I've been through a few sets of these cables. I was told the last set that I bought were "redesigned" and better, should hold up. Yea right!

This morning, it was -3 degrees, and garbage day so I had to haul garbage bags down to the road on my way to work. I didn't drop it hard (never do) and they both broke.

Anyone know of a better way to go here? I'm getting tired of giving Dodge money for these expensive pieces of crap cables. I never broke a cable on any other truck I have owned, I think I have replaced these about 5 times now.

Is it just me? Anyone else have trouble with these cables?

 

Yup, replaced one set on both trucks....

But you don't have to go to the dealer any more.....NAPA sells the tailgate cables - they actually keep them in stock at my local NAPA.

 

A NAPA store is just two blocks from my office. Dialing their number right now.

Thanks!

 

Or Oreilly's carries them, too. Also much cheaper than the dealer I've only replaced one of mine so far. That's pretty sad that they snapped from a dumpster. My brother was loading up his friend's "new" lawn mower, an old Cub Cadet, and they put it in the back of his Chevy, they were driving it up and snapped both cables and put a nice crease in my brother's tailgate

 

In stock at NAPA @ $16.98 each.

Thanks again.

I just didn't want to give Dodge money for these cables again. Hopefully NAPA sells a better cable.

 

I just bought two cables for ~$8.79 each. They were sold in those "HELP!" blisterpacks of misc. automotive parts. Only difference from the OEM cables is they don't have that little "ear" on the tailgate end to make sure they fold downwards. Works just fine without it.

Oh, and a $7 Lisle T-45 TORX bit for to change them.

K.

 

Don't forget to seal the ends of the cables with some silicone to keep the moisture from settling to the bottom of the bend in the cable when you close your tailgate.

 

I've only gone through one so far. I regularly load ATV's, motorcycles and all sorts of yard equipment. I replace both with a non dodge oem piece.
Oh yeah, truck is an 01

 

My '99 is still on it's first set of cables.
I've never let the tailgate "fall" and let the cables stop it.

 

Ditto, Shovelhead. Original set. I have lost one of the little spring clips that keep the cable from coming off the post, but it hasn't ever jumped ship.

 

I don't know what my problem is. I don't let it fall, most of the time I lower it once per week to haul garbage bags down to the road. I have never broke any loading quads or tractors, glad of that, and never ride around with the gate down.

I just picked up the cables from NAPA...they have "made in CHINA" on them. Dam!

 

There is a spare one in the cab of my truck and has been there since I bought it. I didn't know why, but now I'm guessing that one had been replaced and the PO bought them in a set of 2.

 

What happens is water gets in from the ends of the cables and settles in the bottom when the gate is closed and rusts the cables. They also are weakened by bending back & forth. I've been through a set already. Look at the center where it bends, if you see any cracks replace them. Better look at yours close, tail gates are expensive.

 

That's what killed mine. The latch froze open one day (hauling garbage no less) and when it dropped, luckily only 1 broke. Got a new sealed set from Dodge for $40

 

Peel the plastic coating off the cables and you won't have a problem.
Andy