Tailgate Swap Fail

[Izumi028]

So I thought this tailgate swap would be a breeze. I picked up a 2023 Bighorn tailgate for my 2020 Tradesman coz it matched perfectly. Wrong! The wiring is totally different, and don't even get me started on the hinges. My truck has two male hinges, the new one has a male and female that just don't play nice. Seriously, I thought these things were supposed to be interchangeable? Any chance someone knows how to make this thing work? I'm stumped!

 

[Fidel_25]

I don't know much about this, but a friend of mine swapped out his Ram's tailgate. He had to buy bed brackets for support. From what I remember, the tailgate itself should fit physically, but you'll need to check if your truck's wiring harness has the necessary connections for it to work.

 

[BylethARDE]

So I thought this tailgate swap would be a breeze. I picked up a 2023 Bighorn tailgate for my 2020 Tradesman coz it matched perfectly. Wrong! The wiring is totally different, and don't even get me started on the hinges. My truck has two male hinges, the new one has a male and female that just don't play nice. Seriously, I thought these things were supposed to be interchangeable? Any chance someone knows how to make this thing work? I'm stumped!

frustrating! The hinge setup difference between model years has tripped up a lot of people. One option is to get an adapter kit for the wiring, though it can be a bit of a hassle to find the right one. As for the hinges, you might need to swap out one of them to match your Tradesman. Definitely not as plug-and-play as expected, but a local body shop might be able to help with the fit! Their people would usually know what to do there.

 

[Inigo32VG]

That’s rough! RAM has changed up the tailgate wiring and hinge setup a few times, so it’s not as easy as swapping in a new one, unfortunately. You might need a wiring harness adapter to get the electronics working, but check with your dealer, they sometimes have conversion kits for these kinds of swaps. For the hinge issue, you could replace one of your current hinges with a compatible one, but I’d definitely recommend asking a shop about the best way to go about it. Hope you get it sorted soon! ✌

 

[MaribelleTXTX]

I feel your pain! I ran into the same thing when I tried a tailgate swap on my 2019. RAM’s hinge and wiring setup seems to vary even within similar models, which is a total headache. For the wiring, you can get an adapter harness (they’re usually not too pricey), and that should help. For the hinge issue, I ended up having to modify one of my hinges to make it compatible. It’s not ideal, but if you’re comfortable with a bit of DIY, it could be an option. Good luck with it, let us know how it goes!

So I thought this tailgate swap would be a breeze. I picked up a 2023 Bighorn tailgate for my 2020 Tradesman coz it matched perfectly. Wrong! The wiring is totally different, and don't even get me started on the hinges. My truck has two male hinges, the new one has a male and female that just don't play nice. Seriously, I thought these things were supposed to be interchangeable? Any chance someone knows how to make this thing work? I'm stumped!

 

[Orcha23]

Oh tailgate swaps should be simple, but they never are! RAM’s hinge and wiring configurations are oddly specific for each model year, so this mismatch isn’t too surprising, though it’s definitely frustrating. For the wiring, look into getting an adapter harness that bridges the connections. Your local dealer or auto parts store should have more info on that. As for the hinges, some folks have luck swapping one of the truck’s hinges to fit the new tailgate, but that can get a bit tricky. Worst case, a body shop might be able to make some adjustments for you. Hang in there, you’re not the only one who’s been stumped by these swaps!