Tailgate hinge?
misfitt006
10-10-2005, 07:00 PM
Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket hinge that I can buy to replace the cables on the tailgate? I always drive with my tailgate down and there are a lot of speed bumps and potholes in my town. Everytime I go over one I can hear my tailgate bounce. I don't know if it will cause some problems eventually but I'd rather do something about it now before it does. I'm hoping to find some kind of locking hinge that will not allow it to bounce. I don't want to remove the tailgate totally because I do use it when I haul stuff and I don't really like the net gate look. Thanks in advance.
TexasF355F1
10-10-2005, 07:30 PM
If you're driving with your tailgate down b/c you think you'll get better gas mileage you won't. My friend mileaged his 95 GMC Sierra when he had no tailgate, he had to take it in to a shop to have a dent fixed and then mileaged it when he put it back on and his mileage increased. He does not drive with a heavy foot and drives the same exact mileage 5 days a week so his test was pretty accurate.
misfitt006
10-10-2005, 07:32 PM
If you're driving with your tailgate down b/c you think you'll get better gas mileage you won't. My friend mileaged his 95 GMC Sierra when he had no tailgate, he had to take it in to a shop to have a dent fixed and then mileaged it when he put it back on and his mileage increased. He does not drive with a heavy foot and drives the same exact mileage 5 days a week so his test was pretty accurate.
That's strange. I checked mine with it up and with it down and I get slightly better milage with it down....
That's strange. I checked mine with it up and with it down and I get slightly better milage with it down....
HanibalTheCannibal
10-10-2005, 08:03 PM
Yeah the delaership told me when I complained of MPG probs that leaving tailgate down actually makes your MPG lower :dunno:
TexasF355F1
10-10-2005, 09:15 PM
That's strange. I checked mine with it up and with it down and I get slightly better milage with it down....
I've talked to several other people including my uncle as well and none of them experience better mileage. So I dunno either.
I've talked to several other people including my uncle as well and none of them experience better mileage. So I dunno either.
BlenderWizard
10-10-2005, 10:17 PM
Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket hinge that I can buy to replace the cables on the tailgate? I always drive with my tailgate down and there are a lot of speed bumps and potholes in my town. Everytime I go over one I can hear my tailgate bounce. I don't know if it will cause some problems eventually but I'd rather do something about it now before it does. I'm hoping to find some kind of locking hinge that will not allow it to bounce. I don't want to remove the tailgate totally because I do use it when I haul stuff and I don't really like the net gate look. Thanks in advance.
ANYWAY, back to the question... I assume the "hinge" you are talking about is like what they used on trucks before the cables? I don't know of a manufacturer, but if anyone else knows, tell us, because I wnt to know, too
ANYWAY, back to the question... I assume the "hinge" you are talking about is like what they used on trucks before the cables? I don't know of a manufacturer, but if anyone else knows, tell us, because I wnt to know, too
Rollingbones
10-10-2005, 11:55 PM
Yeah the delaership told me when I complained of MPG probs that leaving tailgate down actually makes your MPG lower :dunno:
I tried that and sure as shineola, my miledge went down!!! Wierd.
:werd:
I tried that and sure as shineola, my miledge went down!!! Wierd.
:werd:
redneck45
10-11-2005, 08:20 AM
email this dude, [email protected], he makes and sells a stainless steel strap that takes the place of the fail prone cables. It will not lock the tailgate down, but does give a huge piece of mind when loading heavy items--after having cables break due to internal corrosion--I will never have them on my truck again!
jeverett
10-11-2005, 08:37 AM
I've heard of replacement hinges, even seen them before, but I can't remember where..that was a good while back too.
BlenderWizard
10-11-2005, 08:55 AM
email this dude, [email protected], he makes and sells a stainless steel strap that takes the place of the fail prone cables. It will not lock the tailgate down, but does give a huge piece of mind when loading heavy items--after having cables break due to internal corrosion--I will never have them on my truck again!
How much does he sell them for?
How much does he sell them for?
redneck45
10-11-2005, 02:13 PM
I think I paid around $65 for them. I bought them awhile back and have used them on two different trucks now--sell or trade truck and keep the straps cause they will outlast the truck!
kenwood guy
10-11-2005, 04:12 PM
how does the tailgate down hurt gas mileage???? if that was the case what about a t-cover?????
BlenderWizard
10-11-2005, 04:42 PM
how does the tailgate down hurt gas mileage???? if that was the case what about a t-cover?????
The tailgate down and hurting MPG makes no sense to me since a tonneau cover helps it. In both cases, you have the airflow coming down off the roof of the cab on to a flat surface (the bed or the cover) and then exiting the truck. Seems like they would both do the exact same thing... I dunno
The tailgate down and hurting MPG makes no sense to me since a tonneau cover helps it. In both cases, you have the airflow coming down off the roof of the cab on to a flat surface (the bed or the cover) and then exiting the truck. Seems like they would both do the exact same thing... I dunno
misfitt006
10-11-2005, 05:10 PM
The tailgate down and hurting MPG makes no sense to me since a tonneau cover helps it. In both cases, you have the airflow coming down off the roof of the cab on to a flat surface (the bed or the cover) and then exiting the truck. Seems like they would both do the exact same thing... I dunno
Exactly my point. As I said before I have checked my milage with it up and with it down and it's better with it down. So to highjack my own thread back on topic I'm guessing that nobody knows if they're made or if I can go to a junkyard and pull some off an old truck and just install them on mine??
Exactly my point. As I said before I have checked my milage with it up and with it down and it's better with it down. So to highjack my own thread back on topic I'm guessing that nobody knows if they're made or if I can go to a junkyard and pull some off an old truck and just install them on mine??
BlenderWizard
10-11-2005, 05:26 PM
email this dude, [email protected], he makes and sells a stainless steel strap that takes the place of the fail prone cables. It will not lock the tailgate down, but does give a huge piece of mind when loading heavy items--after having cables break due to internal corrosion--I will never have them on my truck again!
Apparently, this guy sells them, but the ones on my dad's 81 do not seem as though they will fit
Apparently, this guy sells them, but the ones on my dad's 81 do not seem as though they will fit
twomorestrokes
10-12-2005, 08:41 AM
how does the tailgate down hurt gas mileage???? if that was the case what about a t-cover?????
The tailgate down lowers mpg due to destroying the low pressure area that is normally present at the rear of the truck. There are two low pressure areas that help "push" the truck: directly behind the cab and behind the closed tailgate. I have read milage tests that have concluded that trucks with cargo nets or drivers that simply drive with the gate down will experience a loss of fuel milage by disrupting the natural low pressure areas.
As far as hinges go- my '90 used them where my '95 had cables. The older hinges should hook to the truck like the cables do, but the hinges from the older truck may not let the gate drop quite as far. When my cables broke on my '95 I stuck some free ones on there from a NBS truck and they were very slightly longer. The gate was very close to touching the top of the bumper.
The tailgate down lowers mpg due to destroying the low pressure area that is normally present at the rear of the truck. There are two low pressure areas that help "push" the truck: directly behind the cab and behind the closed tailgate. I have read milage tests that have concluded that trucks with cargo nets or drivers that simply drive with the gate down will experience a loss of fuel milage by disrupting the natural low pressure areas.
As far as hinges go- my '90 used them where my '95 had cables. The older hinges should hook to the truck like the cables do, but the hinges from the older truck may not let the gate drop quite as far. When my cables broke on my '95 I stuck some free ones on there from a NBS truck and they were very slightly longer. The gate was very close to touching the top of the bumper.
BlenderWizard
10-16-2005, 11:11 AM
Alright, here is some definative proof... The tailgate down/off actually does hurt MPG. http://sitemaker.umich.edu/um.gm.truck
kenwood guy
10-18-2005, 01:22 PM
Alright, here is some definative proof... The tailgate down/off actually does hurt MPG. http://sitemaker.umich.edu/um.gm.truck
"Its not what you know.....Its what you can prove"
Tranning day
well done blender im a beliver now
"Its not what you know.....Its what you can prove"
Tranning day
well done blender im a beliver now
twomorestrokes
10-18-2005, 01:27 PM
"Its not what you know.....Its what you can prove"
and don't forget...68% of all facts are made up on the spot.
and don't forget...68% of all facts are made up on the spot.
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026