oliver foster

That angle is there just to slide the tailgate on and off.
If the angle was changed a bit, it would just change where you would need to hold the tailgate when installing it and removing it.

kerry.king

A 24 pack of beer!!!!!

MrFusion

Check out my build thread "Resurrecting/Modding W250". I have pics etc. of fixing the same problem. I used a piece of 1" diameter pipe that i smacked with a hammer a couple of times to make a "flat" on either side. I welded it to a piece of 1/8" flat stock and welded it over the rot hole on the bed where the old hinge used to be. Not pretty but it works fine. I used a piece of HDPE plastic from a plastic barrel as a "wear strip" in the hinge pocket of the tailgate.