So, I had my tail gate stolen a few months ago.
Finally got my new one today and after I get home, the wife says "I don't remember this line".
After looking at old pix, it looks like they ordered a tail gate for a 2013.
Anyway, I like how the lines look, but my back up camera doesn't line up with the ball on my hitch.
Could the 2013 tail gate be that much different in how the handle mounts that it is throwing off the camera?
I am going to call the shop tomorrow, but I'm sure they are going to say it doesn't matter, so I figured I would ask the experts.
They mentioned today that I may need to do a calibration on the camera?
Sounds like a load but I thought I would throw that one out there also.
They said they contacted Ford, I'm sure that means a local dealer, and was told that Ford did a PN revision and the 2013 tailgate is the only one you can get now. So 2011 and 2012 guys will get the 2013 tailgate in the future. If this is true, I'm skeptical.
He also said that "Ford" said they made the gate wider for better "fit".
I'm not buying this one.
My buddy has a 2012, same truck as me, I'm going to put them side by side this week and take some measurements.
... Ford did a PN revision and the 2013 tailgate is the only one you can get now. So 2011 and 2012 guys will get the 2013 tailgate in the future. If this is true, I'm skeptical.
Is it not lining up left to right or front to back? If it is not lined up front to back I could easily see the tailgate being a little "thicker" and throwing of the angle just enough. The 2013 tailgate was designed to have the camera in the logo and it would take much of an angle change to the handle to throw of the alignment. With that said I would think the body shop would be able to adjust the angle enough for it to line up.
Update:
Shop said they talked to a Ford Dealer and dealer says the new camera needs to be calibrated.
So I will take my truck in Saturday morning to have that done.
I will report back after that is complete.
I will report back after I go to the dealer.
If the camera lines up with the hitch, then I'm happy.
FYI, camera's need calibrated all the time.
I use camera's, laser's, sensor's etc in my line of work. They all come with calibration standards and have to be verified/recalibrated on a regular basis.
There are no procedures in the Ford Workshop DVD for camera calibration nor a procedure if the guidelines are not centered. These cameras are not high tech units even though you might think so with the current pricing on them.
They are going to say, yup, there are guidelines, nope they do not line up. We can re-install the camera and see if there is a misalignment from your install. Maybe not charge you or maybe only charge you an hour labor.
Took truck to dealer yesterday.
They verified that the camera can't be "calibrated" for alignment.
They recommend getting the correct handle and Ford oval to fit the 2013+ tailgate that I got.
I will be contacting the body shop tomorrow to see what they want to do.
This happened to us back in April 2014 but due to an accident while the service dept was test driving the truck. They used the newer tailgate & put the camera back in the handle as they did with the original 2009 tailgate. Our camera, too, lined up perfectly. It is a nice tailgate. David
davydee, interesting.
So you got a newer tailgate, like 2013+ and they installed a handle/camera/blue oval from a 2011 or 2012 truck and everything lined up perfectly?
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