Mangled tailgate.

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Oct 29, 2005 | 02:54 PM

JJinEdgewood

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New User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 17

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From: New Mexico

Mangled tailgate.

Well for the second (and final) time I drove away from my fifth wheel trailer with the tailgate up

. Now I'm looking for a tailgate for a 97 F350 DRW longbed.

Anyone know a good internet or mail order source for a replacement tailgate?

Thanks

JJinEdgewood

Oct 29, 2005 | 03:04 PM

mattd17

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 1,365

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From: Ketchikan, AK.

i would check local salvage yards first.

Oct 30, 2005 | 07:22 PM

BPofMD

FTE Legend

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 65,938

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From: Millersville, MD

I've seen some nice prices for tailgates on ebay...sure am glad to hear I ain't the only 5th wheel puller that's done that!! My problem was, it happened to me just a few days after buying the new 2005 F250 PSD 4-four door long bed! It sure does bend that thing almost double!!

Shipping seems to be more than the price of the new tailgate!

Oct 30, 2005 | 08:32 PM

jaybird

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 398

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From: NORTH CAROLINA

just buy an aftermarket fifth wheel tailgate and you never have to worry about it anymore.

Oct 30, 2005 | 11:19 PM

notawordok

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Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 51

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From: Polkville, NC

been there done that twice once on a 1996 F350 that only had 3000 miles on it. The second time was with a 2000 F250 with 100k it hurt just as bad. Found one for the 2000 model on ebay fo 50 bucks and 50 dollars for shipping. It was the wrong color and it was scratched up a little had to paint it to match the truck so the scratches did not matter. I feel your pain and good luck finding one. The aftermarket tailgates that are like orginal are fairly cheap if you can salvage your guts and hinges out of the V gate. They are not as strong but they fill the hole.

Oct 31, 2005 | 09:01 AM

BigHazard

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 369

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From: Rose Hill, Ks

I just used some aftermarket parts on a chevy that I rebuilt and I would not reccomend them. The door fit like crap, it was in to much at the top and out at the bottom, I told my bussy I was going to move the hinges and he said bend the door. SO i did, just grabbed ahold of it and pulled the top out and pushed the bottom in. If I could find a ford tail gate for a decent amount over **** - dang parts I would buy them.