Tailgate

[2SmokinBarrels]

I was poking around for any rust hiding. Looking at the tailgate, it is totally covered by plastic on the inside face and a strip of cladding on the outside. I figured this must be hiding some nasty rust at the bottom of the gate. I had a magnet that I was using to pick up screws and when I went to stick it to the tailgate panel, Nothing. Wth? Its not metal? I'm kinda glad as it can't be very rusty then but I'm surprised. Couldn't find any info about it. Fiberglass? Mid-gate too? Is this all newer trucks?

 

[ygmn]

tailgate is made from "PROTEC" or some or fancy term GM came up for a plastic.

Since first model to ensure it is lighter and able to close.

 

[MS03 2500]

I still see ads on craigslist about selling Texas rust free avalanche tailgates.

 

[DougD]

I still see ads on craigslist about selling Texas rust free avalanche tailgates.

They're not liars!

 

[MS03 2500]

Well I guess they could have said from Mexico

 

[DougD]

BTW, did you find any rust in your tailgate?

 

[MS03 2500]

No, plastic does not rust but since the tailgate is not sealed there was a bit of water in it

B-BTW I'm a SnowBird nowadays but my hair is not blue, so if you ever see an old guy in an EXT go around me cause I'm not moving out of my lane.

 

[DougD]

No, plastic does not rust but since the tailgate is not sealed there was a bit of water in it

B-BTW I'm a SnowBird nowadays but my hair is not blue, so if you ever see an old guy in an EXT go around me cause I'm not moving out of my lane.

That question was filled with dripping sarcasm

 

[2SmokinBarrels]

BTW, did you find any rust in your tailgate?

I don't think I have to worry about it. Thankfully since every old truck I've owned had a rusty tailgate.

I can't lock my tailgate right now because when I try turn the key, the linkage seems rusted and seized. On my Fix It list. But thats why I figured there would be a rusty tailgate. I'm good with the 'Protec'. Its not like plastic on an avalanche would be a surprise hehehe

 

[joendoodle]

I don't think I have to worry about it. Thankfully since every old truck I've owned had a rusty tailgate.

I can't lock my tailgate right now because when I try turn the key, the linkage seems rusted and seized. On my Fix It list. But thats why I figured there would be a rusty tailgate. I'm good with the 'Protec'. Its not like plastic on an avalanche would be a surprise hehehe

One of the things I do at each oil change is spray WD40 in all the doors and tailgates, they all have weep holes @ the bottom and the excess WD leaks out... Much to my surprise on my recently acquired 17YO Avalanche, nothing was dripping out the bottom of the tailgate.. close inspection revealed none of the rust the rest of this truck shows Curious, I tried a magnet, then a little research and I learned about the PRO TEC tailgate and midgate.


I also learned GM experimented with PRO TEC truck beds in 2001 -2003 as an $850 option, didn't market 'em well enough to sell many.. sortta makes me laugh, knowing how the marketing guys @ GM trashed Ford for the aluminum bed years later. Anyway I would relish a truck with composite and or plastic fenders because these seem to always rust out..