Anyone have the non-oem replica tailgate on their truck? I need a tailgate and I'm having a hard time finding one in decent shape. Would like to see what people have to say about the replica.

Anyone have pictures of in on the truck or can provide feedback?

 

I've never seen an Aluminum replica, but I know the cheap steel one is just two stamped pieces of steel spot welded together. It would never hold a load, but would fit the bill for quick looks.

 

not sure where i got the aluminum thing from... but this is the one i meant. Seems like a good cheap option but I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with it.

Sherman® 575-71 - Ford F-150 1980-1986 Tailgate Shell

 

one word comes to mind when thinking about aftermarket tailgates for these trucks.

TINFOIL

I would MUCH rater spend $400 on a GOOD gate ONCE then put a POS on and just be disappointed. Especially when you factor in the $200+ it is going to cost to have it painted

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I have an 84... any idea what the difference is between the $399 version and the $599 version?

 

They say "original Ford tooling"...does that mean the steel used is the original gauge as well? I'm in the market for a tailgate myself, but I want it to be as strong as the original.

 

The 599 is gonna be NOS if I remember right.

 

Ok sounds great... now what does NOS mean?

 

New old stock.

 

Which means it was a "official" Ford replacement, and has been sitting on the shelf all these years, being bought by parts dealers and now being offered for sale by them. Once they are all sold, they are gone.

 

Here's mine. I believe when I posted a thread about repairing it, the consensus of those on here who know about these say its a replacement. Don't know when it was put on my truck but its coming apart at the spot welds.



I'd definitely keep trying to find a good used original one to repaint, or do as Diesel_Brad recommends...........BOCO (Buy Once, Cry Once).......done, over, last a couple decades like the original.

 

Stock gates bust apart at those spot welds too. That's easily repaired. I have never had one, but have heard you can't hardly sit on one of the repro tailgates without it bending.

A guy I work with has a 94 f350. He complained about the door metal cracking where he pulls on it to close the driver's door. There is a screw that goes through to the metal part of the door where the hand-hold is on the interior door panel. I asked him if the door was black on the inside and he said yes. I then told him he was the victim of a repro door and the metal on those doors is very thin also. His truck was wrecked at some time and he never knew it.

 

A wise man once told me..."The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price"...I have found this to be VERY true !!

 

I tried one of those $99 tailgates and it was so bad it was hilarious... I could press dents into it with my thumb. After a while for grins and giggles I stood on the center and it taco'd right up...

It'd like to hope for $400+ you're getting something that's made better, but I'm hesitant to part with that much money to find out. There are no original tailgates at the parts counter, but that doesn't mean they weren't bought up by someone.

 

...ain't that the truth!