Vigo tailgate problem

[oxydog]

OK, so Swambo decided to let the boys sit on the opened tailgate while doing a game drive on an uneven dirt road (WHY??? :angry2: ). Needless to say, the tailgate now rests nicely on the replacement bumper when opened. What is the easiest way to fix this? I'm thinking: shorten the cables - but how? Also, there are now tiny scratch marks on the tailgate - should I just try to fix it with touch-up paint or is there a better way?

[Mud Dog]

At least it's not base and clear coats .... should be easy enough to touch up, but also not expensive to respray the whole tail gate if the scratches are deep.

[oxydog]

At least it's not base and clear coats .... should be easy enough to touch up, but also not expensive to respray the whole tail gate if the scratches are deep.

Unfortunately the scratches are all the way into the metal, Andy. Like I said, they're not big, if you look at it from a distance, it looks like the tailgate is perforated! I'm NOT a happy man. Thought I handled it well, though, playing it off as "there was no way that you could know that would happen", but man, was I boiling inside! Truth is, next time I do something stupid (like smashing the left rear-view on the gate, oh wait, that already happened...), she will have to forgive me unconditionally

[Mud Dog]

The sitting on the tail-gate is not a good idea at the best of times. I've seen where three (heavy) chicks got dumped when the chains snapped .... one VERY big dent in the gate from the tow hitch!

[oxydog]

Trust me, if I was there, that would not have been allowed. That's what happens when you let her take it for a drive, I suppose.

[oxydog]

OK, had it at the dealers, turns out it's not the tailgate, but rather the towbar that shifted while off-roading (which is why I still have the SFA and will refrain from taking the Vigo on any other Bundu trails). Will have it at 4x4 Mega tomorrow morning to have it fixed. Then Dent Doctor to fix the scratches.

[oxydog]

Towbar dropped again, everything back to normal (except dents still have to be fixed). No room for extra bolts, so I'll have to replace the rear bumper at some stage with something decent.

[LouisZ]

Also that I do not trust is the recovery points. If the bumper was made more rugged it would have been good.

[oxydog]

Thanks Louis, I might consider moving the recovery points to the chassis. Will contact you when we get there!

[Donkey]

Though a damage to the truck, at least it is not major. And me thinks this is why latsa guys wouldn't do that in the first place, myself included. You may as well bungee without the rope