.

[Palf70Step]

To me it seems to be the same as with the old brackets. Some pictures seem level, some seem slightly up. I measured and tried a few different cables (mounted in different points) until I found the Dakota ones.

[c10crazy]

Now you need to design a mod for the trunions so the gate can be removed easier

[big_al_71]

That is awesome,,,,man I love it when people get creative...

[twouvakind]

Originally Posted by c10crazy

Now you need to design a mod for the trunions so the gate can be removed easier

Big no on this one....you don't want to come out of the store to find your tailgate missing. Many modern vehicles suffer from this theft due to e-z removal.