STG Install

WARNING: DO NOT USE THESE BRACKETS ON A WEIGHT-BEARING TAILGATE.  Installation of both brackets is highly recommended.

Each STG kit comes with two thick plastic spacer and four thin plastic spacers along with stainless hardware. The hardware consists of two washers, two lock washer and two 40mm M8 bolt.

DO NOT use power tools at any step of the installation/removal process.

To Install (click here if written instructions aint your thing)

  1. Remove one of the tailgate cables by unclipping it at the top bolt near the taillight.
  2. Using a T45 bit, remove the cable at tailgate by unscrewing the T45 bolt. Store cable somewhere safe.
  3. Remove the top cable bolt using a T50 bit. DO NOT use a T45. This bolt is fairly tight from the factory. Using a T45 could strip the head.
  4. Make ready one of the stainless bolts by threading on a lock washer and then a washer and place next to tailgate latch.
  5. Place a thick and a thin plastic spacer next to the bolt
  6. Place the top T50 cable bolt through the circular hole on the bracket (NOT the slotted hole)
  7. Place a thin plastic spacer over the bolt
  8. Carefully thread the bolt into the stock hole by hand making sure you support the bracket so it does not make contact with your pickup. Thread the bolt complete in but do not tighten.
  9. Holding the bracket, grab the two plastic spacers you prepped and place them between the tailgate and the bracket
  10. Put the M8 bolt with washer and lock washer installed into the slot from the outside of the bracket, through the plastic spacers and thread, by hand, into the stock hole on the tailgate. NOTE: you may need to raise/lower the tailgate to get the bolt to properly thread. DO NOT force the bolt to thread. If you cannot get the bolt started, jiggling it while rotating it clockwise can help.
  11. Hand thread the M8 bolt in until just finger tight.
  12. Before tightening either bolt, remove the opposite side cable by unclipping it and then unscrewing the bolt on the tailgate with a T45 bit. Store cable somewhere safe. NOTE: Some tailgates might not raise enough to unclip. In this case, raise the tailgate enough to create slack in the cable, use a T45 bit to unscrew the cable from the tailgate and then unclip from the upper bolt.
  13. Repeat steps 3-11 on this side.
  14. Once all brackets are installed, tighten both bolts snug. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN.
  15. Check and re-tighten all bolts as needed every 100 miles