Tailgate

[fatbassman]

I have a 22 Lariat. I'm looking to buy/trade tailgates. I'd like to have the tailgate with the step. I'll find some young guy locally who doesn't use it, and offer money to trade.

My question is this - how far back are the tailgates identitical only 2021?

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[Big Dog Daddy]

2021 was the first year of the gen14 tailgate. Earlier versions will not fit the truck.

 

[hkp106]

If you do find replacement tailgate with integral step (I purchased mine from a totaled 2021) just remember it is a HEAVY tailgate, and without the bed appearance package, the tailgate will not operate automatically. It cannot be converted to auto operation because the factory wiring harness is different. And you cannot install the step in the standard, lighter factory tailgate. I am still very happy that I did convert mine.

 

[HammaMan]

If you do find replacement tailgate with integral step (I purchased mine from a totaled 2021) just remember it is a HEAVY tailgate, and without the bed appearance package, the tailgate will not operate automatically. It cannot be converted to auto operation because the factory wiring harness is different. And you cannot install the step in the standard, lighter factory tailgate. I am still very happy that I did convert mine.

If you have a motorized up gate it does need to have that feature on swap. Mine isn't motorized but the gate w/ step does have the spring assist on it. My tailgate w/ step is very easy to close despite the additional 45ish lbs the step adds. Takes about 15lbs of force to lift it.

 

[fatbassman]

I wonder if anyone has ever found a way to make the power up work. It seems the motor for it is in the tailgate. Should be a simple as doing some magic on Forscan?

 

[Mash150]

Even my power tailgate with the step, is not hard to close when the power is not present to auto lift the gate. One hand is all that’s required to close the gate without power. At times the power times out to the gate and you need to lift it by hand or reset the power by opening a door for instance.

 

[GMPowerboost]

Maybe @Jesse-Infotainment would know? Just curious if he did this to his too or just was more concerned elsewhere in the truck? With most stuff on these trucks anything can be retrofitted and made to work.

Personally the electric closing tailgate on mine is finicky at least for my use. I dont stand far enough away to open it somedays and it doesn't like that (have to hit the button twice). I dont have the patients to wait for it to close (and will grab it and push it shut / override). It doesn't like my tonneau cover being too tight against it (it will bounce and open). For me the redeeming quality is no slammed tailgate unless I am shutting it manually, and that the button in the cab works great to lift it if I forgot to. YMMV and just to consider I'm still use to a fully manual one on an 08 that had to be slammed to make it latch.

 

[fatbassman]

Based on your account and others, I will probably look for one from an XLT that has the step and factory bedliner in carbonized gray. I don't care about having to lift it. Thanks!

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