Tailgate Hinge options

[Thol]

Looking at a heavy duty tailgate hinge replacement option.
Don't really want to install a tailgate bracket. Have seen pictures of the Dakron Performance ones but can't find where to buy except Amazon which don't deliver here.
What are some other good options?

[Blugeepunlimited]

I fitted MORryde hinges to my 2010 JKU. Very happy with quality and pleasantly surprised at how much quieter the ride was. Didn't realise how much rattle came from the OEM hinge pins until I replaced the hinges.

[John Bernard]

Running a 08 JKU CRD..and finally realised the '12 piece drum band' in the back
was actually the tailgate bouncing about under the weight of the stock wheel
( 255/75 R17) and carrier. I'm not looking at a bar and swing away but rather the reinforced hinge bracket & carrier as per Teraflex or Smittybilt. The overseas reviews are patchy at best. The Smittybilt being a little less expensive but the
Teraflex getting the better reviews ..both as to fitting and performance.
Either is an order in item but I'd appreciate some feed back from those that have gone this route. Happy with Smittybilt...did it solve the problem. Is the
Teraflex a better proposition etc. Running 285/70R17's currently and may step up to 285/75R17's next time round on steel rims. Thats as heavy as its going to
get for this truck. Nursing her past the 210k mark now.

JB.

[RLT]

Originally Posted by John Bernard

Running a 08 JKU CRD..and finally realised the '12 piece drum band' in the back
was actually the tailgate bouncing about under the weight of the stock wheel
( 255/75 R17) and carrier. I'm not looking at a bar and swing away but rather the reinforced hinge bracket & carrier as per Teraflex or Smittybilt. The overseas reviews are patchy at best. The Smittybilt being a little less expensive but the
Teraflex getting the better reviews ..both as to fitting and performance.
Either is an order in item but I'd appreciate some feed back from those that have gone this route. Happy with Smittybilt...did it solve the problem. Is the
Teraflex a better proposition etc. Running 285/70R17's currently and may step up to 285/75R17's next time round on steel rims. Thats as heavy as its going to
get for this truck. Nursing her past the 210k mark now.

JB.

I've got 170,000 KM on my 2007 built 2.8CRD JKU and keeping it as long as possible.
Fitted the MK 1 version of the Teraflex in 2013 think it was and been fine.
Coating now peeling off steal hinges and a little off aluminium bracket, but still solid, supporting 315/70/17 Duratrac.
May have stopped some rattle, but I found most of the noise surprisingly coming from the rear seat latches. When I folded them down it went quiet.

[Fishframe]

More expensive, but I would just invest in a rugged ridge Spartacus set up.

[st_za]

I use a simple Rampage spare mount with a Daystar polyurethane spare wheel stop and a Teraflex hinge. My setup is still solid as a rock with no rattles and my tailgate has needed no adjustment over 5 years but I do only run a 285/70/r17 on an alloy wheel and very light accessories.

I have the high-lift jack mount attachment too but never used it for a high-lift jack. Since I run a soft-top all year round with very little in the way to block reception, I use its UHF antenna mount and for beach trips, I bungee-cord my recovery boards to it and a long handle shovel using two Quick Fist rubber clamps.

The only faults that I have is the paint faded to pale grey on the Teraflex hinge pretty quickly, the paint is worn through around the hinge pin, which is allowing corrosion to start forming (sounds the same as what RLT mentioned in his post), and I am on my 3rd Daystar wheel stop because they keep hardening and perishing but they last around 2-3 years and they're cheap. Then again, that's to be expected because my JKU has lived outside in the SE QLD sun for all of the past 5 years and I do regular beach trips.

I am in two minds about replacing my hinge - I like the way that the spare mounts to the Teraflex and Smittybilt hinges instead of the tailgate whereas the simpler but still very strong MORyde hinges are much cheaper and they fit in with the look I am going for my Jeep.

BTW don't throw your old hinges away once you replace them because strong hinges like those aren't cheap. I recycled mine into the hinge mount for a swing-out fridge tray in my camper trailer.

[John Bernard]

Thanks for the feedback. Interesting about the seats but no...its definitely the
tail gate. It must have over 5 -10 mm of movement at the latch end courtesy of the few mm of play at the hinge side. Put a spare tire on it and it just bangs away the whole time. No tire... no noise. I've removed the rear seats and installed a frame and flat floor to which DRIFTA fit a full length draw system for me. Very nice unit too. I dont want the tire up any higher than it sits now and preferably lower..so some adjustment in the mount itself would be nice. I believe Teraflex and Smittybilt do this..but not the Rugged Ridge ? None of them are cheap but clearly the Teraflex comes in as the most expensive. I've tentatively placed an order but delivery time currently is anyones guess. As is often the case here its 'take whats available'. The Smittybilt should be about $250 plus cheaper but it also looks a lot heavier overall and I dont want more weight than I need. What the actual difference is in kg I dont know. Thanks again.
J.B.