Tail Gate Warnings..

[Kodiak450]

So I always have been very meticulous about caring for my truck. Always had repairs done asap or right away (not only because I use my truck for commericial purposes) but because I don't allow parts to be pushed to failure. When a code comes up, the truck is addressed. Now for cleaning, once a week, maybe 2 depending on how dirty it gets. Interior is always kept clean, vacuumed, rugs stain free, dash armoralled, you get the picture.

 

I've had some repairs done to my tailgate when it got scratched, and had it repainted. Noticed recently when I was out in PA that some of the paint on the lower tailgate had a bubble in it. Firgured, that the tailgate must of had some moisture on the metal before it got painted last year, and body shop I use would be more then happy to resand and reapply fresh paint. So I dropped off the tailgate last weds, followed up on it yesterday and come to find out that I have rust termites. Apparently the tailgate was rotting from the inside out. It could be repaired by bandaids, but problem will continue to destroy tailgate from inside out slowly. I opted to get a new tailgate. Apparently, the manufactures stopped using a product which they used to use in the 60's, where when applied it left the metal feel tacky all the time in hidden areas to protect vehicle against rot. I guess they want you to buy a new truck every X amount of years, to me this is unacceptable. I will replace inferior parts after they fail with better grade if available, to contiune to keep my truck alive and running.

 

Geting back to the tailgate, if you were to pop your gate off you will find 6 or 7 wheeping holes in the bottom of the tail gate ( this is where moisture gets retained and rot starts to form over time). You would think that the wheeping holes would allow any moisture to drain out, but apparently it doesn't. Now I do use tail gate spreaders which mount on to my hitch in the winter for snow plowing and salting. One of my spreaders did have a tendency to allow salt to get thrown back onto bumper and hit the tailgate itself with salt and salt dust, so my solution was to use a tarp when salting with that tailgate spreader. My other tailgate spreader which is a more expensive brand and different design, does not allow any salt to get on my bumper or spray salt rocks or salt dust onto the tailgate, so I don't have to worry about using a tarp to protect the tailgate in the winter when salting. But getting back to the wheeping holes located ont he bottom of the tailgate. If I were you, I would pop off my tailgate and inspect this area for rust. Moisture also likes to attack the inner side of the tailgate "especially where the tailgate mounts on the bottom". I bought some hi-tech red grease from walmart last week which only cost $3.19 and applied it generously to the bottom mount areas to protect it from moisture damaging this area. I also plan on applying this same grease into the new tailgate wheeping holes when I get it back after it is all painted and the interior part of the door having the spray on bed liner on it like my current tailgate had when I purchased the truck. I figured if I can find some type of flexible brush that will allow me to get the grease into each of the wheeping holes and apply the grease generously and reapply when needed, this problem will never come back again. I inspected the tail gait yesterday and seen the areas where the rust was at and eating away at the metal, there are a number of breaches in the tail gate designs where moisture can get in and destroy your tail gate over time. Taking 5-10 minutes of your time and applying grease to these areas ( the wheeping holes located on bottom of tailgate, both left and right interior sides with grease, and the mounts on the bed where the tail gate fits into) should prevent this problem from happeneing, provided it is inspected every couple months and grease applied when needed.

 

I also used the grease on the hinges of interior doors, as the bracket that mounts to the bottom for rear doors likes to develope rust over time from moisture. Also lightly applied with a paint brush the speaker grill covers. Apparently the paint isn't strong enough on my generation truck and the grills have a light coating of rust on the front speaker grills. This is probably from snow getting on them int he winter when getting in and out of the truck. Perhaps there are some owners who don't have this problem in their grills. I bought a rubber paint product at walmart for $7.00 made by rustoleum (you can find it in walmarts automotive section). I applied the paint to areas ont he frame that I was able to reach without the truck being on a lift where some surface rust was present. front frame area in front and back of front wheels. Reserve box located on lower drivers side under alternator, rear leaf springs, and hitch assembly behind rear bumper. Not sure how well this product works, but will post updates over time. I always hit these areas with regualr spray paint, but it never lasted for long. The stuff I'm using now is moisture resistant and gives a rubberized coating similar to a spray on bed liner. Wouldn't be a bad idea to spray this stuff inside the tailgate through the wheeping holes, as it has a different type of spray nozzel as compared to a regular spray paint can. Maybe one of those plastic tubes that come with the window foam will fit on nozzle and make it easier to spray into tight areas for added protection.

[Kodiak450]

Got my brand new tail gate today. It got additional primer allplied to it before final paint, inside tail gate has the spray on liner like the old one did and the interior of the tail gate was sprayed with that grease like substance that they used to use back in the 60's on all vehicles in the trunks and other areas where moisture could get into. It eventially hardens to a wax like substance. I opted for the better replacement door that has more ridges inside it as opposed to the cheap reproduction kind that has less ridges and weaker metal. Door feels solid and has the smell of brand new paint. $500 cash is all I paid.

[Kodiak450]

Also do your tail gate a favor and either have that substance professionally sprayed into all the cracks and crevices with a 360 degree tip or apply some litium grease into it annually. I looked inside the old tail gate and clearly seen dried up dirt from where the water gets into. Problem over time is water that doesn't drain all out through bottom wheeping holes, will sit there and start to rot out the bottom welds and become progressively worse over time. In the 60's they would of sprayed this protective substance inside the tailgate, so it would not rot out. They stopped doing this back in the late 70's early 80's cause of extra cost to them. And they want you to buy a new vehicle every X amount of years.

[KMGZ400]

great post. very helpful,

 

ive noticed about 20 very small rust spots on my tailgate under the clear coat that you can only see if your eyes are 3 inches away. worries me.

[Kodiak450]

Start greasing it before it's too late. Get yourself some red grease for a few bucks and apply to where the doors connect, thats the area that can rust alot if not greased. You can try the litium grease can with straw tip for nozzel after you take off the door and stick it in every holes and spray away. If you got a flexible tool that bends, you might be able to apply grease into the wheeping holes. It's a messy job, but it's better then having your tailgate fall to rust termites over time. My paint started bubbling up at very bottom, that is where I saw a problem and took it to the body shop. Unfortuntately it was too late for my tail gate.

[Kodiak450]

One more thing, your tail gate does not have any type of protectant inside of it except for a very weak coat of primer. I had that greasy/waxy substance sprayed inside of my new one for added protection and this stuff will last a lifetime cause it dries into a wax substance over time. However I will still annually apply grease to the hinges and very bottom and sides of the new tail gate for added protection.

[kurt1993]

One more thing, your tail gate does not have any type of protectant inside of it except for a very weak coat of primer. I had that greasy/waxy substance sprayed inside of my new one for added protection and this stuff will last a lifetime cause it dries into a wax substance over time. However I will still annually apply grease to the hinges and very bottom and sides of the new tail gate for added protection.

 

im not so worried about the tailgate itself but my hinges seem to be getting very rusty. . . anything i can do for that?

[Kodiak450]

Apply grease to the hinges and to the fittings on the tail gate that fit into the hinges. That area can retain moisture and rust. I bought a little thing of red grease at walmart for $3.19 and use a paint brush to apply it to stuff. All the hinges on the truck, a light coating over the speaker grills (cause the grills like to form light rust on them from water that gets inside your truck when you open the door). Also applied it to many areas under the hood where rust likes to form and was able to reach the areas. Like the reserve box located under the alternator. I had a new one installed last year and after this winter it already had a little rust forming on it. Just be careful not getting any grease on the belts. I put a light coat on the alternator housing to stop oxidation too. Hitch area I also greased up, as there was rust forming on it.

 

I bought at walmart also a can of rust oleum undercoating rubberized paint, and hit the frame areas that had rust. Next time my truck is up on a lift I plan on hitting the rest of the areas under the truck that have rust forming. The product seems to hold up well as I sprayed my rear leaf springs and none of it has come off as of yet. It's a taller can vs average spray paint can and is $7.00 or so. Has 15 fluid oz can.

[kurt1993]

thanks, will do, and yea my frame could use it its getting to be really rusty on the driver side upper control arm and the frame right there where the control arm connects, my hitch is looking pretty shot too

 

-Kurt