Tailgate question

[vegas39]

My 89 is going in for a paint job next week and I either need to replace the tailgate, or just eliminate it and go with a bully net.
I see there are a couple places on ebay that sell brand new tailgates for around 200 bucks with free shipping but they don't seem to be complete. They only show a picture of the outside of it and don't really say what's included. Is this something I would have to adapt to what I already have? I went out and looked at mine and most of it appears to be only one piece but not sure.

 

[79jasper]

Pretty sure some people said those new ones are cheapanese and really thin/weak.
Why not a good used one?


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[drinkypoo]

I got a used one for a bill during cash for clunkers
Nothing in the local yards?

 

[towcat]

even the oem ones aren't made of really good metal either. they seem to last a little longer when reinforced with 1/4 thick diamond plate alu.
even then, they won't handle the weight of a IDI motor. don't try repeating this yourself.

 

[junk]

I had an aftermarket on my truck for a while. It was really thin. I would ditch the tail gate or find a used factory ford one.

The tailgate is basically one piece. It has about a 6" or so panel on the inside that allows access to the guts otherwise it's just one piece. My wife calls me a tail gate hoarder. Everytime I find a perfectly straight one at the salvage yard or on craigslist I pick them up if they are under $100 bucks. So far I've only found 3.

Towcat the 1/4" piece of plate you talk about. You getting that cut yourself or are you buying a pre-made tailgate protector? I'd like to find one that also wraps the top edge to keep it from getting dented up.

 

[vegas39]

Pretty sure some people said those new ones are cheapanese and really thin/weak.
Why not a good used one?


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I don't mind using a good one, that's all I saw at the moment on there. They were from summit.

 

[vegas39]

I got a used one for a bill during cash for clunkers
Nothing in the local yards?

Nothing decent. Seems like the tailgate is the first thing on a truck to get beat up. I,m gonna go back and get a hood, I have a good sized dent in mine and it also needs quite a bit of prep work. The paint shop said I would save by just grabbing a good hood instead.

 

[gonecrazyi]

I second the tailgate not holding an idi lol. Been there done that, bent the gate down lol

 

[vegas39]

going back to pick a part Friday for a hood, I'll check the tailgate situation again.