Easy FIX: Annoying Tailgate Cable

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Markuson

Markuson

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Does your tailgate CABLE do this? (Pop out of the edge...looking sloppy)?

See below for a 10 second fix! Yay! :)
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Get ahold of a neodymium magnet (cheap at Home Depot)
MASTER MAGNETICS 1/2 in. Neodymium Rare-Earth Magnet Discs (6 per Pack)-07046HD - The Home Depot

Like this:
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Stick it right here...on either side of your open tailgate...

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As you close the gate...
...the magnet will gently "grab" the cable, keeping it away from the gap...

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And... VOILA!!

No more sloppy tailgate cable hangin' out!

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TADAAAAA!! :clap::meh:

Markuson


PS. If you have a super-weird, rogue cable and need more "power"...just stack a 2nd magnet to the first, or near/next to it. It'll do. Home Depot sells 6 for $3.98, so all is well!

Here's that Home Depot link again (also in-store)

MASTER MAGNETICS 1/2 in. Neodymium Rare-Earth Magnet Discs (6 per Pack)-07046HD - The Home Depot

**NOTE**
-Most any neodymium magnet of similar size/strength (or larger/stronger) will also work just fine. No Home Depot handy?
-Just do a search for neodymium magnets that are 1/2 - 1 inch wide or so...and a couple mm thick. They'll work well & need not be exactly the same as mine.

UPDATE: 1-15-2020...
Here are super-strong ones on Amazon:
Applied Magnets Neodymium Rare Earth Magnet 1.26 x 1/8" Disc Magnet 10pc Set With Red Dot on North Pole Amazon product ASIN B01MSTKTSF
 
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Awesome and perfect timing! The passenger side cable on my '10 started doing this within the last few weeks.
 
Wow! Good thinking!

I'll be trying this one.
 
Markuson said:
Does your tailgate CABLE do this (Pop out of the edge...looking sloppy)?



TADAAAAA!! :clap::meh:

Markuson


PS. It's *possible* the magnet could vibrate its way downward. If so, just stick a bit of two-sided tape or other adhesive on the back and it won't budge.
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All done from the comfort of your wheel chair!? You are a real enthusiast and am glad you make so many contributions Markuson!
 
teambell said:
All done from the comfort of your wheel chair!?
You are a real enthusiast and am glad you make so many contributions Markuson!
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Heh! -I didn't realize my wheelchair's reflection was in one of the photos til you posted this.

I get away with about 30-40 minutes being upright & then have to elevate my leg again. I've managed to fiddle with a few things despite this, & it does help keep me sane. :)

Maybe I'll post some of my other gimpy tinkering in a "wheelchair mods" thread or something... :)

M
 
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Wishing you the best for a good recovery!
 
Nice! Mine started doing this a couple weeks ago. Just ordered a couple magnets from magnets4sale.com (because if I go to Home Depot for a $4 magnet I'll somehow leave with $200 in other goodies). Thanks @Markuson.
 
Mind the Gap. Great life hack- at least for 200 owners. Mines been doing this for a while.
 
I'm curious how many of you added the magnet and how yours faired.

My small magnet has stayed in place so far, but I discovered a bit larger magnet on Amazon that nicely sits slightly higher than a screw or rivet in nearly the same spot...and there is no way it will ever vibrate loose. Also a stronger pull...so no way that cable will escape. :)

Anyone?
 
Markuson said:
I'm curious how many of you added the magnet and how yours faired.

My small magnet has stayed in place so far, but I discovered a bit larger magnet on Amazon that nicely sits slightly higher than a screw or rivet in nearly the same spot...and there is no way it will ever vibrate loose. Also a stronger pull...so no way that cable will escape. :)

Anyone?
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Can you post the details, bud? I haven't bought my magnet yet and would be willing to try.
 
mark71 said:
Can you post the details, bud? I haven't bought my magnet yet and would be willing to try.
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All details are in the original post...with photos.
 
Markuson said:
All details are in the original post...with photos.
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Link for bigger magnet not working, but I'll try the smaller one. Thanx.
 
mark71 said:
Link for bigger magnet not working, but I'll try the smaller one. Thanx.
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The ones they sell at Home Depot work fine. I just thought I'd try a slightly bigger one so it would have no chance of moving downward over time. There are lots for sale about the size of a penny. That gets them just big enough to be stopped from any possible slippage by the screw/bolt that protrudes from the tailgate on each side. My original small one didn't budge at all...so no problem either way.

If you want foolproof, here's a link to MORE than enough size/power:

Applied Magnets Neodymium Rare Earth Magnet 1.26 x 1/8" Disc Magnet 10pc Set With Red Dot on North Pole Amazon product ASIN B01MSTKTSF
 
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Markuson said:
I'm curious how many of you added the magnet and how yours faired.

My small magnet has stayed in place so far, but I discovered a bit larger magnet on Amazon that nicely sits slightly higher than a screw or rivet in nearly the same spot...and there is no way it will ever vibrate loose. Also a stronger pull...so no way that cable will escape. :)

Anyone?
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Mine are working great. Admittedly I bought a set of 4, and ended up putting 2 of them on either side (one in the location you recommended, and a second one a bit further back). Trying to slide them or remove them from the body is quite tough, so I don't expect them to move or fall off. My biggest concern is if the plating on the magnet will cause any corrosion on the body over time since they are dissimilar metals.

The hardest part of the project was separating the magnets from each other when they arrived. I felt like a total wimp being unable to separate two tiny little magnets without using a flat screwdriver as a wedge. I know they claim like 8-10# of force, but I would have sworn it was more like 100#.
 
linuxgod said:
My biggest concern is if the plating on the magnet will cause any corrosion on the body over time since they are dissimilar metals.
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Was curious about that myself, so found the electrolytic cleaning section of Galvanic corrosion - Wikipedia

The vehicle metal should be painted, but the magnet could potentially scratch it. Maybe try covering the magnet with plastidip as a second layer of defense?
 
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