Tail Gate opptions
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
From: Otto, NC
Call this guy! Very nice to deal with, very helpful and knows his Fords! He has tail gates for just about everything and has alternatives too. I just talked with him yesterday. Up to 1999 will fit the 97. Not the same body lines but will bolt right on and operate just fine. If he's busy he WILL call you back,
Tom Dugans Truck parts and conversions
659 Airport Rd Lawrenceville Ga 30046
770 962 5678
Tom Dugans Truck parts and conversions
659 Airport Rd Lawrenceville Ga 30046
770 962 5678
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 7
Call this guy! Very nice to deal with, very helpful and knows his Fords! He has tail gates for just about everything and has alternatives too. I just talked with him yesterday. Up to 1999 will fit the 97. Not the same body lines but will bolt right on and operate just fine. If he's busy he WILL call you back,
Tom Dugans Truck parts and conversions
659 Airport Rd Lawrenceville Ga 30046
770 962 5678
Tom Dugans Truck parts and conversions
659 Airport Rd Lawrenceville Ga 30046
770 962 5678
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
Last MSRP: $1,268.47 / Dealer net cost: $761.08
Applications: 1992/96 F150/350 / 1997 F250 H/D & F350.
No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Call this guy! Very nice to deal with, very helpful and knows his Fords! He has tail gates for just about everything and has alternatives too. I just talked with him yesterday. Up to 1999 will fit the 97. Not the same body lines but will bolt right on and operate just fine. If he's busy he WILL call you back,
Tom Dugans Truck parts and conversions
659 Airport Rd Lawrenceville Ga 30046
770 962 5678
Tom Dugans Truck parts and conversions
659 Airport Rd Lawrenceville Ga 30046
770 962 5678
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
From: Otto, NC
I won't get into an argument over this. I'm headed down to his place to see what it will look like and if it really will fit. The man is a former parts man for a Ford dealer. I feel after talking with him he knows his product. He also sells after market gates for earlier trucks. His after market gates are a good fit and cost around $200.00 and I think he said $65.00 shipping If I buy it I'll post a photo. Why not try calling him and ask for a 97 gate and hear what he has to say! You may be surprised...Just a thought.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
Likes: 72
From: Roseville, MN
The confusing thing about parts for '97s, especially F-250s, was that there were two completely different F-250s that year. The (light duty) F-250 shared a lot of parts with the new body style F-150 while the F-250HD was still the old body style (as was the F-350). The two F-250s share essentially no parts. So while I could be wrong, I'm pretty sure he's talking about a '97 F-250 (which is the same as a '97 F-150), not a '97 F-250HD like this thread is about.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 7
The confusing thing about parts for '97s, especially F-250s, was that there were two completely different F-250s that year. The (light duty) F-250 shared a lot of parts with the new body style F-150 while the F-250HD was still the old body style (as was the F-350). The two F-250s share essentially no parts. So while I could be wrong, I'm pretty sure he's talking about a '97 F-250 (which is the same as a '97 F-150), not a '97 F-250HD like this thread is about.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
From: Otto, NC
I've always been a GM guy. I know my GM trucks. I will admit I've talked to a bunch of people. Probably too many. I bought this Ford because it is a rust free truck and the price was right. I'm learning as I go. I intend to call this guy in GA again and have a tailgate conversation with him again. In the meantime I found this link to Amazon.com. It's from China no doubt.
The guy in GA says his after markets gates fit great. Like I said earlier I'm going to go check this place out! I WILL be honest with what I find!
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
Likes: 72
From: Roseville, MN
No personal experience but what I've heard about the less expensive aftermarket gate isn't problems with fit so much as with strength. They supposedly go on OK but don't try to stand on them.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Here is a link with pictures
the 87-96 and (97HDF250/F350) are interchangeable(OBS for short)
The 97(F150and Light duty F250) to 03 and The 99+ F250/F350 Superduty tailgates are different from the previous design
Southern Truck sells rust free GM, Chevrolet, GMC, Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Jeep, Toyota, Mazda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Nissan truck parts and also does truck restorations and customized paint jobs.
the 87-96 and (97HDF250/F350) are interchangeable(OBS for short)
The 97(F150and Light duty F250) to 03 and The 99+ F250/F350 Superduty tailgates are different from the previous design
Southern Truck sells rust free GM, Chevrolet, GMC, Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Jeep, Toyota, Mazda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Nissan truck parts and also does truck restorations and customized paint jobs.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 7
I've heard the same thing from people both online and local body shops. Everyone says aftermarket gates will bend if you stand, sit, or put any decent amount of weight on them.