Converting barn door to tailgate
 

This might been asked before but:

Can you convert your barn doors to a tailgate/lift gate? If so how hard is it? What should you pay for a tailgate/lift gate?

Thanks

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

its not just the lift gate, tail gate, its changing where they bolt them to the body. Im in the process of doing it on a panel right know. I had to buy a suburban to get all the parts

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Thanks Grandpa54

My burb has all the indents in the body for the tail gate. Is that normal? Also what are the other parts needed?

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

can you send pics?

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

The burb is at the shop out of town, so I can't get pics right now

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Granpa54,

Can you take pics of what mean?

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Does anybody know what a tailgate lift gate will cost?

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

I converted my 65 sub from barn doors to tailgate. Mine had plates covering the attachment points for the upper gate and plates covering the attachment points for the tailgate side latches. The rear valance has to be changed for the tailgate hinges to bolt to. I modified my valance to accept the hinges. Really not a big deal to change.

Finding a lower valance was my only problem so I made mine work.

good luck

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Thanks for the information Lucfier, do you have pics of the installation?

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Sorry I didn't document it very well.

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

I did the swap. The tail pan unbolts an there were a couple spot wells. Then I bolted in the tail gate tail pan. Here's a couple pics that might help.

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Here's a better shot of the tail gate pan.

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Thanks for the pictures Nobby! Now off to find the parts.

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

I know this is a pretty old thread, but have some questions and thought it better to bump this than start a new one.

Since this thread was started, has anyone else done the conversion? Have pictures and details of what's involved?

I found a potential project that sounds like it could be everything I want, except the major hang up is it has barn doors and I really want clamshell. I could possibly get the lift and tail gate with the deal, so I wouldn't have to search for parts, I don't think. If I did, it would be minimal. Fabrication is not a big deal for me and I enjoy it. What I see above looks pretty straight forward, but could really use some more info.

Does anyone sell the lower tail pan that has the provisions in it, or will I need to source one from a donor vehicle?

Thanks! Hope it's okay I bumped this.

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

I don't think anyone is repoping the sections you need to do the swap. Probably going to have to find a donor vehicle for it. It's basically the same idea, so totally ok to bump this thread back up

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Yeah, I kinda figured that might be the case. I have a friend with a clamshell Suburban that I could take a closer look at and possibly just modify the existing panel by fabricating the pockets and mounting positions, if I can't find a donor. I need to go look at his before I make any commitments to buying something that needs the conversion.

Thank you!

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Just by looking at the pictures above, it seems like the only difference is the hinge pockets for the clamshell tailgate. You could get all the measurements you need from your friend's burb and just use your existing panel if you have the fabrication skills to do so

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Agreed. Doesn't look too terrible.

Re: Converting barn door to tailgate
 

Don't forget that near the LH hinge there is a depression and hole where the harness for the license lamp goes.