I know that a few have mentioned tailgate damage caused by bigger tires. Over the last couple months I have been developing a rattle that comes from the tailgate. I have 33" toyo mt's on a 15" aluminum wheel. I know it is heavier than stock but shouldn't be as heavy as the 35's some guys have.

The rattle is getting worse and louder, I see no visible bending of the tailgate. If I look close, it looks like some of the spot welds on the upper hinge side of the tailgate are breaking/beginning to tear. Nothing significant but I still can't figure out why it would be tearing there when there is considerable distance from that area to where the hinges actually attach to the tailgate.

Anyone else having this problem?

Maybe it isn't safe to put 33's on the tailgate either.

 

Do the stock rubber bumpers that go in between the tire and the tailgate still make contact with your new spare? Just a thought.... I know you can buy aftermarket ones that you can trim to fit if this is the problem.

 

I got 33's on our JK and I noticed a very annoying rattle in the tailgate when I place the hardtop on for winter. I had to just adjusted the silver bracket that the door latches to(drivers side). I had to get the door to suck in more to the tub and the rattle was eliminated!!!

Try this adjustment to see if it will eliminate the rattle.

 

also check the plastic piece mounted on the body by the latch and adjust it forward so when you close the tailgate it is nice and snug...there is like a metal piece that closes over it on the tailgate...mine made the annoying rattle awhile back with stock spare tire, turned out that plastic rubbery thing just needed to be moved forward to snug and tighten the fit when tailgate closed

 

I will check both those things and see if the adjustments will make a difference. I would be pleased if it only needed an adjustment.

 

How much weight can the tailgate take?

 

I also recently installed a new wheel & tire package so I put these daystar extended spare tire bumpers and there is no rattle at all.

 

I too would like to know this as i'm looking at the toyo MT's and they are HEAVY.

 

I am gonna be honest here, I don't see how those extended tire bumpers would do anything. The TJ and YJ had them top and bottom and I can see how those would do something but what will they do on the sides.

Anyway, I am going to try and adjust the catches today and see if it changes anything.

 

I tried the Daystar bumpers...they helped a bit, but the door still rattled. A tire carrier solved the rattle completely