Tailgate Straightening?

[Dingfodgy]

I'm sure I'm not the only one on here who has a former "work truck" they're trying to resto-rodify! If you're in this not-so-exclusive club, you know the tailgate is probably the first thing to get trashed. Mine is rust-free and has some minor dents along the top. The biggest issue I have is that it's bowed out about 1/4 - 3/8 of an inch.
A take-off or NOS gate is entirely out of my budget and I've heard generally negative comments about the repop units. So I'm wondering if anybody on here has ever attempted to straighten a bowed t-gate? If so, what did you try and what were the results?

[JAKES 68GMC]

Your worried about 1/4-3/8 of an inch? I'd leave it alone if its only bowed that much.

The tailgate on my GMC is bowed out probably 1 1/2" in the middle of it, and when you shut it it sounds like a 12gauge going off. But, it works, and looks classy.

[stllookn]

Bowed side up on two 4x4's, one on each end. Jack up one front wheel of your truck, slide tailgate under tire and lower slowly...until tailgate is slightly bowed the other way. Jack it back up and check for straightness. I have done this to may gates with great success.

[msgross]

Originally Posted by stllookn

Bowed side up on two 4x4's, one on each end. Jack up one front wheel of your truck, slide tailgate under tire and lower slowly...until tailgate is slightly bowed the other way. Jack it back up and check for straightness. I have done this to may gates with great success.

did the truck tire ever dent it?

[jayharrell]

LOL. mobel press. I like it. I wonder if you can press bearings in that way??!?!

[heavy71chevy]

It probably wont dent it because the tire would give enough to not damage it

[realsteelGM]

Just what I have been thinking of doing. A bodyman I know here in Canada suggested splitting the top with a disc cutter and spread the tail gate open. After that you can hammer and dolly it. Also a great time to rust proof the gate and sound deaden it. The new gates are pricey and you are really not guranteed what your getting.

[Hart_Rod]

I may have to try this...............

[msgross]

im gonna try it this weekend... pics to follow...

[wibilly]

i think cutting them open is probably your best bet there tough i tried welding 3/8 bolts in a row onthe inside of a gate then taking a piece of squre tube and welding tabs with holes to match the bolts then screwing nuts on the bolts and tightening them up to pull out the bow i had some success but my squre tube had more flex than the gate.. if you try this you will need to usemaby apiece of 2x5 thick wall and a few good hours for only marginal results but if you split the top and used this method on the inside then using c clamps with maby a 2x4pad to prevent dents from the clamps , pulled the out side in and tacked it as you pulled the haves togather it may just work

[Livrat]

Stllookn's way works awesome!!
I have done it that way on many a tailgate!
Just be careful if you have one of those jacks that drop quickly with a small twist of the release handle!! Ask me how I know.. Oops

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Livrat

Stllookn's way works awesome!!
I have done it that way on many a tailgate!
Just be careful if you have one of those jacks that drop quickly with a small twist of the release handle!! Ask me how I know.. Oops

If thats the case then just use 2x4 instead of 4x4's so it hits the floor prior to doing much damage....

[PICKMUP]

I used to try stilllllllooooookin's method before we could get good straight new repros. The only thing I did different was use a full length 2x12 between the tire & tailgate to spread the load and reduce the possibility of denting the outside under the tire. Results were so-so...sometimes good...sometimes not so good.

[Hart_Rod]

I'm going to try it with this one. It came off camper truck and has about a 3/8" bow , otherwise it's almost perfect.

[msgross]

at what portion of the gate are you planning on resting the tire?