Cant put my tailgate on - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Smokin72on20s · 10-20-2004, 04:29 PM

how do you put your tailgate on? i cant get it to fit, i cant get both sides to fit into the trunions. i have a 72 fleetside by the way.

sactoC10 · 10-20-2004, 04:43 PM

I just put mine back on a couple of weeks ago. Got some milk crates and a blanket, stacked them up at the rear, put the blanket on top, scooted the gate into place while resting on them, trunions inserted with ease and started bolting into place. Are the trunions the right ones for the gate? Maybe and earlier model year?

my new 72 · 10-20-2004, 05:52 PM

Try putting the trunions on the gate before you bolt them on the bed.

Harold Shepard · 10-20-2004, 07:54 PM

Use some tape to hold the trunnions in place on the gate and the tailgate should slide into place. lay out the 9/16 wrench and four bolts -2 for each side and get some help to hold the gate in place 15-20 minutes tops if the box is square and in good shape.

Smokin72on20s · 10-20-2004, 08:27 PM

its an reproduction, but i dont think it is any different from the original ones?

dwaite72lnghrn · 10-20-2004, 08:57 PM

The way I normally do it is bolt the one side on, Hold the other in my hand, set the tailgate on the bolted 1, tilt the gate at an angle and slip the other on in the channel. Then I hook on the gate limit bars, the tighten the remaining bolts snug but not tight, close the gate position gate for alignment, and tighten bottom bolts both sides. open gate tighten upper bolts. always worked for me.

68w/sbc406 · 10-20-2004, 10:10 PM

if you have a welder you could cut a notch in the tailgate and then cut 2 of the sides flat on the trunions and weld a falt bar in. then its a quick release like the newer trucks

purple gas · 10-20-2004, 11:17 PM

what dwaite said,, and don't drop it on your foot,,,, trust me on that.

Richard Dobson · 10-22-2004, 12:46 PM

dwaite what a perfect description of what to do. When with the instruction video be available. How do you make the tailgate close properly when one side hits at the top right and leaves a 1/2" gap on the top left instead of closing flush on both sides. All the gaps are OK it just won't close against the bedsides flush.

dwaite72lnghrn · 10-22-2004, 06:10 PM

Take a square on the bed frame right behind the tail gate to the sides and make sure one side isn't spung out, They have a tendency to tear at the welds right at the bottom. If it is good, Then I would loosen the right side bolts and see if it will slide up a touch then tighten. Then loosen the left side and see if it will lower a touch then tighten.

10-20-2004, 04:29 PM	#1
Smokin72on20s Ebay Junky Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CO Posts: 893	Cant put my tailgate on how do you put your tailgate on? i cant get it to fit, i cant get both sides to fit into the trunions. i have a 72 fleetside by the way. __________________ 1972 CHEVY C-10 SWB 2WD - Possible Typhoon 4.3 turbo drivetrain.. 1983 Chevy c10 swb 2wd - possible 350tbi supercharged...

10-20-2004, 04:43 PM	#2
sactoC10 71 DELUX Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Northern CA / Sac Posts: 1,055	stock gate or aftermarket? I just put mine back on a couple of weeks ago. Got some milk crates and a blanket, stacked them up at the rear, put the blanket on top, scooted the gate into place while resting on them, trunions inserted with ease and started bolting into place. Are the trunions the right ones for the gate? Maybe and earlier model year? __________________ 5/4 drop LWB wood bed - 15x8 front 235/60 - 15x10 rear 295/50 2003 FORD Escape 1998 Honda VTR1000

10-20-2004, 05:52 PM	#3
my new 72 faster, faster, faster Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Houston ,Texas ,USA Posts: 1,354	Try putting the trunions on the gate before you bolt them on the bed. __________________ I'm going to Law School, wanna debate? It's good practice.

10-20-2004, 08:27 PM	#5
Smokin72on20s Ebay Junky Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CO Posts: 893	its an reproduction, but i dont think it is any different from the original ones? __________________ 1972 CHEVY C-10 SWB 2WD - Possible Typhoon 4.3 turbo drivetrain.. 1983 Chevy c10 swb 2wd - possible 350tbi supercharged...

10-20-2004, 08:57 PM	#6
dwaite72lnghrn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: central pa Posts: 1,525	The way I normally do it is bolt the one side on, Hold the other in my hand, set the tailgate on the bolted 1, tilt the gate at an angle and slip the other on in the channel. Then I hook on the gate limit bars, the tighten the remaining bolts snug but not tight, close the gate position gate for alignment, and tighten bottom bolts both sides. open gate tighten upper bolts. always worked for me. __________________ 72 longhorn c30 502BB/th400/fact air/4.11rear/ custom camper 72 bug(the better half's) under reconstruction 2009 HHR aqua blue 71 GMC k20 350/sm465 2009 Chevy hd3500 6.6 Victory Red crew cab dually Dave & Jeanne

10-20-2004, 07:54 PM	#4
Harold Shepard Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canton North Carolina Posts: 466	Use some tape to hold the trunnions in place on the gate and the tailgate should slide into place. lay out the 9/16 wrench and four bolts -2 for each side and get some help to hold the gate in place 15-20 minutes tops if the box is square and in good shape.

10-20-2004, 10:10 PM	#7
68w/sbc406 Got Light Emitting Diode? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 2,485	if you have a welder you could cut a notch in the tailgate and then cut 2 of the sides flat on the trunions and weld a falt bar in. then its a quick release like the newer trucks __________________ 1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's(the family car) 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler

10-20-2004, 11:17 PM	#8
purple gas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: saskatoon, planet earth Posts: 694	what dwaite said,, and don't drop it on your foot,,,, trust me on that.

10-22-2004, 12:46 PM	#9
Richard Dobson Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Easley, South Carolina Posts: 491	dwaite what a perfect description of what to do. When with the instruction video be available. How do you make the tailgate close properly when one side hits at the top right and leaves a 1/2" gap on the top left instead of closing flush on both sides. All the gaps are OK it just won't close against the bedsides flush. __________________ Richard Dobson

10-22-2004, 06:10 PM	#10
dwaite72lnghrn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: central pa Posts: 1,525	Take a square on the bed frame right behind the tail gate to the sides and make sure one side isn't spung out, They have a tendency to tear at the welds right at the bottom. If it is good, Then I would loosen the right side bolts and see if it will slide up a touch then tighten. Then loosen the left side and see if it will lower a touch then tighten. __________________ 72 longhorn c30 502BB/th400/fact air/4.11rear/ custom camper 72 bug(the better half's) under reconstruction 2009 HHR aqua blue 71 GMC k20 350/sm465 2009 Chevy hd3500 6.6 Victory Red crew cab dually Dave & Jeanne

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