Upper Tailgate Rusted Out - Land Rovers Only

OkieRover · 11-15-2006, 08:45 AM

What are your recommendations for the replacement.
Get the Aluminum kit and build it myself should be no problem for me. But I've heard some negative things about them like strength etc...or get the steel OEM replacement and just bolt it back on there?

TerryS · 11-15-2006, 08:58 AM

I' ve not heard anyone say much bad, or otherwise, about the aluminum ones, but they sure don't give them away. We got a nice used one from Paul Grant. It wasn't perfect, but 1000% better than the one that was on the truck. He's parting out so many classics these days, he ought to have one or have one on the way.

sven · 11-15-2006, 09:16 AM

I vote for aluminum. Get the one-piece one made by Maxidrive. I believe GBR sells them.

I was a sucker and bought a genuine one for mine about 4 years ago. Luckily I paid well below what they go for now. Still holding up great!

daway · 11-15-2006, 12:20 PM

i have seen on RN, AB, BP that u can buy the alum w/ glass. it might b more then the steel ones but it will pay for it's self in yrs to come. then we will not see u pull this thread in 4 yrs and say "oh why didnt i get the alum one"

KevinNY · 11-15-2006, 01:31 PM

Go to marine canvasmaker and have them make a clear plastic roll up window with snaps around the sides and bottom, then rivet the snaps onto the rear of the truck. Quick access and you can roll it down for bad weather.

Paul Grant · 11-15-2006, 03:24 PM

I just sold an aluminum tailgate last month. While I like the idea of never having to worry about rust, the aluminum did not feel as sturdy as the OEM. I have also read on different boards about fit issues. The one I had fit very well so take the above comment with a grain of salt.

If I had the choice between an OEM tailgate in new condition I would opt for it over the aluminum. If I didn't have the choice and an aluminum tailgate fell into my lap I'd go with it. Regardless, I would never pay retail for either of them. Look around and see what comes up. So many of these trucks are being parted out these days that I'm sure you'll find a pretty good tailgate for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

TerryS · 11-15-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Grant

Regardless, I would never pay retail .

Thats the English translation of the Latin on my family crest. If you want to be a true Scotsman, you're on the right track

DevynsDad · 11-15-2006, 05:15 PM

I got an OEM with all of the wiring still intact off of ebay from a very reutable seller. Paid $450+ shipping. It took me all of 15 minutes to replace my old one.

I figured that the time I saved in assembly of one of the do-it-yourself aluminum kits was worth the dollar difference. Plus I now have a spare rear windshield in case something happens.

KIRKSHIRE · 11-15-2006, 07:56 PM

I replaced my severely rotted rear hatch about five years ago.

Before installation I made sure this high priced item was going to fare better than the old unit.

As a precaution, I masked off the sides and bottom edge where the glass meets the frame.

Once the tape was secured to the glass and metal frame, I carefully caulked the exposed joint and beveled the caulk to accomodate water and ice runoff.

No open channels to allow water pooling and subsequent rust damage. You'd think they'd design a beveled gasket --- sorry, what was I thinking, I forgot about PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE.

daway · 11-16-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIRKSHIRE

I replaced my severely rotted rear hatch about five years ago.

Before installation I made sure this high priced item was going to fare better than the old unit.

As a precaution, I masked off the sides and bottom edge where the glass meets the frame.

Once the tape was secured to the glass and metal frame, I carefully caulked the exposed joint and beveled the caulk to accomodate water and ice runoff.

No open channels to allow water pooling and subsequent rust damage. You'd think they'd design a beveled gasket --- sorry, what was I thinking, I forgot about PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE.

good idea, i read that samething on another forum and rangerover.net. i just replaced my bottom (rt/left) corner taps and an the center i used liquid steel (hold firm) and then around the edges on each corner taps i used silcone to keep water out of the corner joints. also wash it off and dry it all the time in the winter.

MuddyRangeRover · 11-16-2006, 10:48 AM

My tail gate is mint, upper and lower.
Carry on.

I would probably go for tha OEM.

View Poll Results: Which Tailgate Solution should I get?
Aluminum "do it yourself"	3	33.33%
OEM replacement	1	11.11%
I like pie	5	55.56%
Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll

11-15-2006, 12:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
daway Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: St. Croix Valley, MN Posts: 1,300 Gallery: 0	i have seen on RN, AB, BP that u can buy the alum w/ glass. it might b more then the steel ones but it will pay for it's self in yrs to come. then we will not see u pull this thread in 4 yrs and say "oh why didnt i get the alum one" __________________ 2001 X5 3.0i "dodi" 1993 RRC, county LWB "bertha" 1991 RRC (dad's), parting out (email me or check out the link below) myroverworld Last edited by daway : 11-16-2006 at 10:17 AM.

11-15-2006, 01:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
KevinNY Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guilderland, NY Posts: 790 Gallery: 0	Go to marine canvasmaker and have them make a clear plastic roll up window with snaps around the sides and bottom, then rivet the snaps onto the rear of the truck. Quick access and you can roll it down for bad weather. __________________ "The Goat",1973 Series III coil conversion, Daihatsu 2.8 Td, power steering, dual ARBs Etc. '91 RRC, bone stock

11-15-2006, 05:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
DevynsDad Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 206 Gallery: 0	I got an OEM with all of the wiring still intact off of ebay from a very reutable seller. Paid $450+ shipping. It took me all of 15 minutes to replace my old one. I figured that the time I saved in assembly of one of the do-it-yourself aluminum kits was worth the dollar difference. Plus I now have a spare rear windshield in case something happens. __________________ 1990 Range Rover County 2002 Jaguar X-Type

11-16-2006, 10:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
MuddyRangeRover Where is my Black Son? Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Aurora/Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 496 Gallery: 0	My tail gate is mint, upper and lower. Carry on. I would probably go for tha OEM. __________________ 1996 Disco 1 SE7- Stock(Awesome sound system) DD/Range Rover hauler. 1990 RRC SWB Camel Trophy Inspired- ARB, Hella's, Bosch's, AR's 15X8, 32"MTR's,Equipe suspension stuff, Skids, waiting for more...

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11-15-2006, 08:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
TerryS Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bloomfield, CT If I died today, I lived there all my life. Posts: 2,234 Gallery: 0	I' ve not heard anyone say much bad, or otherwise, about the aluminum ones, but they sure don't give them away. We got a nice used one from Paul Grant. It wasn't perfect, but 1000% better than the one that was on the truck. He's parting out so many classics these days, he ought to have one or have one on the way.

11-15-2006, 09:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
sven Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Centre of PA Posts: 373 Gallery: 0	I vote for aluminum. Get the one-piece one made by Maxidrive. I believe GBR sells them. I was a sucker and bought a genuine one for mine about 4 years ago. Luckily I paid well below what they go for now. Still holding up great!

11-15-2006, 03:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Paul Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CT Posts: 948 Gallery: 0	I just sold an aluminum tailgate last month. While I like the idea of never having to worry about rust, the aluminum did not feel as sturdy as the OEM. I have also read on different boards about fit issues. The one I had fit very well so take the above comment with a grain of salt. If I had the choice between an OEM tailgate in new condition I would opt for it over the aluminum. If I didn't have the choice and an aluminum tailgate fell into my lap I'd go with it. Regardless, I would never pay retail for either of them. Look around and see what comes up. So many of these trucks are being parted out these days that I'm sure you'll find a pretty good tailgate for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

11-15-2006, 07:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
KIRKSHIRE Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2 Gallery: 0	I replaced my severely rotted rear hatch about five years ago. Before installation I made sure this high priced item was going to fare better than the old unit. As a precaution, I masked off the sides and bottom edge where the glass meets the frame. Once the tape was secured to the glass and metal frame, I carefully caulked the exposed joint and beveled the caulk to accomodate water and ice runoff. No open channels to allow water pooling and subsequent rust damage. You'd think they'd design a beveled gasket --- sorry, what was I thinking, I forgot about PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE.

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