03 Mounty liftgate

[jleehoyle567]

Hey guys...I have an 03 Mounty and I have the usual cracks on the liftgate. I was told by a body shop that it would cost a couple hundred to get it replaced but I was wondering if a one piece gate off of a 06+ mounty will fit. It looks very close but I dont wanna drop 500 for a gate that wont work. Has anyone tried this before?

 

[not8taxi]

i heard the 06+ ex have a different wiring harness...

 

[NHarris]

They will bolt up and fit but the harnesses are different. Im sure you could splice some wires if you wanted to.

 

[jleehoyle567]

but the latches and hinges line up exact? i dont want a gap. but i am definately tired of the plastic under my window cracking

 

[NHarris]

but the latches and hinges line up exact? i dont want a gap. but i am definately tired of the plastic under my window cracking

From what I've heard they do line up. I think it was zerodevil who told me that he bolted up his friend's or relative's 06 liftgate to his 2003 and said everything fit but the wiring harness.

I dont know what it is with everyone here and the cracked plastic panel. Mine has never cracked and its on the original panel from 11/2004.

 

[not8taxi]

I dont know what it is with everyone here and the cracked plastic panel. Mine has never cracked and its on the original panel from 11/2004.

i think you just brought bad karma on yourself lol....usually when i say things like this my ex breaks....

i took off my panel and somehow messed up the rubber strip underneathe it...so i just left the back window without anything...looks clean but the metal bracket holding the back wiper motor shows...i dont mind for now....

 

[NHarris]

i think you just brought bad karma on yourself lol....usually when i say things like this my ex breaks....

I've been waiting for the plastic panel to crack ever since I bought the truck. Im sure the fact that my truck is garaged helps.

 

[not8taxi]

it def does... i hope it lasts for you...its a pain to take it off...and even more of a pain to look at it everyday...

 

[94Eddie]

I dont know what it is with everyone here and the cracked plastic panel. Mine has never cracked and its on the original panel from 11/2004.

I think these crack from people placing their hand on the plastic trim when pushing the lift gate closed and keeping it there until it slams shut. The pressure from the hand flexes the plastic to the breaking point. Especially in cold weather. Or there is a conspiracy of people that systematically bang the plastic with their fist when no one is around. :shifty_ey

 

[NHarris]

I think these crack from people placing their hand on the plastic trim when pushing the lift gate closed and keeping it there until it slams shut. The pressure from the hand flexes the plastic to the breaking point. Especially in cold weather.

I can agree with that. I also really hear that plastic trim creaking everytime im off-roading.

 

[MrAce87]

the explorers I've seen with the cracked back are 02-04. i dont ever recall seeing an 05 with the cracked back.

-knocks on wood-

 

[NHarris]

the explorers I've seen with the cracked back are 02-04. i dont ever recall seeing an 05 with the cracked back.

-knocks on wood-

Good observation. I will take note and see what I can see locally.

 

[gamecocks]

I think the cracking is from water getting in, everytime after a rain when i lift the glass water comes pouring out from underneath that plastic, i had it crack on my old x in the winter the water got in between and froze causing the plastic to be "pushed out" enough to crack

 

[MrAce87]

Good observation. I will take note and see what I can see locally.

im positive you know how to spot a 05. but if you dont then just look for the advancetrac rsc emblem on the back. earlier models had it as an option but the 05's came standard with it. All i've seen with the cracked back didnt have the advancetrac rsc emblem so im only assuming the 05 aren't affected?

 

[NHarris]

Also the roof racks on the 05's are different. The 05's have the 4th gen roof racks.
I dont know what they would have done different on the 05's to make em not crack.

 

[2Trux]

the explorers I've seen with the cracked back are 02-04. i dont ever recall seeing an 05 with the cracked back.

-knocks on wood-

I have an 05 that cracked last year. It used to really bow out when it was hot. It's probably the temp extremes and the flexing that does it in. I had a thought about fabricating a metal panel to replace it, but spending money on looks is low down on my list right now.

 

[Joe Dirt]

It is the temperature fluctuations combined with the adhesive not allowing them to expand/contract without cracking.

 

[MrAce87]

I have an 05 that cracked last year. It used to really bow out when it was hot. It's probably the temp extremes and the flexing that does it in. I had a thought about fabricating a metal panel to replace it, but spending money on looks is low down on my list right now.

should start a poll to see what years have been affected the most. unless someone already has one