How do I remove a stepside tailgate?

[nucknoel89]

Hey guys, I'm trying to get my stepside tailgate off but I can't figure out how.  There's a bolt on each side where it pivots, but when I try to loosen them the round thing they're threaded into just spins.  Any ideas?

[bake74]

     Is the part that spins look like it is suppose to be solid and the bolt unscrews from this piece ?  Do you see where it has broke and is free now.

[nucknoel89]

Maybe you can tell from the pics.  My tailgate is a bit haggered (taking it off to fix/customize it).  This is the side that's more exposed.  There's that groove that you see there and a small hole in the bottom of the tailgate.  I thought maybe you're supposed to stick a screwdriver in the hole through to the groove to hold it but it didn't seem to help.  I was planning to disassemble and put a new skin on it anyway, so I guess my last resort is to drill out the spot welds and take it off in pieces.

[jt1200r]

you have to hold that part(trunnion) with a screwdriver or vise grips(if they fit) then turn the bolt out.put some nuts off on it also

[bake74]

you have to hold that part(trunnion) with a screwdriver or vise grips(if they fit) then turn the bolt out.put some nuts off on it also

     As jt1200r said, the trunnion needs to be held, usually a small pair of needle nose vise grips if they are really stuck works.