Tailgates - I need your opinions

[bobcooter]

I am getting ready to take my truck to the body shop and get it straightened out and painted. My tailgate is in  pretty good condition as far as dents and rust are concerned. The problem is that it's bowed somewhat in the center from years of use by the P/O. Looking at it from the outside, it's not really noticible. But if you look at it from inside the bed you can see a pretty big gap along the bed floor. A new, good tailgate plus the handle will be close to $500.00 plus the time spent waiting for it to be shipped. Between a new tailgate and Rhino-lining the bed, I will have well over a grand invested in the bed of a truck I rarely anything more than groceries in.
 I am thinking about just going ahead and having my old, factory tailgate painted and putting it away in case I ever decide to sell the truck (which I doubt) and install one of these.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/custom-fit-mesh-fifth-wheel-tailgates/p2020040.jcwx?filterid=d16352y1979j1
The fifth wheel style is the only style I have found that will fit my truck. I like the price too.
1.Do you guys think it would look good or weird?
2.Has anyone had any experience good or bad with these taigates? I know nothing about them. 
3.Also has anyone ever straightened one out before? Can a body shop do it?
Thanks.

[bake74]

     As far as the fifth wheel tailgate goes, I never had any problems with the one on the f450 I drove to tow a fifth wheel.  They are functional and allow a lot of wind to go through them.
     A good body shop can straighten out a tailgate, but it will be costly. I have seen one do it before, it is pretty involved to get it right.

[Grim 82]

Without having seen it, it doesn't sound like it's in too bad of shape. I would probably paint it and run with it. Have you looked around for a used tailgate?

[bobcooter]

I've checked around and the one's I find are worse than the one I've got. I talked to my bodyman this morning and he said he could probably get the bow out of it but we didn't discuss the price.

[fitz]

Ever think about making a fifth wheel style gate from your stock gate?
I know this is a bad pic but check out the gate on the tow vehicle
Thats a stock gate on my 2000 Chevy crew cab that my buddy did some cutting and welding on. He basically cut off all of the sheetmetal and reused the factory latches/handle/rods. The 2 end/side pieces that are up against the bedside/taillights are the originals also. He built a frame for it from exhaust tubing and added some wire grate.
It sure does make it easy to back up to the trailer now.
I can get some detailed pics if you want (this pic does not do it justice).
FYI I would think $200 or so would round you up a mint gate on craigslist. You could post a wanted ad on there.
 
 

[bobcooter]

If the bodyman wants too much to straighten it out I think i'll do like Grim said and paint it and run with it. I might still score one of those fifth wheel gates if I have any money left over.

[VileZambonie]

If you don't want to buy a new one look on Craigslist for a good used one.

[JRConnieK10]

If its bothering you now, be assured its gonna bug you when its painted. You'll notice it every time you look at it. Just a thought.

[bobcooter]

Just dropped my truck off at the body shop and the man said he could take the bow out and not charge any extra for the work. Sounded like a good deal to me.

[1980c10]

I'm sure they'll just have a fat kid sit on it. I watched it happen that way with a hood that was a little bent-it worked well.

[bobcooter]

It would take a pretty fat kid. I had an old messed up one with a bow in it and I blocked it up under my reciever hitch and jacked my truck up on it and it didn't do anything.