1956 CJ5 tailgates

For all you owners of '55-'57 CJ5's, I'd like to know if your tailgates have the cutouts, or notches, along the top edge. This is where the rounded top edge of the tailgate is rolled over and meets the panel.

According to this, http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Dating/DatingTailgates.html , the tailgates without the notches stopped in 1951, and beginning May 1951 they all had the notches.

The reason I ask is because my '56 DOES NOT have those notches, it's straight all the way across, so according to this info it should be a 1945-1951 tailgate. No biggie, but I'd just like to know what the other guys here with '55-'57 CJ5's have for tailgates.

My JEEP was only 19 years old when it was put into storage, so I'd be surprised if this isn't the original tailgate. But, it does appear to have had some hard service hauling heavy loads. Looks like it hauled a lot of big rocks or something.

The bed has a steel plate welded over the original bed and there's been some body work done in the rear areas. From underneath you can tell the original bed is dished pretty badly, but it's not rotted through anywhere. So, it's entirely possible that the tailgate was trashed at some point and replaced.

So, based on this evidence, it looks like I may have a 2A/3A/3B tailgate. What does yours look like?

Thanks!

 

The original 55 CJ 5 tailgate I have has the cut outs.

 

Thanks Chuck! Anybody else? Is this a subject that's already been beat to death, and I just don't know it?

 

mine (56) has cut outs

 

I'll call your cutouts and raise you one bottle opener!! The rare Texas hold'em limited edition. Of couse only for camp use!! I have the Footman loops and top bow mounts also.

 

Yup, same cutouts here. Stock '57.

 

my '55 has em too.

JB

 

No bottle opener on my '65. R)

 

Hmmm, interesting. Looks like mine has had a "field upgrade" once upon a time. I was going to replace it with an aftermarket and keep the old one for a garage wall decoration, but I think it's actually salvageable with a little elbow grease. I kinda like the no-notch look, it's a little cleaner...think I'll keep it.

Thanks all!

 

Ron, I can tell you from experience that the aftermarket tailgates are more for decoration than use. The original tailgate is MUCH heavier in construction and materials. The aftermarket uses a thinner material, and the solid bars in the original are not present in the aftermarket. To put it clearly, I'd be afraid of sitting on an aftermarket tailgate, much less actually making it do some work. JMHO, YMMV.

 

Ron,

Here's a pic of my 56 tailgate (upside down). I don't remember if it had notches or not, ( Ithink it did) but since the upper tube was badly dented, and the lower tube was rusted, I replaced them by welding in a piece of 3/4" schedule 40 black iron pipe for the top tube and 1/2" sch 40 pipe for the center section of the bottom tube. The pipe diameters pretty well matched the original tube diameters and they're a heck of a lot stronger.

tommy b

 

That's good to know Thad! I hadn't thought about that. My bulky behind would probably fold one of those in half if I sat on it. I think I can save mine with a couple days of hammering, grinding, & welding.

I also know a guy that has a '63 tub he wants to get rid of real bad, and it has a cherry tailgate, but it's been bedlined on the inside so I'd have to get that crap off somehow. If he still has it, that is.