Has anyone put the 1/2 ton tailgate lips on

CMNTMXR81 · July 26, 2002

I was poking around the lot the other day and noticed the half tons have a real nice almost ledgelike tailgate lip protector. At least compared the the cheap black plastic strip on mine.

Has anyone done this swap? It looks like the HD's just glue on vs. theirs which looks to bolt on.

Firetiger(MN) · July 26, 2002

I haven't added one to my HD, but the one on my '99 Z-71 was wide enough that you could set a beer can on the tailgate protector quite nicely.

CMNTMXR81 · July 26, 2002

That's the one I want! The one I can have a picnic on.

mello98zss · July 26, 2002

I was also interested in doing this, and figured any topper sales/installation place would have a bunch of take-offs of these pieces since they won't fit with a topper. Maybe I could find one that would trade??

odoh · July 27, 2002

Aren't they referred to as "whale tails"?

Seems as they're always someone wanting to trade'em off for the regulars. ~ odod

sonjaab · July 27, 2002

GUYS, My bud put a cap on his 1/2 and

took off the "whaletail". But he was left

with the bolt holes in tailgate ! We measured

my 3/4 cover. Figured out it would cover the

bolt holes. Tried a few after market ones..

they wouldn't cover the holes ! Went to GM

dealer and ordered a 3/4 one...siliconed (spl)

the holes and put the GM 3/4 one on !

Worked great but found out later that some

cap makers have caps that fit over the

whaletail !...........geo

CMNTMXR81 · July 29, 2002

Damn, so you do have to drill! Speaking of this, I was driving to cruise nights Saturday night and a 2500HD passed me that had the 1500 lip on it.

But I don't want to drill into my sheetmetal.

Shaners · July 29, 2002

But I don't want to drill into my sheetmetal.

I can't gaurantee anything, but I bet your tailgate is already drilled. I seriously doubt if GM makes 2 tailgates that are identical except for the holes. The tailgate protector is held on with double face tape, so it would be easy to check if your tailgate already has the holes in it.

I wish I'd saved the one from my 1/2 ton when I put a cap on the truck... Actually I did save it, but I threw it in the bed of the truck when I traded it in.

CMNTMXR81 · July 29, 2002

Thing is though, the one I have doesn't go as far down on the outside of the tailgate as the 1500 unit. So if it were already drilled, I'd think I'd see the holes.

I've peeled the end of mine up a little to help re-fit it over the Rhino, but I didn't investigate further. Of course I wasn't thinking of it at that time.

chane · July 30, 2002

I have looked into this! Can't find anyone that will trade me.. figured someone would need a bed cover and need to change it. The holes ARE there. I pried mine back a bit to check (held on by double sided tape).

They are the hexagon holes that require the snap in nuts like the ones under the hood for bug shields.

CMNTMXR81 · July 30, 2002

Oh cool, maybe I'll peel it back further when I get a chance. If it is predrilled, chances are it's covered in paint too, so rusting may not be an issue.

brax71 · July 30, 2002

i have the 1500 and have said since the day i bought it that that stupid little tailgate cap was one of the VERY BEST improvements they've made to the trucks!!!! in addition to the beer can trick, when it comes time to close the tailgate the little lip is positioned just perfect to catch your fingers on and swing the gate up. Sounds like a little thing but i was amazed at that little example of attention to detail.