Tailgate hinge?

[misfitt006]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by TexasF355F1

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....

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Yeah the delaership told me when I complained of MPG probs that leaving tailgate down actually makes your MPG lower

[TexasF355F1]

Originally Posted by misfitt006

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.

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by misfitt006

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

[Rollingbones]

Originally Posted by HanibalTheCannibal

Yeah the delaership told me when I complained of MPG probs that leaving tailgate down actually makes your MPG lower

I tried that and sure as shineola, my miledge went down!!! Wierd.

[redneck45]

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]

I've heard of replacement hinges, even seen them before, but I can't remember where..that was a good while back too.

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by redneck45

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?

[redneck45]

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]

how does the tailgate down hurt gas mileage???? if that was the case what about a t-cover?????

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by kenwood guy

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

[misfitt006]

Originally Posted by BlenderWizard

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??

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by redneck45

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