@xtraman122 @willb17 your next project: power tailgate button relocate

[Sentinel1201]

@xtraman122 @WillB17 I got your next project idea: currently the power tailgate button is awkwardly placed underneath the tailgate, when tailgate is down. I have to bend down, feel for it and then hit it for the tailgate to close back up. Particularly awful when tailgate is dirty because feeling for that button makes my hand dirty.

What would be great would be to replicate that button (the tailgate release/close button) to another suitable place (the face plate from where the tailgate step drops?) so that it's much easier and more civilized to close a tailgate that's open and walk away. On my old Raptor, a forum member designed and sold (by the hundreds) a wiring kit to trigger the tailgate release from one of the upfitter switches. So tapping into the wiring to trigger that button remotely has been done before.

Thoughts?

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[notabot]

Use one hand or a knee and just get the tailgate started on it's way up. The motor will take over for the rest.

 

[Sentinel1201]

Use one hand or a knee and just get the tailgate started on it's way up. The motor will take over for the rest.

Very awkward and kinda defeats the point of having a power tailgate. Your hands or knee will still get dirty. If you live in a snow belt, it's a distinctly unpleasant experience and again, defeats the point of paying for a power tailgate.

 

[VbPb]

I close the the power tail using the button next to the cabin mounted head light switch.
Cheers,

 

[WillB17]

@xtraman122 @WillB17 I got your next project idea: currently the power tailgate button is awkwardly placed underneath the tailgate, when tailgate is down. I have to bend down, feel for it and then hit it for the tailgate to close back up. Particularly awful when tailgate is dirty because feeling for that button makes my hand dirty.

What would be great would be to replicate that button (the tailgate release/close button) to another suitable place (the face plate from where the tailgate step drops?) so that it's much easier and more civilized to close a tailgate that's open and walk away. On my old Raptor, a forum member designed and sold (by the hundreds) a wiring kit to trigger the tailgate release from one of the upfitter switches. So tapping into the wiring to trigger that button remotely has been done before.

Thoughts?

I’ll take a look into this!

 

[Sentinel1201]

I close the the power tail using the button next to the cabin mounted head light switch.
Cheers,

I use that as well, but for opening the tailgate. Hitting a button on the tailgate itself and walking around to the truck gives it time for the tailgate to close fully by the time you are ready to throw it into reverse and head out.

I realize all of this is a very nice to have. But the little details make all the difference!

 

[UGADawg96]

Can you not use the fob to close it ? My 19 Silverado LTZ had fob closing. Same button as the open. Just press to close.

 

[Sentinel1201]

Can you not use the fob to close it ? My 19 Silverado LTZ had fob closing. Same button as the open. Just press to close.

I never have the keyfob on me, it permanently sits in the car. I use the keypad on the driver's door to lock and unlock car to exit/enter.

Even if you used the keyfob, its kind of a hassle to fish it out of your pockets and then hit a small button on it in the dark compared to a fixed mounted easily accessible button on the tailgate.

 

[UGADawg96]

I never have the keyfob on me, it permanently sits in the car. I use the keypad on the driver's door to lock and unlock car to exit/enter.

Even if you used the keyfob, its kind of a hassle to fish it out of your pockets and then hit a small button on it in the dark compared to a fixed mounted easily accessible button on the tailgate.

Hrrmmmm... Can you program another code on the door for the tailgate ?

 

[130 Ghost_Riders]

@xtraman122 @WillB17 I got your next project idea: currently the power tailgate button is awkwardly placed underneath the tailgate, when tailgate is down. I have to bend down, feel for it and then hit it for the tailgate to close back up. Particularly awful when tailgate is dirty because feeling for that button makes my hand dirty.

What would be great would be to replicate that button (the tailgate release/close button) to another suitable place (the face plate from where the tailgate step drops?) so that it's much easier and more civilized to close a tailgate that's open and walk away. On my old Raptor, a forum member designed and sold (by the hundreds) a wiring kit to trigger the tailgate release from one of the upfitter switches. So tapping into the wiring to trigger that button remotely has been done before.

Thoughts?

Shouldn’t be too hard, all you need to do if you want it back there would be to put a second switch in parallel with the main switch in the tailgat.

 

[bubbadam]

Shouldn’t be too hard, all you need to do if you want it back there would be to put a second switch in parallel with the main switch in the tailgat.

I would even suggest putting the button in the box on the side rail right next to the light switch button, maybe a little higher so it's easier to access as you're walking by the pickup on your way to the driver seat.

 

[Valleyrider]

Very awkward and kinda defeats the point of having a power tailgate. Your hands or knee will still get dirty. If you live in a snow belt, it's a distinctly unpleasant experience and again, defeats the point of paying for a power tailgate.

How does giving it a little bump up maybe 2” or so then letting the power take over defeat the point of having a power tailgate? It takes more effort to reach for the button than it does to give the tailgate a little bump and let it close itself. I’m trying to understand the purpose of adding an additional button somewhere on the truck for this when there are multiple options for closing it electronically already.

 

[Sentinel1201]

How does giving it a little bump up maybe 2” or so then letting the power take over defeat the point of having a power tailgate? It takes more effort to reach for the button than it does to give the tailgate a little bump and let it close itself. I’m trying to understand the purpose of adding an additional button somewhere on the truck for this when there are multiple options for closing it electronically already.

OK I just went out and tried what you suggested. I needed to lift the whole tailgate a good foot before the auto tailgate would engage. And I'll repeat since you missed my point earlier - my hands are now covered in dust, which defeats the point of having a power tailgate.

Not sure why it's so hard to grasp that many many many people spend $70k or even $80k on a fully loaded F150. And want the luxury features to be easy to use, just right, well thought out with multiple ways of using it based on preference and workflow.

By your logic, you can discount a lot of luxury features on this truck (or any car) as unnecessary because there are "multiple options" already. Why do we need auto high beams? Just hit the high beam switch every time, its right there. Why do you need auto rain-sensing wipers that always work? Just hit the wiper switch, its right there. Why do you need a motion sensing liftgate closer? Just reach up and pull the liftgate down in the SUV. Why do you need auto steering wheel heater and seat heater to turn on when you remote start the car? Just go out there and manually turn them on.

etc. etc.

Anyway, if you don't see the value in this, that's perfectly OK.

 

[Valleyrider]

OK I just went out and tried what you suggested. I needed to lift the whole tailgate a good foot before the auto tailgate would engage. And I'll repeat since you missed my point earlier - my hands are now covered in dust, which defeats the point of having a power tailgate.

Why do you need a motion sensing liftgate closer? Just reach up and pull the liftgate down in the SUV.

My tailgate will go up with just a minor lift and let it go then it catches itself and goes up, not sure why yours takes so much more of a lift to engage it.

A motion kick sensor like my wife’s suv would be a nice solution for a hands free approach on the tailgate.

I spent $80k for my truck and spent less on my wife’s Audi Q7 prestige yet the Audi has better luxury features. Ford just doesn’t know how to do luxury like a luxury manufacturer so we are all stuck with nice but different things, so are better and some are worse.

 

[Markusvt]

Agree 100%, the button is not located in a convenient spot whatsoever.

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