1981 C20 Stepside Chevy tailgate
 

I got several answers on how to remove the tailgate, and most were wrong. You do not close the tailgate to within 6 inches and it pulls up...on a stepside, you have to unbolt the trunnion. The trunnion has a slot and you have to hold it from turning (needle nose vise grips worked for me) and undo the bolt. It's not at all like the other tailgate removals. Just wanted to share in case somebody else has the question. Thanks.

Re: 1981 C20 Stepside Chevy tailgate
 

mine was able to pull off like a regular tailgate... perhaps one is original and one was replaced with a different hinge system?

Re: 1981 C20 Stepside Chevy tailgate
 

Maybe you are right. I just know mine would not come off like a regular tailgate. Interesting.

Re: 1981 C20 Stepside Chevy tailgate
 

On my 81 c10 I also had to unbolt the trunion using needle-nose vise grips like Mr. Mike - the steel on the bedside did not have a slot to allow the tailgate to pull up and out like I've also heard.

Re: 1981 C20 Stepside Chevy tailgate
 

Thanks for verifying that information. Maybe it will help somebody else with the same issue.

Re: 1981 C20 Stepside Chevy tailgate
 

Rather than using needle nose visegrips to keep the trunions from turning, there will be a small hole in the very bottom of the tailgate directly below the trunion. You can insert a screwdriver into the hole. As you turn the bolt and trunion, there will be a slot in the trunion that will line up with your screwdriver. Once the screwdriver is in the slot it can't turn anymore and you can remove the bolt.

Re: 1981 C20 Stepside Chevy tailgate
 

Thanks. I saw that slot on the trunion.....did not see the hole....next time!!

Re: Stepside Chevy tailgate removal
 

The tailgate on my 67 stepside is in bad shape. It looks like maybe someone had it down, and dropped something heavy on it, or maybe all the way down and backed into something. Anyway, decided to replace as I was doing a bed cover. The tailgate could be closed with difficulty by leaning heavily on it, then slipping the hook in. So I ordered a new tailgate, and went to take the old one off. Not obvious, so I came in and checked this forum, and found this thread. Tried the screwdriver in the slot on the right, couldn't get it to hold, went to the left, and got the bolt out. Then the tailgate could be removed by just sliding it off the remaining trunnion. Took a pipe wrench and an impact to the remaining trunnion, and broke the bolt--just as good as coming out. Thanks for the help!