[Boatwaco]

Wait. What did I miss? That was the used tailgate?

Yes. Donor off of eBay. $1500 or so. Wrecked truck was a 2018 King Ranch.
I have Oxford white paint.
I think donor is the White platinum metallic tri-coat.

 

[snakebitten]

I want honest opinions!!! If I want people hold back or just appease me, I’ll go get a haircut and ask “do you think I’m starting to get a bald spot?”. 🦅

I was gambling, and it wasn't much of a gamble, that you weren't going to be able to live with the color variation.

I even expected your wife to mention the mismatch. 😁

 

[EcoXLT]

Yes. Donor off of eBay. $1500 or so. Wrecked truck was a 2018 King Ranch.
I have Oxford white paint.
I think donor is the White platinum metallic tri-coat.

Man I missed something. I thought you used the guts out of the donor gate and swapped it into yours.
Unfortunately you might pay another $1500 to paint match that tailgate. Getting to be a pricey step.

I for one couldn’t live with the two tone white truck.

 

[Boatwaco]

Just to gather all the parts needed in one spot, besides buying the tailgate assembly, I needed a new hinge, bolts and wire harness to splice into the wiring. Not listed are the trim pieces for the step and top of tailgate - easy to find at Ford or eBay and there are eBay lower-cost knockoffs too.

Also - pictures here -> Swapping in a tailgate with steps to a 2018 F150 Lariat | F150 Ecoboost Forum

Hinge FL3Z99430B39B
Bag of 4 bolts (needed only 2) W7102661S437
Wiring harness LL3Z-14A411-D

 

[Boatwaco]

Getting things ready for the paint shop.
Step tailgate removed and stripped to a shell. Handle disassembled too for painting.
Washed everything thoroughly and baked dry in the 102* Texas sun.
Old tailgate popped back on for the interim.
Im getting very adept at tailgate R&R.

 

[Boatwaco]

Dropped the tailgate shell, panel and handle assembly off at the paint shop today! 🖌

 

[Boatwaco]

Tailgate, back panel and handle are painted and back from the shop!
I’ll rebuild the handle first, then the tailgate this weekend. It’s baking / curing in the bed of my truck now (107* F right now) and it’s too hot to move!

 

[Boatwaco]

Shhhh! don't tell anyone but a couple of the wife’s oven mitts did wonders allowing me to lift the tailgate out of the bed and place it out of the way in the garage. 🤫

 

[Boatwaco]

1st pic is Old “before”
2nd pic is the New tailgate.
Just needs stripe kit.
Point matched by body shop nicely.
I added my Bedrug tailgate pad.
Step assembly works smoothly.
New black trim on top edge.
New lock actuator (new versions are supposedly “stronger”).
New wiring harness and pigtail extension.
Added the Ford hinge lock too.
It turned out nice.
If I had to do again I would have bought a new shell pre-painted off eBay, steps assembly and wiring from Ford.
But no regrets - I now got steps!

 

[Boatwaco]

Dropped the truck off at the shop to get the tailgate stripe professionally applied! Photos as soon as I get it back later today!

 

[Boatwaco]

Done! I’m happy.
PS. I took in 2 dozen donuts when I dropped off the truck and they only charged me 1/2 of the labor rate.