tailgate skins - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tylerg. · 07-28-2009, 11:25 PM

What exactly is a tailgate skin and how does it work? is it just a piece of sheetmetal that is welded over the existing tailgate?

Anyways, I like the look of this one and I'm wondering how I would go about installing it
http://sirmichaels.com/display_part/120.php

flamingbig10 · 07-28-2009, 11:31 PM

A tail gate skin shave the dimple in the tail gate and then a handle flip kit is needed or you can design your own, the piece you like covers just the dimple and it is welded in and body work is done to make it look good

**78 Big10 454** · 07-28-2009, 11:46 PM

I've got a full skin on my truck with the handle flip kit. Be advised, the tailgate is pretty heavy and I'm not as young (or strong) as I used to be.

3r!c84 · 07-29-2009, 12:00 AM

another Q?

do your tailgate move up and down when its closed and u grab it from the bottom?

**78 Big10 454** · 07-29-2009, 01:48 AM

There's no change in the operation of the tailgate with the full skin installed. It operates just like the factory tailgate, except I have to reach into the bed to unlatch it because of the handle flip kit.

ShowSS12 · 07-29-2009, 11:55 PM

damn that looks really good, I wonder if I should do that..

lowchevytrucks8503 · 07-30-2009, 01:21 AM

My tailgate is incredibly heavy. Its atleast twice as heavy as it was before. Worth every pound, unless you run it down the track, it'll probably set you back a whole 10sec lol

gchemist · 07-30-2009, 05:30 AM

I have a louvered skin and tailgate from www.mar-k.com

copperchevy · 10-27-2009, 11:07 PM

Are these tailgate skins wobbly in the middle. Just wondering because they are only welded on the sides and top and bottom. Or is the guage metal thick enough it wont cause a concern.

gchemist · 10-27-2009, 11:09 PM

Mar-k stuff is thick. It will not wobble in the middle. I had a plate welded behind the louvers. The plate reinforces the middle section. Plus, water it kept out between the tailgate and skin.

copperchevy · 10-27-2009, 11:12 PM

ok, thanks.

Driveway Dreams · 10-27-2009, 11:50 PM

The MAR-K piece covers the whole gate, and it is cheaper, and they are a site vendor. If you are going to get one, I strongly recommend theirs. On top of that, the 18ga metal would be more than strong enough. Especially with the body line across it.

copperchevy · 10-28-2009, 02:25 PM

So the mar-k skin is a cover that slides over the original tailgate? I was looking at the one www.grantkustoms.com sells and the outside tailgate area has to be cut out first. I'm concerned the mar-k skin will stick out too much or does moving in the mounts fix that problem?

osaltyone · 10-29-2009, 03:01 AM

I was wondering that too. Do you cut off the old skin or does the full skin just sit on top.

**78 Big10 454** · 10-29-2009, 03:27 AM

The full skin mounts over the existing tailgate. Nothing has to be cut out of the original tailgate, with the exception of the handle relocation flip kit on the inside of the tailgate.

osaltyone · 10-29-2009, 11:38 AM

COOL! that makes it easier. I googled it and saw something different.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78 Big10 454

The full skin mounts over the existing tailgate. Nothing has to be cut out of the original tailgate, with the exception of the handle relocation flip kit on the inside of the tailgate.

**texassquarebodies** · 10-29-2009, 05:12 PM

I have a mar-k full skin on my tailgate. I didn't even weld it. I used panel bonder. They use it on cars to glue qtr. panels on with. You can adjust your tailgate around to compensate for the added thickness of the skin. Go with mar-k, good stuff.

07-28-2009, 11:25 PM	#1
tylerg. Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Magnolia, TX Posts: 72	tailgate skins What exactly is a tailgate skin and how does it work? is it just a piece of sheetmetal that is welded over the existing tailgate? Anyways, I like the look of this one and I'm wondering how I would go about installing it http://sirmichaels.com/display_part/120.php

07-28-2009, 11:31 PM	#2
flamingbig10 6.0 powered square Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mesquite texas Posts: 3,459	Re: tailgate skins A tail gate skin shave the dimple in the tail gate and then a handle flip kit is needed or you can design your own, the piece you like covers just the dimple and it is welded in and body work is done to make it look good __________________ Aaron 1980 c-10 short bed lowered, cammed 6.0, 4l80e 3600 stall, smp tune, wilwoods, and flames best time so far best et 7.86 @87 on motor 7.57 90 on a 75 shot Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=283326

07-28-2009, 11:46 PM	#3
78 Big10 454 78 Big10 454 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Posts: 838	Re: tailgate skins I've got a full skin on my truck with the handle flip kit. Be advised, the tailgate is pretty heavy and I'm not as young (or strong) as I used to be.

07-29-2009, 12:00 AM	#4
3r!c84 Badass Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: lox. fl Posts: 4,586	Re: tailgate skins another Q? do your tailgate move up and down when its closed and u grab it from the bottom? __________________ Think outside the box? -84c10 (1stcar)→My Build← -00 Saturn 5spd drop a gear and disappear! 1/4:13:90

07-29-2009, 01:48 AM	#5
78 Big10 454 78 Big10 454 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Posts: 838	Re: tailgate skins There's no change in the operation of the tailgate with the full skin installed. It operates just like the factory tailgate, except I have to reach into the bed to unlatch it because of the handle flip kit.

07-29-2009, 11:55 PM	#6
ShowSS12 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sugarland,Tejas Posts: 356	Re: tailgate skins damn that looks really good, I wonder if I should do that.. __________________ Adam M STX Designs Motorcycles \| Choppers \| Hotrods

07-30-2009, 01:21 AM	#7
lowchevytrucks8503 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wichita Falls,TX Posts: 60	Re: tailgate skins My tailgate is incredibly heavy. Its atleast twice as heavy as it was before. Worth every pound, unless you run it down the track, it'll probably set you back a whole 10sec lol

07-30-2009, 05:30 AM	#8
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	Re: tailgate skins I have a louvered skin and tailgate from www.mar-k.com Attached Images __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos Last edited by gchemist; 07-30-2009 at 05:30 AM.

10-27-2009, 11:07 PM	#9
copperchevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 220	Re: tailgate skins Are these tailgate skins wobbly in the middle. Just wondering because they are only welded on the sides and top and bottom. Or is the guage metal thick enough it wont cause a concern. __________________ Mexican

10-27-2009, 11:09 PM	#10
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	Re: tailgate skins Mar-k stuff is thick. It will not wobble in the middle. I had a plate welded behind the louvers. The plate reinforces the middle section. Plus, water it kept out between the tailgate and skin. __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos

10-27-2009, 11:12 PM	#11
copperchevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 220	Re: tailgate skins ok, thanks. __________________ Mexican

10-27-2009, 11:50 PM	#12
Driveway Dreams I have car A.D.D. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Greeley, Northern Colorado Posts: 4,147	Re: tailgate skins The MAR-K piece covers the whole gate, and it is cheaper, and they are a site vendor. If you are going to get one, I strongly recommend theirs. On top of that, the 18ga metal would be more than strong enough. Especially with the body line across it. __________________ -Gerald Building vehicles in memory of the first "car guy" I ever knew, my Grandpa. Bob Dunham 1935-2009. Rest in peace. 61 GMC Suburban SOLD The 86 build thread SOLD Are you a Colorado member?Click here.

10-28-2009, 02:25 PM	#13
copperchevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 220	Re: tailgate skins So the mar-k skin is a cover that slides over the original tailgate? I was looking at the one www.grantkustoms.com sells and the outside tailgate area has to be cut out first. I'm concerned the mar-k skin will stick out too much or does moving in the mounts fix that problem? __________________ Mexican

10-29-2009, 03:01 AM	#14
osaltyone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Corona, ca Posts: 406	Re: tailgate skins I was wondering that too. Do you cut off the old skin or does the full skin just sit on top.

10-29-2009, 03:27 AM	#15
78 Big10 454 78 Big10 454 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Posts: 838	Re: tailgate skins The full skin mounts over the existing tailgate. Nothing has to be cut out of the original tailgate, with the exception of the handle relocation flip kit on the inside of the tailgate.



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10-29-2009, 05:12 PM	#17
texassquarebodies Truck Nut Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wills Point, Texas Posts: 407	Re: tailgate skins I have a mar-k full skin on my tailgate. I didn't even weld it. I used panel bonder. They use it on cars to glue qtr. panels on with. You can adjust your tailgate around to compensate for the added thickness of the skin. Go with mar-k, good stuff. __________________ Tony Kee Texas Square Bodies

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