Barn doors to tailgate - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BTCHN 1963 · 10-26-2009, 03:40 PM

I am new to this forum and had been rooting around trying to find if anyone has done a conversion from barn doors to a tailgate on a 73-91 suburban.

I just picked up a 1990 chevy suburban 1/2 ton with barn doors. My current plan is to convert it over to 3/4 ton suspension, add a 4" lift and possibly convert the barn doors to a tail gate. I have done the suspension swaps and lifts on other chevy square bodies so that is not a problem. I just need suggestions or a link to someone who has converted from barn doors to a tailgate to see if it is something I want to do. If you think it is a bad idea due to historical problems with tailgates please say so.

I will add some pictures later when I get home.

Thanks!

tvblazer78 · 10-26-2009, 07:28 PM

I am not sure about this, but I think they made some work burbs with doors like that. Or am I thinking of something dif?

trenchwarfare · 10-26-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvblazer78

I am not sure about this, but I think they made some work burbs with doors like that. Or am I thinking of something dif?

What???
There are barn doors or a tailgate option, completely different mounts. I'd check out photos.

BTCHN 1963 · 10-27-2009, 08:45 AM

I realize that the mounting of the rear barn doors and the tailgate are different. I have a 1963 suburban that I changed from barn doors to tailgate. The mounting was there for both but the holes were not drilled. I was thinking that it would be a similar change over. It looks like the tailgate version, from what I remember, has an extra metal piece around the upper half of it to form the seal area for the window. Other than that the bottom looks about the same. I don't have a tailgate version to look at more closely. May be someone can post some pics of a tailgate version so I can see the difference?

87 dually burb · 10-27-2009, 09:09 PM

from what i could find 83 was the last year with both mounts in burbs
my 90 only had tail gate mount i was going to change them but didn't
i also thing the floor metal is different where it closes at bottom

BTCHN 1963 · 10-28-2009, 08:51 AM

Wow, thanks 87 dually burb! I am picking up a parts suburban with big brake 3/4 ton suspension, 4 inch lift and tailgate. I will be able to have them side-by-side and see if changing to a tailgate is reasonably doable. I will pay close attention to the bottom to see how close they are.

**Captkaos** · 10-29-2009, 06:05 PM

From the ones I have had it stopped around 1978.

USSkoval · 10-31-2009, 09:00 PM

Now this is uncharted territory. It is known that the older burbs had the correct holes for both. We also know that newer tailgate models do not have the holes for the barn door hinges. But do the barn door models have the threaded holes under the body for a tailgate? I would think they do. I believe the needed upper window frame just gets screwed in place with sheet metal screws, so that shouldn't be a big deal. I think the lower sill could easily me modified to work since it doesn't really do anything, other than support the tension springs.

I say go for it! I love my tailgate. Sure, I had several problems with the power window when I got the Burb, but that was mostly because of the previous owner's lack of maintenance. It was well worth the trouble and expense.

BTCHN 1963 · 11-02-2009, 10:04 AM

Thanks for the support USSkoval! I will let you know how it looks when I get the parts Burb to my house.
The real reason for the tailgate is that I haul lumber and materials for building custom horse stalls and our last suburban had barn doors and they were not as friendly when I had material longer than what would allow the doors to close. Also I like being able to roll down the window and let the air blow through like on my blazer.

87 dually burb · 11-02-2009, 06:28 PM

you could always build a receiver hitch to support the lumber
but I'm not talking you out of the swap

USSkoval · 11-02-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTCHN 1963

Thanks for the support USSkoval! I will let you know how it looks when I get the parts Burb to my house.
The real reason for the tailgate is that I haul lumber and materials for building custom horse stalls and our last suburban had barn doors and they were not as friendly when I had material longer than what would allow the doors to close. Also I like being able to roll down the window and let the air blow through like on my blazer.

I went out yesterday and took a good look at my Burb. I then realized I had completely forgot about the strikers and the limiting straps. It still shouldn't be a big deal, especially if you can cut and weld.

SBTork · 11-08-2009, 12:46 PM

Anymore news on this, im intersted aswell

Gemp · 11-08-2009, 07:06 PM

I would like to go the other way....I wanted barn doors, But my tailgate Burban was to clean to pass up.

BTCHN 1963 · 11-09-2009, 09:44 AM

No updates yet. The Body I was to pick up was sold out from under me so now I am looking for another.

10-26-2009, 03:40 PM	#1
BTCHN 1963 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: mount angel, oregon Posts: 42	Barn doors to tailgate I am new to this forum and had been rooting around trying to find if anyone has done a conversion from barn doors to a tailgate on a 73-91 suburban. I just picked up a 1990 chevy suburban 1/2 ton with barn doors. My current plan is to convert it over to 3/4 ton suspension, add a 4" lift and possibly convert the barn doors to a tail gate. I have done the suspension swaps and lifts on other chevy square bodies so that is not a problem. I just need suggestions or a link to someone who has converted from barn doors to a tailgate to see if it is something I want to do. If you think it is a bad idea due to historical problems with tailgates please say so. I will add some pictures later when I get home. Thanks!

10-26-2009, 07:28 PM	#2
tvblazer78 Low & Fast! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 3,110	Re: Barn doors to tailgate I am not sure about this, but I think they made some work burbs with doors like that. Or am I thinking of something dif? __________________ Southeastern Mini Truckin' Nationals April 27 and 28, 2012

10-27-2009, 08:45 AM	#4
BTCHN 1963 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: mount angel, oregon Posts: 42	Re: Barn doors to tailgate I realize that the mounting of the rear barn doors and the tailgate are different. I have a 1963 suburban that I changed from barn doors to tailgate. The mounting was there for both but the holes were not drilled. I was thinking that it would be a similar change over. It looks like the tailgate version, from what I remember, has an extra metal piece around the upper half of it to form the seal area for the window. Other than that the bottom looks about the same. I don't have a tailgate version to look at more closely. May be someone can post some pics of a tailgate version so I can see the difference?

10-27-2009, 09:09 PM	#5
87 dually burb my short bus Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: fredericksburg,Va Posts: 307	Re: Barn doors to tailgate from what i could find 83 was the last year with both mounts in burbs my 90 only had tail gate mount i was going to change them but didn't i also thing the floor metal is different where it closes at bottom __________________ 90 burbbagged,shaved(about done)***** 91 burbstock worker for now************ *****only squares for me****************

10-28-2009, 08:51 AM	#6
BTCHN 1963 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: mount angel, oregon Posts: 42	Re: Barn doors to tailgate Wow, thanks 87 dually burb! I am picking up a parts suburban with big brake 3/4 ton suspension, 4 inch lift and tailgate. I will be able to have them side-by-side and see if changing to a tailgate is reasonably doable. I will pay close attention to the bottom to see how close they are. Last edited by BTCHN 1963; 10-28-2009 at 08:52 AM.

10-29-2009, 06:05 PM	#7
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: Barn doors to tailgate From the ones I have had it stopped around 1978. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

10-31-2009, 09:00 PM	#8
USSkoval Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Jefferson, OH Posts: 999	Re: Barn doors to tailgate Now this is uncharted territory. It is known that the older burbs had the correct holes for both. We also know that newer tailgate models do not have the holes for the barn door hinges. But do the barn door models have the threaded holes under the body for a tailgate? I would think they do. I believe the needed upper window frame just gets screwed in place with sheet metal screws, so that shouldn't be a big deal. I think the lower sill could easily me modified to work since it doesn't really do anything, other than support the tension springs. I say go for it! I love my tailgate. Sure, I had several problems with the power window when I got the Burb, but that was mostly because of the previous owner's lack of maintenance. It was well worth the trouble and expense.

11-02-2009, 10:04 AM	#9
BTCHN 1963 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: mount angel, oregon Posts: 42	Re: Barn doors to tailgate Thanks for the support USSkoval! I will let you know how it looks when I get the parts Burb to my house. The real reason for the tailgate is that I haul lumber and materials for building custom horse stalls and our last suburban had barn doors and they were not as friendly when I had material longer than what would allow the doors to close. Also I like being able to roll down the window and let the air blow through like on my blazer.

11-02-2009, 06:28 PM	#10
87 dually burb my short bus Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: fredericksburg,Va Posts: 307	Re: Barn doors to tailgate you could always build a receiver hitch to support the lumber but I'm not talking you out of the swap __________________ 90 burbbagged,shaved(about done)***** 91 burbstock worker for now************ *****only squares for me****************

11-08-2009, 12:46 PM	#12
SBTork Garage wrench Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaCrosse, WI Posts: 1,855	Re: Barn doors to tailgate Anymore news on this, im intersted aswell __________________ -Adam 90 V1500 GMC Suburban 350/700R4/NP241..... 01 Saturn SL1 stock DD.....

11-08-2009, 07:06 PM	#13
Gemp Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cleveland,Ohio Posts: 262	Re: Barn doors to tailgate I would like to go the other way....I wanted barn doors, But my tailgate Burban was to clean to pass up. __________________ 06' GMC 1500 Crew cab.....

11-09-2009, 09:44 AM	#14
BTCHN 1963 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: mount angel, oregon Posts: 42	Re: Barn doors to tailgate No updates yet. The Body I was to pick up was sold out from under me so now I am looking for another.



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