Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

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KCsRocketship
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Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by KCsRocketship »

Hi there,

I've searched for something already on this but didn't find anything.

The bottom lip of my T25 (1981) tailgate is a big piece of crumbling rust and is beyond saving/ welding/ patching and is letting rain into the back. I'm weighing up the options of buying a second hand one for around £60 which has less rust but will need attention (and will never be perfect) and buying a fibreglass replacement for around £300 which may be a permanent solution. I've seen some high quality ones that look good on other vans that have had a complete spray job afterwards.

Has anyone had any experience of fibreglass tailgates? (Obviously, I'll need to change the struts). Are they any good? A reasonable alternative? Problems with them? Or things to think about?

I'm a bit new to T25s and to this forum so your patience and comments will be much appreciated.

KC

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R0B
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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by R0B »

One thing to take into account,you can't hang a bikerack from them.
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faggie
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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by faggie »

plus the quality is not too good

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Robsey
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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by Robsey »

If it is an Ebay one from Stockport,
they do advise that due to a significant reduction in weight, you must use weak or old gas struts.

It would be nice if you could get a lower skin for the hatch.
I think our kitchen colander has fewer holes in it than our tail gate.

As you describe the entire width of the bottom 2".
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Maybe one day I might get it finished

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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by silverbullet »

For the same money you can have a rust-free dry state US import tailgate.

George22
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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by George22 »

Does anyone import rust free US tailgates? Seems to be loads of imported bits for Bays but wondered which companies do 'our' tailgates?

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R0B
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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by R0B »

vanagonvanagon (frank) on here does.
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D34dR4bb17
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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by D34dR4bb17 »

Realise it's an old thread, but is it still possible to get imported tailgates?? On the look out for one

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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by what2do »

Don't forget, takes 2 minutes for a thief to hack into a plastic tail gate.
Why would the glass be anything other than half full?

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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by davidoft1 »

what2do wrote:Don't forget, takes 2 minutes for a thief to hack into a plastic tail gate.

How would a thief know it wasn’t metal ?

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nicq
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Re: Fibreglass tailgate - a solution?

Post by nicq »

what2do wrote:Don't forget, takes 2 minutes for a thief to hack into a plastic tail gate.
How long does it take to smash or with a stanley knife remove the rear window then.
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