Bowed tailgate

[gots2fish]

Can a bowed tail gate be repaired? Any suggestions

[Longhorn Man]

i've heard of people laying them in the dirt and running over them... guess if it is already junk, you don't have much to lose.
I doubt you could ever get one back to nice, once it's bowed it's bowed.

[mbgmike]

If you want to take it out the best way is to take to a shop that has a tail gate straightener. They cost too much for one job. They can get the bow out or at least most of it.

Added pic of press

[68gmsee]

I've tried the 2X4 method suggested by some.

Place to pieces of 2X4's on either end of the tailgate with the bow up.

I used a long 2X10 board I had laying around and placed it in the center of the tailgate then slowly drove the truck on to the board. As I got closer to the tailgate the bow started to go down.

What I found out is that I had to actually go beyond straight because when I backed the truck the tailgate had some memory and still was bowed.

Play with some and see what happends. Just don't over do it.

[gots2fish]

Thanks for the ideas. I have a pretty good tailgate other than its bowed a bit.

[68gmsee]

If it's in good shape and not all dinged up (like mine) I'd take it to a shop. They have hydraulic presses that can be controlled a lot better than using the truck. The original tailgates in good shape are expensive. I've seen them go for over $500.

[knsmodels]

It can be done....wont be perfect but you can get it close.....I fixed mine when I redid my truck using blocks of wood on the ends and applying pressure to the middle.....we slowly got it pretty straight.....no one has ever noticed it on the truck in the 5yrs since its been redone....good luck with it....