Tailgate bumper

[vet57air]

Squared up my 66 SWB fleetside box and have the Mar-K tailgate fitting well (no chains). The tailgate sits on the box metal, no rubber bumpers? Metal on metal will make a mess of new paint in short order. No room to put a bumper as it would push the tailgate out. Is there a trick to fix this?

[vet57air]

Thinking major surgery to box to allow for room for a rubber bumper? Stock it looks like tailgate rests on box, metal to metal?

[Clyde65]

Got a picture of what your asking??

[vet57air]

When the tailgate closes, it stops when it hits the metal of the bed sides. Later trucks, 67-72 have a little more room and have a rubber bumper to save the paint. No room to do that on a 60-66. Must be a way?

[OldGyrene]

Originally Posted by vet57air

Attachment 1913900

When the tailgate closes, it stops when it hits the metal of the bed sides. Later trucks, 67-72 have a little more room and have a rubber bumper to save the paint. No room to do that on a 60-66. Must be a way?

I have always used a small piece of self adhesive weather strip.

[Clyde65]

I honestly never even looked to see if there was some rubbing....now I’ll have to look when I get home. I know I didn’t put any weatherstripping there but...

[yote1234]

i have the same problem... im watching....

[nsb29]

I’m working on mine, I need to look at that. I made a hard rubber bushing with a stainless pin for my hinge so it wouldn’t chip the paint. I know the chains will but I think they give them caricature. The chains not chips

[damnyankee36]

I was thinking of using that clear film that's used to protect the bottom of sheet metal, around wheel wells, front ends, etc. I'm sure it would have to be periodically replaced but it might save the paint. Even a few layers of heavy duty clear packing tape might do the trick.

Some sort of thick, adhesive tape might also work. Something thin enough that it doesn't make the tailgate stick out too much.

[oem4me]

Minimal searching found "friction reduction tape". Perhaps a couple short strips where your gate first makes contact would do the trick. I wonder if it's available in clear?
https://www.rockler.com/nylo-tape-fr...yABEgItkfD_BwE

[vin63]

If you're not using the original tailgate chain and hook to secure the tailgate, what are you using to lock the tailgate in the up or down positions? I ask because I use a hidden latch system with pins that lock the tailgate in the up position with no contact with the bedsides and no movement.

Originally Posted by vet57air

Attachment 1913900

When the tailgate closes, it stops when it hits the metal of the bed sides. Later trucks, 67-72 have a little more room and have a rubber bumper to save the paint. No room to do that on a 60-66. Must be a way?

[vet57air]

Originally Posted by vin63

If you're not using the original tailgate chain and hook to secure the tailgate, what are you using to lock the tailgate in the up or down positions? I ask because I use a hidden latch system with pins that lock the tailgate in the up position with no contact with the bedsides and no movement.

I have good gaps with my Mar-K tailgate. I have plastic trunions so there is no side to side movement. It has the hidden bear claw type latches.
The issue is that 60-66 tailgates in the fully up position rest on the metal of the stake pockets. I don't want this as it will ware paint. 67-72 have a nice recessed rubber bumper to stop the tailgate in its full up position. I want the tailgate to fit flush but have enough room to fit a rubber bumper. Short of cutting and welding the stake pocket the height of the tailgate, I am not sure what to do. I am sure someone has run into this before?

[bigmoe]

Maybe a couple of pieces of some medium density foam tape that will almost fully collapse when the gate is shut?

[vin63]

My tailgate with the hidden pin latches do not contact the bedside stake pockets. The mount for the pin receiver from Mar-K is very accurate in spacing the tailgate so there is no metal-to-metal contact. In fact, there is enough room for my tailgate guard.

Originally Posted by vet57air

I have good gaps with my Mar-K tailgate. I have plastic trunions so there is no side to side movement. It has the hidden bear claw type latches.
The issue is that 60-66 tailgates in the fully up position rest on the metal of the stake pockets. I don't want this as it will ware paint. 67-72 have a nice recessed rubber bumper to stop the tailgate in its full up position. I want the tailgate to fit flush but have enough room to fit a rubber bumper. Short of cutting and welding the stake pocket the height of the tailgate, I am not sure what to do. I am sure someone has run into this before?

[vet57air]

Originally Posted by vin63

My tailgate with the hidden pin latches do not contact the bedside stake pockets. The mount for the pin receiver from Mar-K is very accurate in spacing the tailgate so there is no metal-to-metal contact. In fact, there is enough room for my tailgate guard.

That is good news. Hard to tell from your pictures, but how flush is your tailgate with the rear of the box sides? Did you do your paint? Did you do anything special to get the tailgate flush?

[vin63]

It fits better than the orginal...

[Lokin4AReason]

Looks nice