ebay - Very nice tailgate!
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
ebay - Very nice tailgate!
Not correct regarding the years [1980, 1981, 1982, 1983?], but great for a restorer of 1984, 1985 & 1986...
Ford PU Tailgate 1980 81 82 83 84 85 86 new take off, stored for years. | eBay
Ford PU Tailgate 1980 81 82 83 84 85 86 new take off, stored for years. | eBay
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 924
Likes: 4
From: Johns Creek GA
That is a nice tailgate...although at $600 (plus shipping from DE) it's a bit rich for me.
Do I understand correctly that a later (83+) tailgate with the cables can be used on an earlier truck with the flat metal straps, as long as some new holes are drilled? I ask because down the road when I am ready to paint my truck, I am going to need a new tailgate - years of cattle stomping on my tailgate have left it in pretty rough shape.
Do I understand correctly that a later (83+) tailgate with the cables can be used on an earlier truck with the flat metal straps, as long as some new holes are drilled? I ask because down the road when I am ready to paint my truck, I am going to need a new tailgate - years of cattle stomping on my tailgate have left it in pretty rough shape.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Yes, a later gate can be used on an earlier truck without to much difficulty. But using an earlier gate on a later truck ain't so easy. Here's how I did it on Dad's truck.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Sheffield, AL
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Not correct regarding the years [1980, 1981, 1982], but great for a restorer of 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1986...
Fixed it for you...
Ford PU Tailgate 1980 81 82 83 84 85 86 new take off, stored for years. | eBay
Fixed it for you...
Ford PU Tailgate 1980 81 82 83 84 85 86 new take off, stored for years. | eBay
(sigh) Another clueless ebay seller. It cannot be 1980/86, because 1980/82 is one type, 1983/86 is another.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 26
From: NJ
Interesting, this within driving distance. My '86 needs a new tailgate ($100 China tailgate is falling apart). I got a repop (original tooling, seems well build and heavy) from Dennis Carpenter for $370 to my door IIRC. Haven't done anyhting with it as I've been debating painting the gate to match or doing the whole truck. This one on eBay is already painted the right color with letters on the gate. Minor blemishes and a marketing sticker that needs removed without screwing up the paint. What's a fair price if I were to pursue it?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,297
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From: NJ
You have experience with the Dennis Carpenter made with OE tooling tailgate? as I recall the construction and weight seems good and metal thickness was the same as my OE tailgate, which was slightly thicker than the China tailgate on my IDI. It seemed pretty solid to be, did not bend supported on each side and putting all my weight in the middle, the China gates bow real bad even with only a couple hundred pounds on them.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,362
Likes: 22
From: Florence, SC
Originally Posted by cadunkle
You have experience with the Dennis Carpenter made with OE tooling tailgate? as I recall the construction and weight seems good and metal thickness was the same as my OE tailgate, which was slightly thicker than the China tailgate on my IDI. It seemed pretty solid to be, did not bend supported on each side and putting all my weight in the middle, the China gates bow real bad even with only a couple hundred pounds on them.
I purchased one from Dennis Carpenter a few years ago, and then a week later I found one on Ebay like the one 1986F150six posted. Except this one also had the 1985/1986 aluminum tailgate finish panel in new condition. This meant I wouldn't have to drill the holes for it.
So, I bought it and sent the one from Dennis Carpenter back. I compared the two, and the OEM Ford tailgate seemed to be of a thicker metal. (But the "OE tooling" tailgate from Dennis Carpenter was a LOT thicker than the cheap aftermarket ones everyone else sells.)The best thing about a "new takeoff" OEM Ford tailgate is that ALL of the internal hardware and outside brackets to make it work are already there. The one from Dennis Carpenter (and everywhere else) won't have any of that.
Dennis Carpenter are beginning to get a LOT of their stuff from overseas as well, so watch out.
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