in serious trouble?

[cxbrandi]

last night on my way home from a friends house (after waching the superbowl) i was going to back out of his drive way a little before pulling forward to turn to i could just go forward out the driveway, well, i was backing up and i was looking in the side mirrors to see if i was centered (it didnt feel like i was) and then i backed into a tree. i didnt even see it. now the lift gate is busted. all the glass jut shattered and now i really do not know what to do.

 

[Baddecision93]

As long as you didn't bend the pillars around the gate you aren't in too much trouble...A little expense but fixable.

Go to car-part.com and enter your information. The liftgate is under lid/hatch I believe. Do a search and find your part. The paint won't match until you get it repainted but better than a big gaping hole.

Around my area they were in the $300 - $500 range.

That stinks though, hope you can get it changed out cheaply

 

[cxbrandi]

hm. im not too sure, what pillars are...im not very knowledged about cars. could i post a picture. would that be more helpful?

 

[Equnoxe]

Hey, in the mean time you can put a sheet of clear plastic over the back door (assuming you can still open it. (wrap plastic around lift gate, get someone inside to hold it taunt and then close the door.

pillars are the vertical parts of the body of the car that go between the windows. (the gap between the windows) so basically if only the lift gate is damaged and not the actual truck or the hinge/latch where the door connects to the truck then you are good.

if its not ok you will need to go to a body shop, if it is your in luck. go grab a Haynes manual for your vehicle, and read through the body section that describes how to remove the hatch (which is actually very easy, especially when you have two people), after you are comfortable with what you need to do, go to the junkyards and try and find a truck with the same color.

-andy

P.S a picture wouldn't hurt

 

[Baddecision93]

hm. im not too sure, what pillars are...im not very knowledged about cars. could i post a picture. would that be more helpful?

If you post a picture of the damage it would be very helpful. If you broke just glass and didn't crumple metal it would be even better for you (just a glass shop repair).

For your information though, when you lift the whole back gate up, the "frame" that remains is what I'm calling the pillars. Basically the two posts of metal that rise vertically from the floorboards of your Explorer to the roof that act as the right and left sides of your gate when it's shut.

 

[cxbrandi]

here's a full view. sorry if the tarp is in the way. i tried moving it around.

is that the pillar? O.O

im afraid to actually open it up...i dont want it to fall off...

 

[Baddecision93]

I don't want to speak too soon but I think you dodged a bullet.

If you were to open up the hatch, the metal that can't move is the pillar (as was previously stated).

The reason how intact this metal is even matters is because it ensures that the liftgate is allowed to close properly. (think of the liftgate as a door that opens and the pillars as the door frame; if the door is demolished but the frame is intact then you just need to put a new door inside the frame).

The previous poster is correct, with 2 people this isn't as daunting as it looks. Can you find someone else who is a little handy?

Be sure to double check the pillars but from the pics they look alright. If so, just call local junkyards for a replacement.

One other thing...depending on how low your deductible is have you considered just claiming this on your insurance? Then you could get a brand new gate, repainted and everything, and professionals would install it. Just an idea.

 

[cxbrandi]

i've already called my mother's friend to come over and he is going to look at it. i really hope your right that i dodged a bullet.

i've aleardy considered the insurance claim, i still have to talk to them and see if that's possible. i just really wanted to know how much damage i did and if it was fixable in case i couldnt, so i thought a forum would be the best place and you all have been really helpful. thank you so much

 

[Joe Dirt]

I agree- if you can use your insurance, you'll need an entire new tailgate. Both portions are damaged, and likely the trim inside is also cut up from the falling glass. When my glass popped at the dealer on my 2003, the interior trim also had to be replaced.

If you can't find one on car-part.com or another non-listed junkyard it'll get pricey.