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Ramcharger liftgate

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9.7K views 18 replies 9 participants last post by  brstjkp  
#1 ·
I am restoring an 87 Ramcharger 4X4 360 4BBL.
I took it to a body shop to have the fiberglass liftgate repaired.
The liftgate was repaired, but is once again cracking, in different places.
I am looking for a new liftgate, or a tailgate/lifttop combo that would fit in it's place.
I would appreciate any suggestions, websites to purchase a NOS liftgate or a good used one, or helpfull comments.
I had heard that there was a huge recall on these and that Dodge still had some in stock to replace for people like me, but not sure if it's true.
Thanks,
Brett
 
#2 ·
Never heard of a recall, but on a vehicle that old, it wouldn't matter anyway.  Your best bet is to scour your local junkyards.  Never seen one aftermarket.  When you find one in good condition that you like, make sure you got good, strong support struts holding it up while it's open.  If the struts are weak, that puts more stress on the fiberglass around the hinge area and that leads to cracking and splitting.
Good luck!
 
#3 ·
Thanks,
Got really good shocks on the door, brand new in fact when the door was repaired last time.
Any ideas on converting to tailgate lifttop instead of full door?
Any leads for online jy's that might have a door in good cond?
Thanks,
Brett
 
#5 ·
All of my damage is up at the top by the hinges. The guys that repaired it last time actually rebuilt the entire top of the liftgate.There has to be a way to convert it to a tailgate/lifttop. I need to do this beacuse when the body work gets done this summer, I want to make it a convertable top in the back.
Brett
 
G
#6 ·
brstjkp said:
By the way, not quite sure who posted the little "blurb" about my location, but if the moron would have looked, it would have shown that I have state and city where I live.
It wasn't anyone in particular that placed that there. Its a default setting that appears if you don't have your city state in correctly.

Chris
 
#8 ·
Never thought about a trailduster. I was kind of thinking of like a ford or chevy of the same year. They are in as much demand as the ramcharger, but didn't seem to have the problems with the liftgate that dodge did.
Thanks, That kind of gives me a different place to at least start looking.
Brett
 
#11 ·
thelower gate on the 2 piece tail gates on the RC and TD's is interchangeable with a 72-79 tailgate from a truck, possibly up to 93 if the latch position didnt change.

I used the lower gate from my TD on my pickup for a while untill i bought a new one.
 
#14 ·
Thanks guys for all of the help.
I talked to my body goy and he measured and looked and went through books and came up with a solution.
An older tailgate off of a dodge pickup will work and he said if he can't find a top to fit he will fabricate one from the top of the liftgate I already have..
For the time being, I found a jy online that has an 87 liftgate and it's being sent today. Hopefully it's in good condition.
Brett
 
#18 ·
Yes, this is the most annoying thing about my 85, the lift gate on it.I want a tailgate! If I sale my 85 I am going to buy a pre '81
 
#19 ·
As I stated previously, I am making the back half of my RC a lift off hard top. All they are really doing is cutting the metal, installing a lip with clips welded on and then the top comes off and on. That's the whole reason why I need a tailgate/lifttop combo. My body guy said it's really not that hard considering it's all open there anyway.
It only adds 200 on the price I am already paying for all the body and paint work this summer.
Brett