What Is A Tailgate And Why Is It Important?
If you have a GM truck or a Chevy truck, it most likely has a tailgate. If you're wondering what this part is and what it does, you'll find out in this post. We'll discuss what tailgates are and why they're important.
What Is A Tailgate?
If you approach the back of your truck, you'll see the tailgate. It's a body part that covers the truck bed from the very rear. It's a hinged shelf you need to lower if you want to access your truck bed. Tailgates come with hinges at the bottom, and they open downward. When the tailgate is down, it's supported by heavy-duty cables. These cables can support a lot of weight. That's why people can stand or walk on tailgates without any issues.
There are two different types of tailgates:
- Manual tailgates: Tailgates that need to be opened and closed manually
- Electric tailgates: Tailgates that can be opened and closed electronically by:
- Pressing a button on your key fob
- Pressing a button inside the truck
- Pressing a button on the tailgate handle
- Activating a sensor underneath the rear bumper with your foot
Why Do Trucks Have Tailgates?
The reason your truck has a tailgate is quite simple. It's to prevent the cargo in your truck bed from falling out. When you accelerate, the inertia causes any unsecured cargo to shift back toward the rear of your truck bed. The harder you accelerate, the farther the cargo will shift back. The tailgate is there to serve as a barrier between the truck bed cargo and the street.
Tailgates are firmly latched in place. A tailgate can bear a lot of weight pressed against it. So if you have a pile of lumber, for example, you don't have to worry about your tailgate giving way to its weight. That is if your tailgate's latches are working right.
Are Tailgates The Same As Liftgates?
Some people use these terms interchangeably. Should you use these terms interchangeably, though? If you ask us, tailgates and liftgates are two different parts. These parts serve the same purpose (covering the rear of the vehicle). Yet, they're designed to serve different types of vehicles.
Tailgates are built for pickup trucks. Liftgates are built primarily for vans and SUVs. The main differences between these parts are:
- Design: Tailgates are rectangular parts flush with the truck bed sides. Liftgates are designed to cover the entire rear of the vehicle. That means each model comes with a certain liftgate design.
- Direction when opened: Tailgates drop down when opened, and they're mainly supported by cables. Liftgates lift up when opened, and they're supported by gas struts.
When you're talking about a truck, it's safe to refer to that part as a tailgate. When you're talking about a van or SUV, it's safe to use the term "liftgate".
Repairing And Replacing Tailgates
Do you have a damaged or malfunctioning tailgate or component (like a tailgate handle)? The good news is repairing or replacing a tailgate is a pretty easy and straightforward job. You'll save a lot of money on labor by doing it yourself.
You'll also save money by ordering your replacement parts online. We carry genuine OEM GM parts at rock-bottom prices. You'll save a good chunk of change by shopping with us. Check out our catalog of replacement tailgates and tailgate components! If you need help finding the right tailgate or component for your vehicle, you're welcome to contact us.