Tailgate Oops... How should I fix it?

[firefighter_2000]

So I let a close friend use the mega cab today, and as he was backing up to a loading dock the tailgate went up over the top. Got a bit of a dent & scratch on the top of the tailgate as seen below.



The delima is should I wast the time & effort to actually have it fixed, or does someone know of a tailgate cover that might cover it. If I had a tailgate cap, I could almost take a 4 inch wide piece of diamond treadplate to go all the way across under the lip.



Ideas?



Craig



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[SierraRam]

He borrowed it, he fixes it. Pretty simple. Make sure he takes it to a good body shop, you don't want shody work.

 

[Hoefler]

Go to a truck outfitter installs flatbeds and utility boxes. They may have a take off you can get cheaper than fixing or a new shell.

 

[steved]

Check Craigslist too... I see them quite often, although you'd probably need to have it painted.

 

[HOBrian]

He borrowed it, he fixes it. Pretty simple. Make sure he takes it to a good body shop, you don't want shody work.

I would agree 100%. Although if it were me and I did that to a friends truck he would have had a check in his hand when I gave back the keys.

 

[firefighter_2000]

He called me when it happened apologizing. He wants to pay to fix it. It happened on sunday afternoon, so an estimate wasnt possible yet. I hate for him to spend much cash fixing something that's going to be dinged and scratched again. I mean come on, how many dings and scratches are in your tailgate? My idea above would basically just be a protectant to that top part of the tailgate.
I think I'm going to try to beat the dent out today, prime it, and cover it with a piece of treadplate. I'll try to post some results.

 

[steved]

I mean come on, how many dings and scratches are in your tailgate?

The only two "dings" in mine are from the internal tailgate bracing causing dimples on the exterior sheet metal... note to one's self, don't put too much weight on the tailgate; they are not as stout as the 2nd gens!

 

[SierraRam]

My tailgate is on harmed, why would you expect your tailgate to be damaged? I do have LineX over the rails to protect the top edge but there shoud be no reason to expect dents in your rig.

 

[Wertles]

there shoud be no reason to expect dents in your rig.

It all depends on how you use it. For some, their trucks are in the same category as their tools. I have never seen a pristine truck on a construction lot unless it was the boss' truck that never gets used. However, those full time RV guys can keep their trucks looking like they just came off the lot for decades!
I had a tailgate oops myself and the Rhino liner guys made it look like new for 100 bucks. Your damage is worse than mine though.

 

[BLoging]

it will be about 1500 to 2,000$ for a new tailgate,time it get all of the badge's and other internal part's

just had mine replaced last fall after a forklift hit the end of the gate when it was down.

 

[RDeFayette]

Piece of diamond plate 4-5" wide with an angle bent for a return about as wide as the top of the gate and screw it down. If that's acceptable to you.

If he/you wants to replace the gate DO NOT get 1 of the cheap ebay gates. My dad had one rusted at the bottom in 6 months (BAD) and super thin, put any weight on it and the gate will look worse than this, it'll collapse in the middle. Better off with this gate in that case.

4 options:

1; new DODGE gate

2;diamond plate (+ it'll never happen again)

3; bang it back as close as you can and live with it.

or #4 (best option) seems to me like you can live with as you know what is going to happen eventually SO... ... . Tell him don't worry about I'll take care of the gate BUT you caould buy me a Smarty!! That'll also take care of that No mods yet issue!

 

[JSooter]

My wife backed into something while I was in Germany. Insurance (AllState) would only pay for aftermarket (cheap) replacements.



AllState is no longer my insurance company!

Wife no longer drives the truck



I found one from a 3500 that only needed to be painted. Paid the guy $400 (he had a 5th wheel tailgate) and had it painted. The Linex matched up perfectly with the rest of my truck.



I placed an ad on NW Bombers website (Northwest Bombers) and he responded within a couple of days.



Diamond plate might look pretty good as well- sort of like they've done on some of the older Jeeps.

 

[HHhuntitall]

A good sheet metal guy should be able to fab you a piece of diamond plate aluminum for less then $500. Also consider the Rhino-lining or clones. My first tailgate on the '03 lost to me... . i jumped off the top of my combine onto the tailgate, and it bent in two places under each foot, going all the way down to the top of the bumper... I couldn't lift it without it bending it. The second is on borrowed time, as I've already dented it in many places and bent it in the middle from setting my CPL tool-box on top of it. Two of my '06s tailgates are collapsed on the inside from loading feed tubs, another '07 is gone from my merely stepping down on it out of a reefer trailer while carrying a mule-deer(that one almost dumped me on the ground!!) I've found steel beds to be much more durable and cheaper in repairs in the long run. Funny, I never bent the tailgate on my '93... ...

 

[champspa]

good friends take responsibility for what they do . let him fix it it's just the right thing .

 

[BGlidewell]

it will be about 1500 to 2,000$ for a new tailgate,time it get all of the badge's and other internal part's

just had mine replaced last fall after a forklift hit the end of the gate when it was down.

similar situation, similar quote here. The body shop wanted to keep the entire truck while they repaired just the TG though and I passed.

 

[bheiting]

I have a Bushwacker tailgate cap on mine. It would come very close to covering, if it doesn't completely. About $50.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Any pics by chance?