OUCH!

[Bill]

Just a warning to all who own the new body style GM trucks. AS i found out tody, the straps that hold the tailgate off the bumper are VERY week. I did not close my tailgate all of the way, when the tailgate fell, the straps did nothing, and the tailgate bounced off the bumper.

[JW]

Which trucks Bill? Mine is a 2001, and the straps have held my 1,000 lb tractor as I've driven up onto the tailgate and into the bed.

1995 2100BR/1995 225 Promax/23" Tempest

[Bill]

JW, all of the new body style trucks starting in 99. The "strps are not steel cored anymore, they are plastic. I loaded a 500lb commercial lawnmower every week to cut my parents lawn and never had a problem. The body shop at the dealership said it was probably from the "jerking" action from falling from the up position. I am replacing them with steel chorded ones now, just in case.

[JW]

Wow, I'm going to have to look closely at my straps to see what they REALLY look like. I thought they were all metal.....Is it possible they dis-connected themselves, or did they actually break??

1995 2100BR/1995 225 Promax/23" Tempest

[Bill]

They broke in the middle, I will take a pic and see if Chris will post it here. They looked like new an hour before when I washed my truck and dried that area. Odd os all I ca say. Off to go take the pic.

[Chris]

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Auto/BillTailgate.JPG

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Webmaster
Checkmate-Boats.com-The Fanatics Home!

[Z06]

Really OUCH! Mine off the Avalanche seem to be fine. Never had a problem and with kids opening and closing it by just letting go and to what I have had in it, it seems fine.

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifZ06http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifCheckmates may not be the fastest boats on the water, but they are the nicest looking!http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[JW]

Had the Z71 out today for towing the Pulsare back to the house. Took a look at my straps. They appear to be steel braided cable, surrounded by a black coating. Is that what yours looks like Bill?

1995 2100BR/1995 225 Promax/23" Tempest

[Bill]

JW, sorry the pic was not clear, but yes that is what they appear to be. Inside the black coating is some sort of cable, when I looked closer, it is not plastic, but also does not apper to be steal. When the parts dept at the dealer ordered new ones, all they asked was "new body style", so I assume they are the same. They are replacing them under warranty and said they would fix any damage done to the tailgate under warranty too without even asking how it happened. Normally they would at least ask what happened, this made me wonder if this might be something that they have seen before, but does not warrant a recall, just an inhouse bulletin. Just thought I would send out a message to be alittle extra carefule with the tailgate considering how heavy they are.

[JW]

I'll definitely keep those straps in mind now. I'd hate to mess up my pretty black paint on my chrome bumper......

1995 2100BR/1995 225 Promax/23" Tempest

[Z06]

Makes you wonder why they will do any work to any of the parts without even asking how it happened. Tough luck Bill. I'm being extra careful with mine from now on. Thanks for the heads up. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/thumb.gif

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifZ06http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifCheckmates may not be the fastest boats on the water, but they are the nicest looking!http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Z06]

Mine is only that body cladding GM used on the Avalanche. It still leaves a good scuff mark on it when anything hits it. Knock on wood http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/Eyecrazy.gif

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifZ06http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifCheckmates may not be the fastest boats on the water, but they are the nicest looking!http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[CHECKMATE ZEUS]

YOU MEAN ON YO DADDYS TRUCK RIGHT CORVETTE!
http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/jpshakehead.gif

I am the one who knows all!

[Z06]

Actually I am hard on my truck. My daddies car is a Cadillac STS. Last time I checked that does not have a tailgate to be hard on. Now, why don't ya think before you post? This is the pic of my truck. If you look at the plate it says HTFM with the firefighter symbol. That means Hottie Fireman which my wife got for me. I'll get a pic of it with me and my truck up for ya. Sound cool?
http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Auto/Avalanche1.jpg

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifZ06http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifCheckmates may not be the fastest boats on the water, but they are the nicest looking!http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Z06]

Just for you Zeus, I took some more pics of my Avalanche. Wife is gone out but I'll get one of me and my truck for ya! Sounds great to me!

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifZ06http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifCheckmates may not be the fastest boats on the water, but they are the nicest looking!http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[bdusted440]

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gifNice looking truck Z...I didnt like them a first but they grew on me. Looks like it would be a lot more versitale than my explorer. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/xxrotflmao.gifLOL

[Z06]

Thanks. I let my wife pick out any car she wanted within reason, and she now has a black Buick Rendezvous. We sold our old van with custom mags and are going to try and put them on this. Will look amazing if they fit. You'll see the pics when that happens. ANyways, I don't really do any off-roading, thats why I got the Z66 on-road package. THose rims are American Racing. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifZ06http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifCheckmates may not be the fastest boats on the water, but they are the nicest looking!http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Bill]

Well... the verdict on the cables is that it was weakened by frequent use of the tailgate, not weight bearing, but frequent up and down motion that caused the weekness. Both cables seperated in the same place, which is also where the bend is at its greatest when in the closed position and which has the most flex while opening and closing. GM rep said if you open and close the gate frequently, should replace those about every two years, although mine lasted 1.5 years.

[Z06]

Thanks for the heads up Bill. I'll just get my older son who works at my local dealer to change then whenever it needs it, hopefully not often! http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/thumb.gif

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Chevy Corvette Z06
Z06
Chris E.
Checkmate Fanatic
Chris.Ellard9@sympatico.ca
2003CorvetteZ06@addr.com