Wonder if any of you (mid '90's) guys that have replaced your tailgates with the "aftermarket" gates offered on ebay, the patch panel people, and the 1/2 dozen or so other companys that are selling late Bronco tailgates at different prices, that seem to be from the same (third world) manufacture?








My question is, what holes have you guys found out that are not drilled, not drilled right, or no nut plates on the back sides?




What I would rather not go through is (PIA!) totally assemble the new gate, (with my stiff fingers it took me a day and a half to totally remove everything from inside the OM gate) to make sure EVERYTHING is 'hooked up' like OEM, then totally disassemble again to paint the back sides and inside.

Nor do I want to 'prep' the 'new' gate for paint, paint the inside and backside, only to find out I have to drill a hole or tack weld something, that will cause premature rust.



I'm not making a 'show vehicle', just a nice driver. See if we can get another 8-10 more years out of it.



Wife and I "drove this '93 Eddie Bauer right off the showroom floor!" (got a picture to prove it) 1st and last vehicle we ever bought brand new. (want to make sure we get our $$ worth out of it. LOL)



Has a quarter million miles, (rusted to pieces) 150K of those miles was pulling a horsey and car trailer all over the US and in a couple of foreign countrys.





Thanks for the 'hole' information.

 

Have you considered checking the boneyards for a donor? Or that c list place? Any 92-96 tailgate from a Bronco should fit and if you don't mind any color mismatches that makes it even easier

 

That would be the ideal situation! Bolt it on, do a color change, and 'away we go'!


But what Broncos that are left (all been mashed, or are 'mud buggies') in any yards around here, either, don't have a tailgate or is in same shape mine is right now.


Didn't ALL late Broncos, the first thing to rust was the tailgate? (bad design?)


Surely, as rust prone as those gates are, somebody one here has had to have used one of those 'replacement' tailgates? Just checking to see if someone found out what 'bracket, mount, or hole' that hasn't been installed in the 'replacement' gates that are there in OM.


The cost difference between Ford Replacement and the ("aw so, U-flung chit, ching-a-ling, number one") 'aftermarket.' I can take the time (week+?) to totally assemble, hang it, make sure all the nuts and bolts hook up, wires are not binding, the glass goes up and down and the gate opens and closes. Then take it all apart again to prep for paint, to slow the rust process, again.

 

To widen your search area, any 83 to 96 tailgate will fit.

 

My tailgate is in pretty decent shape. Minor surface rust along the bottom rail and that's due to the weatherstripping being shot. Of course it's a CA truck and was decently taken care of.

Thanks to 1985 Bronco for the info on additional years. It's one of those parts I've been looking to grab if the price is right just to have it on hand