How do I replace my tailgate?

[poltroon]

My tailgate on my 1999 F-250 is dented on the inside and no longer latches/unlatches on demand. I think the cause is people at the feed store dropping too many bales on it, the final straw as it were, but admittedly it’s had a good long life.

I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to get it unlatched one last time but I don’t dare until we have a new one.

So I need to replace it and I find myself oddly at a loss for how. Do I just buy one on the internet? Do I take it to a body shop? Do I get some other sort of tailgate? I think I like the normal kind but maybe that’s just because I’ve never had one of the others.

I found a replacement online that was more affordable than I expected, but it is only primed, so I guess I’d have to take it somewhere to be painted?

[endlessclimb]

You might be able to find it at a local junk yard as well, and though it may not match it will be painted.

[RAyers]

You can also simply take the panel off and look at the entire latch mechanism inside. It is likely that you could fix this for free.

I would need to see what you mean by “dented.” Is the entire tailgate bent?

[endlessclimb]

I’d rather replace the whole tailgate than try to get a new match to align the width of the gate. WAY less aggravation.

[RAyers]

Actually it is insanely easy. I’ve worked on several tailgates, all the way up to the electronic latch ones. More than likely you don’t even need to replace anything. Likely to need a simple adjustment. Last time, it took me 15 minutes to repair the latch on my tailgate after a dent.

[endlessclimb]

To be fair, the last time I worked on a tailgate latch was on my 1970 Bronco. I may have PTSD from that, as I ended up having to get the welder out.

[RAyers]

Yeah. That was when they had solid face tailgates and you had to basically split them in half to get to the latch. Everything was done through the latch hole.

[Minxitbabe]

Super super easy to replace. One of the best places to look is in those free car/truck sales books that they have at many gas stations. There is usually a page that someone has a bunch of new/used tailgates for sale for various years and models. Local junk yards, Craigslist, Facebook market place are all other options. Just be sure you know the exact bed set up your truck has and confirm the other truck is exactly the same. Better yet take truck with you and switch it out on the spot to be sure!

[poltroon]

@RAyers

You can also simply take the panel off and look at the entire latch mechanism inside. It is likely that you could fix this for free.

I would need to see what you mean by “dented.” Is the entire tailgate bent?

It looks fine from the outside but from the bed side, there’s a definite dent in the center and I think it’s lost its rigidity. IE, the tailgate is no longer the width it is supposed to be and every time someone jumps or drops something on it, it is going to get worse.

I suppose it’s not impossible that I can hammer that out though, hmm

[poltroon]

I realize that if I still lived in LA that there would be like a place that just has used tailgates. This is not my situation, I live far from everywhere and I’m probably less concerned about my dollars than just my time and energy for interacting with people at this point. Going to town with the truck during business hours is a hassle, I’m sure there’s not one in stock locally and it will have to be ordered and shipped in somehow.

[punchy]

I don’t have a tailgate solution, but: years ago I would go to the feed store and the teenagers would dump my grain bags into the back of my poor, old, rusty hatchback and every time they did a chunk of rust would fall off the bottom of my car. The older men were more careful. When a teenager would come with 3-4 bags on his shoulder and go to thump them all down at once from shoulder height I would have to intercept them and make them wait while I took each one and placed it down gently and strategically. Then I stopped getting grain in it at all and made my fat dog sit in the back seat, because I was worried he would fall through the floor of the hatchback. Turned out what fell through the floor was the transmission, and that was the end of that little hatchback.

[lenapesadie]

Technically you could rattle can it and slap it on the truck. Won’t be a perfect color match but if that’s not gonna drive you nuts would be simple enough to do.

[LilRanger]

I’d get the one that’s on line, since yours is comprised. I’ll bet the paint place can not only paint it, but out it on for you, you should ask them.
One stop shopping, since it’s a bother to get to town.

[red_mares]

If you get one that is primed, you can order spray paint that will match your truck. It’s a bit more expensive than a can of Rustoleum, but way cheaper than a body shop.

[Jump314]

My 2002 F350 needed a new tailgate and I found a new one, with the correct color, on eBay. Try searching there.

[enjoytheride]

It’s super easy to replace the latch mechanism. Take it to a shop and they can do it in 30 minutes.