Tailgate Upgrades

Tailgate parts wear out faster than almost anything else on a classic truck, because the gate carries its own weight on two small trunnions and two cables every time it opens. This collection covers every tailgate upgrade LS Fabrication makes for Chevy, GMC and Ford trucks from 1947 through the mid 2000s — struts, trunnions, latches, cables, handles and billet letters.

Stop the slam

Gate Saver tailgate shocks slow the drop so the gate lowers under control. Fitments run 1967-72 C10, 1973-87 Squarebody, 1988-98 OBS, 1982-2004 S10 and 1999-2006 NBS, plus a 1967-87 cable and strut combo. The same idea works at the front of the truck: a gas hood strut kit replaces the factory hood springs on 1999-2006 NBS Chevy trucks.

Trunnion and hinge kits

• 1947-53 billet tailgate and taillight trunnions
• 1955-59 and 1960-66 Chevy and GMC trunnion / hinge kits
• 1967-72 C10 and 1973-87 Squarebody trunnion / hinge kits
• 1988-98 OBS and 1999-2006 NBS trunnion / hinge kits
• 1982-93 and 1994-2004 S10, S15 and Sonoma trunnion / hinge kits

Latches, cables and handles

• Altman tailgate latch kits — 1967-72 C10, 1976-87 Squarebody, 1967-72 Ford
• Tailgate cables — 1967-72, 1973-87, 1982-94 S10 and 1988-91
• Tailgate release handle — 1973-80 Chevy and GMC
• Tailgate chain covers, for trucks still running chains

Finishing touches

Billet tailgate letters are available for 1958-66 and 1967-72 Chevy and GMC in machined aluminum, and the rest of our machined hardware is in billet aluminum truck parts. Every product page lists its exact year and model fitment.