I have a 1988 Ford F150 XLT Lariat, and I don't do much hauling with it. I was wondering if anyone sells a fiberglass or some other lightweight tailgate for our trucks? The tailgate is so heavy, and must weigh a ton. Any suggestions are appreciated....

 

Not that I've ever seen. Just tailgate nets.

But if you don't haul, why do you drive a pickup?

 

Good question, and the answer is we have a home in Baja and the roads are cobblestone. Our DD is a late model SUV and I don't want to ruin the suspension so I decided to get a second vehicle for use down here. A pickup gives me some options other than just going from point A to point B. That is the reason for a pickup.

 

I remove my tailgate all the time - its not that heavy. Not enough to make a difference in any way. But putting in a net might increase your mpg's a tiny bit if you drive at higher speeds at all.

 

With rough roads being the reason for ownership, you want the stock tailgate or a substantial replacement. I've seen older trucks with net tailgates, or just none at all, with the bed sides worn so loose, they flap going down the road. The tailgate is a structural member.

 

The t/g doesn't hold the bed sides up. People who remove the t/g to overload their trucks often break the bedwalls by overloading. The t/g wouldn't have prevented that. In fact, the t/g might have been removed because it was damaged first.

MythBusters proved that a t/g net is LESS fuel-efficient than a solid t/g, and no t/g is even worse.

 

It does put a rigid rectangle firmly attached, top and bottom between the sides, I stand by my statement

 

Without doubt. But the weight of the bedsides alone is not nearly enough to bend them, regardless how long or hard the truck is driven without a t/g. It takes cargo, rust, or collision for them to sag.

 

While I'll grant you having a round bale rolling back and forth would speed up the process, the tailgate free trucks that live on rock roads still seem to be the first to flap in the breeze.

 

I've observed that, too. But the missing t/g strikes me as an EFFECT rather than a cause. Take a look at the structure inside the taillight openings, and under the bed just forward of the bumper - it's pretty stout, with several layers, and substantial gusseting. Next time you open your t/g, see how much force it takes to pull the bedside away, or push it in. Mine is slightly stronger due to the swingaway tire carrier, but not by much, and it takes a LOT of force to bend it:


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