Origin of these mystery tailgate dents?

[DesertRat1991]

I have always had these two indents above my tailgate handle.  I bought the truck used so the origin has always been a mystery to me, especially since the location doesn't line up with any of the tailgate handle fasteners.

 

 

Then today, I saw a FB post where some folks mentioned having OUTWARD dents in these same spots.

 

How common is this?  Anyone know the reason for, or origin of these marks?  Do you have indents or... outdents?

 

 

 

[Classy Comanche]

That is super odd. I've seen a silver MJ around here with them, but mine don't have them. Maybe the inside of the tailgate was refurbished? 

[eaglescout526]

2 hours ago, Classy Comanche said:

 

This tailgate looks like how both my CO Red tailgates look/looked. 

 

I know how my grandfather screwed up the original tailgate, my father says he loaded his canoe in the MJ and went to the lake and he backed into a pole with the tailgate down and crunched it a little bit...still want to rebuild that gate. My current one I bought from ebay and thats all I know lol. I smashed whatever dents I could get but there wasnt any above the handle. 

[Pete M]

does your truck have a hitch or any evidence of towing?

[Classy Comanche]

I have a hitch built into my bumper from factory 

[Pete M]

dropping the gate on something hard can do that.     not sure about the inverted dents though.

[DesertRat1991]

39 minutes ago, Pete M said:

does your truck have a hitch or any evidence of towing?

 

Yes actually... it came to me with a home brew hitch plate and a flat 4 trailer connector tucked up in the frame.