2015 1500 Wheel Well Access Cover Clamp

[3M-TA3]

Apologies if already asked and solved, but I came up short after many searches. The wheel well access flap for the headlights in my truck uses a separate clamp, and when I pulled the headlights to change bulbs I put the clamps and fasteners in a plastic baggie and put them somewhere I could not possibly lose them, so of course I did.

My access flaps are not the one piece ones that just need a push fastener to hold them in place, Instead, it's a separate piece that hold the flap in place once it's attached to the wheel well with a fastener

Here the my fingers are holding the flap in place at the top and you can see the fastener hole at the bottom just below the end of the flap. I recall that the clamp (?) widens out where it covers the flap. I can probably fabricate something, though I no longer seem to have complete control of my hands, but does anybody know what this part is and where I can get it?

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

I used an industrial stapler to put mine back on. The plastic is very thin. The stapler worker great. I don't recall there being a device. I could very well be wrong..

 

[Wild one]

Apologies if already asked and solved, but I came up short after many searches. The wheel well access flap for the headlights in my truck uses a separate clamp, and when I pulled the headlights to change bulbs I put the clamps and fasteners in a plastic baggie and put them somewhere I could not possibly lose them, so of course I did.

My access flaps are not the one piece ones that just need a push fastener to hold them in place, Instead, it's a separate piece that hold the flap in place once it's attached to the wheel well with a fastener

Here the my fingers are holding the flap in place at the top and you can see the fastener hole at the bottom just below the end of the flap. I recall that the clamp (?) widens out where it covers the flap. I can probably fabricate something, though I no longer seem to have complete control of my hands, but does anybody know what this part is and where I can get it?
View attachment 567414
View attachment 567413

Get better pic's that are a little more of a distance away,so we can see what you're referring to better.I can't see why you couldn't use a push pin or christmas tree pin though,that's what i used on both my 13 and 14 trucks.

 

[3M-TA3]

Get better pic's that are a little more of a distance away,so we can see what you're referring to better.I can't see why you couldn't use a push pin or christmas tree pin though,that's what i used on both my 13 and 14 trucks.

This might help. Confined to the house after some surgery, so using some pics from a YT video that I think will show the problem.

My flap is like the one above (2014 model), but my flap (2015 model) does not have the tongue attached and is cut straight across. On mine there was a small bracket that replaced the flap that kept the flap closed. My guess was that they had problems with this style, then "fixed" it on mine, and finally went to the new style with a squared off flap that had the hole in the end of the flap.

Below is the 2014 style closed. It's a bit hard to see the flap outline so I added some red lines:


Basically the parts I misplaced replaced the tongue above. If I can't locate is I'm probably going to JB Weld some plastic to the flap and maybe reinforce it with some carbon fiber I have left over from another project. It's easier if I can find the part since my knees are shot so working in low places is less than fun.

 

[Wild one]

This might help. Confined to the house after some surgery, so using some pics from a YT video that I think will show the problem.View attachment 567452

My flap is like the one above (2014 model), but my flap (2015 model) does not have the tongue attached and is cut straight across. On mine there was a small bracket that replaced the flap that kept the flap closed. My guess was that they had problems with this style, then "fixed" it on mine, and finally went to the new style with a squared off flap that had the hole in the end of the flap.

Below is the 2014 style closed. It's a bit hard to see the flap outline so I added some red lines:
View attachment 567455

Basically the parts I misplaced replaced the tongue above. If I can't locate is I'm probably going to JB Weld some plastic to the flap and maybe reinforce it with some carbon fiber I have left over from another project. It's easier if I can find the part since my knees are shot so working in low places is less than fun.

Still not seeing why you couldn't use a christmas tree or pop up pin to hold it in place

 

[Wild one]

This might help. Confined to the house after some surgery, so using some pics from a YT video that I think will show the problem.View attachment 567452

My flap is like the one above (2014 model), but my flap (2015 model) does not have the tongue attached and is cut straight across. On mine there was a small bracket that replaced the flap that kept the flap closed. My guess was that they had problems with this style, then "fixed" it on mine, and finally went to the new style with a squared off flap that had the hole in the end of the flap.

Below is the 2014 style closed. It's a bit hard to see the flap outline so I added some red lines:
View attachment 567455

Basically the parts I misplaced replaced the tongue above. If I can't locate is I'm probably going to JB Weld some plastic to the flap and maybe reinforce it with some carbon fiber I have left over from another project. It's easier if I can find the part since my knees are shot so working in low places is less than fun.

Amazon.com : plastic push pins

 

[Rav3ncroft]

Still not seeing why you couldn't use a christmas tree or pop up pin to hold it in place

It's sounds like the flap on his truck doesn't have the tab where he could use a christmas tree fastener. Can someone with a 2015 confirm? My 2018 has the tab and fastener design.

 

[Wild one]

It's sounds like the flap on his truck doesn't have the tab where he could use a christmas tree fastener. Can someone with a 2015 confirm? My 2018 has the tab and fastener design.

I think a drill would fix that,create a couple holes and use a push pin to hold it closed.Actually i'd heat an awl to cherry red and use it to melt a hole in the plastic,as it'll give you a stronger hole then a drilled hole.

 

[3M-TA3]

It's sounds like the flap on his truck doesn't have the tab where he could use a christmas tree fastener. Can someone with a 2015 confirm? My 2018 has the tab and fastener design.

That's it exactly. The flap is cut square and does not have a hole. When I opened it there was a part that connected to the wheel well with a push fastener that clamped over the flap. That's the part I'm looking for.

 

[3M-TA3]

I think a drill would fix that,create a couple holes and use a push pin to hold it closed.Actually i'd heat an awl to cherry red and use it to melt a hole in the plastic,as it'll give you a stronger hole then a drilled hole.

I don't think there is enough room in the overlapping material, but that's a good idea and will check it out. Thanks for the tip on melting the plastic as opposed to drilling! I'll use that somewhere even if it isn't here.

 

[Wild one]

I don't think there is enough room in the overlapping material, but that's a good idea and will check it out. Thanks for the tip on melting the plastic as opposed to drilling! I'll use that somewhere even if it isn't here.

In plastic a melted hole is usually a stronger hole then a drilled hole is.Even if the hole only encompasses half the overlap,a christmas tree or push pin with a big head should grab the overlapped hole,especially if you do 2 holes,1 on each end of the flap.

 

[3M-TA3]

Some additional pictures (don't tell my surgeon I sneaked outside ). Thank all of you for your assistance so far!

Flap bottom is straight and there are no holes:


Opening without flap in place. The flap goes over the ridge just below the opening but no further, it falls well short of the hole.

You can see the end of the flap in this picture where I am holding it in place. the end of the flap is the dark line that goes to the side of my thumb then runs straight across above the hole. The missing part was placed over the flap and secured by a fastener in the hole.

 

[3M-TA3]

Also, it looks that there isn't enough overlap to allow for drilling a hole or two in the bottom of the flap because of the way the flap is molded to fit into the wheel well.

 

[Wild one]

Also, it looks that there isn't enough overlap to allow for drilling a hole or two in the bottom of the flap because of the way the flap is molded to fit into the wheel well.

I've never went looking,but i wonder if you could hunt up the earlier flap with the tab.Check your local wreckers/market place etc,for somebody parting out an 09 to 14.

 

[Rav3ncroft]

Make your own tab out of plastic that covers the existing panel. Drill a hole in the small tab you made and push a christmas tree fastener through both holes.

 

[duckman631]

Make a second hole and use everyone’s best friend.. the zip tie.