What are these 2 bolts in my tailgate?

[jbickhart]

1/4" studs stick through the t/g. They are extra not fun to sit on. I had the tailgate latch mechanism apart to clean / adjust / replace and never noticed anything in this portion of the tailgate. The bolts are on a common something or other...... when they are both loose, moving one 'moves' the other.

I need to remove or replace with a button head bolt

Picture 001.jpg

[akaFrankCastle]

I don't recall their being a stock tire carrier mount on the tailgate, but I suppose there could have been something aftermarket there. Shrug

[Entourage]

That grey rhino liner is sweeeet! I think you need to post some pics of your Bronco!

[sbolt19]

There were some early years that were called "ranch hands", I believe, that had the spare tire carrier mounted on the inside of the tailgate in the cab. It could be that. Is the bolt head on the outside of the tailgate?

[jbickhart]

The head end of the bolt is inside the tailgate..... does not protrude through the outer skin.

[sbolt19]

what year is your truck? I am gonna guess that you are a 66-68 rig, or have a tailgate off of one of those years. It looks to me like the tailgate mounting bolts for the tire carrier.

[jbickhart]

Truck is a '71. I removed the nuts, and pulled out a 1"x6" flat steel strip.... pulled it out through the t/g latch lever hole. It looked like a way to make a stiffer mounting flange..... for something.

[sbolt19]

Yep, I am gonna bet that it's the old mounting bracket for the interior tailgate spare tire carrier. No biggie, put some rubber hole plugs in there and get on down the road. I wouldn't want to weld the holes up unless you have some extra bed liner to do touch up on it though.