Bracket between tailgate and bed

[dwleib]

Hi, I’m new here, I guess mainly because I wasn’t aware there was a dedicated AT4 forum. But I’m glad to see there is.

I have a quick question. Does anybody know what this bracket is for? It’s between the tailgate and the bed. The teeth only appear to line up when the tailgate is closed. I thought maybe it was to ensure the tailgate didn’t have much play from side to side, but that seems unlikely to me. My next though was it was an anti theft thing, but I took the tailgate off and put it back in place with it installed. I’m at a loss. It’s in the way of a light bar I’d like to install, but I don’t want to remove this if it serves some purpose. Thanks for your help!

 

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[LamboTexas]

Does this help any?

Tailgate & Midgate for 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 HD | GM Parts Online

www.gmpartsonline.net

 

[dwleib]

Does this help any?

Tailgate & Midgate for 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 HD | GM Parts Online

www.gmpartsonline.net

I looked through these a few days ago too. The parts diagrams don’t even show the bracket on the bottom of the tailgate nor the one on the face of the bed.

If anyone gets a chance, can you verify if you have this on your truck? The one of the bottom of the tailgate is painted, so I assume everyone has that. The black one on the face of the bed doesn’t seem like it belongs. Like maybe it’s to assist during installation and line up at the factory but then gets removed.

Kind of grasping at straws at this point…

 

[Regular Cab Duallies]

Welcome! Post some pictures of your rig if you can. As for that piece, can you post a picture from further back?

 

[dwleib]

Here’s ol’ blue, with a bunch of white on her. I can’t really get a zoomed out photo of that bracket. It’s too tight of a spot that doesn’t show on my phone. Basically, with the tailgate down, it’s about 12” from the left taillight looking down into the gap.

 

[LamboTexas]

You ever figure out what the bracket is?

 

[dwleib]

You ever figure out what the bracket is?

Not definitively. I believe it’s simply for alignment with a slim chance it could help with anti-theft if aligned properly. It does absolutely nothing when the tailgate is down as the teeth aren’t interlocked at that point. I tried to push the tailgate side to side to evaluate the play and there is none, whether the tailgate is up or down. I removed it for my Putco blade install. I see no adverse effects from doing so.

 

[Regular Cab Duallies]

Not definitively. I believe it’s simply for alignment with a slim chance it could help with anti-theft if aligned properly. It does absolutely nothing when the tailgate is down as the teeth aren’t interlocked at that point. I tried to push the tailgate side to side to evaluate the play and there is none, whether the tailgate is up or down. I removed it for my Putco blade install. I see no adverse effects from doing so.

Yeah, probably an anti-theft feature. Tailgate theft is common and tailgates aren't cheap.

 

[Ohiost90]

I was looking at mine and can't see any rhyme or reason for it either. What I did notice is that to take the tail gate off isn’t going to be easy. My old truck had simple release cable to get the gate off that I would use when shoving out mulch or topsoil. I suppose with al the electronics in the gate, this isn’t possible and or recommended any more.

 

[phobby]

Hi, I’m new here, I guess mainly because I wasn’t aware there was a dedicated AT4 forum. But I’m glad to see there is.

I have a quick question. Does anybody know what this bracket is for? It’s between the tailgate and the bed. The teeth only appear to line up when the tailgate is closed. I thought maybe it was to ensure the tailgate didn’t have much play from side to side, but that seems unlikely to me. My next though was it was an anti theft thing, but I took the tailgate off and put it back in place with it installed. I’m at a loss. It’s in the way of a light bar I’d like to install, but I don’t want to remove this if it serves some purpose. Thanks for your help!

View attachment 1065

View attachment 1066

I’m pretty sure they are used to stabilize and align the aluminum tailgate with all of irs different function.
The 2011-2019 GM trucks also had issues with the soft open system. The tailgate would shift inside the hinge, brake the bushings, and easily fall off during open/close. It was an expensive “known” warranty fix bc they replaced the entire soft open system on the passenger side of the tailgate.

 

[gemarsh]

I’m pretty sure they are used to stabilize and align the aluminum tailgate with all of irs different function.

The 2011-2019 GM trucks also had issues with the soft open system. The tailgate would shift inside the hinge, brake the bushings, and easily fall off during open/close. It was an expensive “known” warranty fix bc they replaced the entire soft open system on the passenger side of the tailgate.

There is not much difference between the 1500 and the HD's. The 1500's don't have that contraption. I will be removing mine on the AT4HD, come spring, when it warms up to install the putco bar.

 

[phobby]

There is not much difference between the 1500 and the HD's. The 1500's don't have that contraption. I will be removing mine on the AT4HD, come spring, when it warms up to install the putco bar.

View attachment 2548

The 1500s do not have a factory fifth wheel/gooseneck package or rates even close for towing. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s there to keep the tailgate in the same orientation to the bed under load. A frame rated for 22k towing on gooseneck is going to flex.
The new 300ton crane I was operating recently had a lot of bend in the boom and outriggers. The outriggers flexed and popped on the pads all day with 200k lbs of counterweight. The new metal compositions are made lighter and stronger but deflect more than before.