I currently have my tailgate unhooked from my Bronoc. Does anyone recommend drilling a few extra drainage holes in it before putting it back on. If so, where? Thanks for any possible info.

 

I think that I would be really careful about drilling any holes in the tailgate. I believe that there are some weep holes already made into it. Do you have a rust or moisture problem that you can see for sure? Drilling in a good tailgate could end up costing you more in the long run.. Just somthing to think about..

 

Moved to proper forum.

 

No, just hose it out THOROUGHLY to remove all the mud, then clean any rust out of it, then spray about 2 cans of undercoating into the lower half to keep it from ever rusting again. When you're reassembling it, inspect the long weatherbelts carefully: if they show any signs of cracking, replace them. They're the key to keeping the t/g in good shape. If you let them go bad, they'll scratch your glass and let dirt inside, which promotes rust.

Click my signature and look through the Tailgate photo album.

 

yes or enlarge the original drain holes, and put the undercoating or rust proof the inside.

 

I agree with the CAREFUL enlargement of the holes but do not recommend undercoating. I know first hand from 20+ yrs of body work that undercoating usually causes more harm than good. Look at any junkyard car to see what steel looks when a little bit of water gets trapped under 1/4" of undercoating that came loose. Either rough up the surface, clean, and apply POR-15 or similar thin rust protectant, or use a rust resistant paint such as plasticoat. Even spraying on engine fogging oil will work, although it does get too messy with time in my opinion. I prefer the POR or other THIN paints.

 

I will recommend the proper use of an undercoating or Rhino-lining, Herculiner, whatever. The drain holes in a Bronco tailgate are big enough to handle any moisture that would normally enter the gate. However! The seam where the outer skin sheet metal and the inner sheet metal are folded together and then welded along the bottom of the gate, creates a crevice that is LOWER than the metal of the inner sheet metal and the drain holes creating a trough for moisture to gather in. When I replaced the tailgate in my 92, I had the local Rhino-linings shop do the interior surfaces and the internal portion of the gate itself. They do this to body panels all the time especially classic vehicles that good replacement sheet metal is hard to come by. They took the time to remove the spray nozzle on the gun and fill that crevice so that there was a smooth slope from the outer skin to the drain holes. Before I put it in the truck, I took a garden hose to the tailgate to test my theory and their work. Presto! the water drained perfectly AND the water and elements couldn't even GET to the metal through the Rhino lining. I wish i could say how long this setup has lasted but you all know Greystreak's story so I have no idea how LONG it would last. I do know people who have had truck beds and road cases Rhino-lined and they have had them for 15-20 years or more. I have pictures of this setup if I can find them I will post them to my gallery again.