Jeep Comanche Tailgate For Sale: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding and Restoring This Elusive Part

Jeep Comanche Tailgate For Sale: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding and Restoring This Elusive Part jeeps.truckstrend.com

Introduction: The Enduring Quest for the Perfect Comanche Tailgate

The Jeep Comanche (MJ), produced from 1986 to 1992, holds a special place in the hearts of automotive enthusiasts. Combining the rugged capability of a Jeep Cherokee (XJ) with the utility of a pickup truck, the Comanche forged its own unique legacy. Decades later, these unibody trucks are celebrated for their durability, simplicity, and distinctive styling. However, like any vintage vehicle, time takes its toll, and certain components become increasingly difficult to find. Among the most sought-after and often damaged parts is the Jeep Comanche tailgate.

Jeep Comanche Tailgate For Sale: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding and Restoring This Elusive Part

More than just a functional flap, the tailgate is integral to the Comanche’s utility, aesthetics, and overall structural integrity. It’s frequently subjected to wear and tear, rust, dents from cargo, or damage from collisions. For owners undertaking a full restoration, repairing body damage, or simply needing a functional tailgate for their daily driver, the search for a "Jeep Comanche tailgate for sale" can become a significant undertaking. This comprehensive guide will delve into every aspect of acquiring, assessing, and even restoring this vital piece of Comanche history, offering practical advice and actionable insights for your hunt.

Why a Tailgate Replacement is Often Necessary

The tailgate of any pickup truck endures a tough life. For the Jeep Comanche, several factors contribute to the frequent need for replacement or extensive repair:

• Rust: This is, without a doubt, the number one enemy. The lower lip and inner seams of the Comanche tailgate are notorious rust traps, accumulating moisture and debris. Once rust takes hold, it can quickly compromise the structural integrity and appearance.
• Dents and Dings: As a working truck, the tailgate is often used as a workbench, a seat, or takes impacts from shifting cargo. These impacts lead to unsightly dents, creases, and chipped paint.
• Hardware Failure: Hinges can seize, bend, or rust through. Latches can become sticky, misaligned, or break, preventing proper closing and securing of the bed. Support cables or chains can fray, snap, or go missing entirely.
• Accident Damage: Rear-end collisions or impacts while backing up are common occurrences that can severely warp or destroy a tailgate, making repair impractical or impossible.



• Missing or Stolen Parts: In some cases, Comanches are acquired without a tailgate, or it may have been removed for a custom project and never reinstalled.

A compromised tailgate not only detracts from the vehicle’s appearance but also impairs its fundamental utility, making it difficult or unsafe to haul cargo. For collectors and restorers, finding a solid, clean tailgate is often a critical step in bringing a Comanche back to its former glory.

Navigating the Market: Types of Jeep Comanche Tailgates Available

When searching for a Jeep Comanche tailgate for sale, you’ll primarily encounter a few categories, each with its own pros and cons:

1. New Old Stock (NOS) Tailgates

These are genuine, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tailgates that were never installed on a vehicle. They are typically in pristine condition, often still in their original factory primer or even packaging. NOS parts are the holy grail for restorers seeking absolute authenticity and perfection.

• Pros: Perfect condition, authentic OEM, no rust or damage.
• Cons: Extremely rare, command premium prices, almost impossible to find.

2. Used OEM (Salvage/Pull-offs) Tailgates

This is by far the most common type you’ll encounter. These are tailgates salvaged from other Comanches, usually from junkyards, parts vehicles, or trucks being dismantled. Their condition varies wildly, from minor surface rust and small dents to significant damage requiring extensive repair.

• Pros: Most readily available, range of prices, direct OEM fitment.
• Cons: Condition can be unpredictable, often require bodywork and paint, may be missing hardware.

3. Aftermarket Tailgates

While aftermarket support for many XJ Cherokee parts is robust, dedicated, high-quality aftermarket reproduction tailgates for the Comanche are virtually non-existent. Due to the limited production run and niche market, the tooling costs for reproduction are prohibitive. If you find one advertised as "aftermarket," be extremely wary, as it might be a mislabeled universal part or of questionable quality. Focus your search almost exclusively on OEM options.

4. Restored Tailgates

Occasionally, you might find a tailgate that has already undergone professional restoration, including rust repair, dent removal, and fresh paint. These can be an excellent option if the quality of work is high, but they will naturally come at a higher price point than an unrestored used unit.

• Pros: Ready for installation, saves time and effort.
• Cons: Higher upfront cost, quality of restoration can vary, less control over the process.

Key Considerations Before Making Your Purchase

Before you commit to buying a Jeep Comanche tailgate, a thorough evaluation of several factors is crucial to ensure you get the right part for your money:

• Condition is King: This cannot be stressed enough.
  • Rust: Inspect everywhere. Pay close attention to the lower lip, inner seams, drain holes, and around the hinge and latch points. Surface rust is manageable, but widespread or perforating rust (especially structural) can make a tailgate worthless or require costly, specialized repair.
  • Dents and Dings: Assess the severity. Minor dents can be pulled, but sharp creases or major warping are harder and more expensive to fix.
  • Prior Repairs: Look for signs of bondo, poor patch welds, or evidence of previous accident damage.
• Hardware and Components: Does the tailgate come with its hinges, latches, striker plates, and support cables/chains? These individual components can be difficult and expensive to source separately. A complete tailgate, even if it needs some TLC, is often a better value.
• Authenticity and Fitment: Ensure it is indeed a genuine Jeep Comanche (MJ) tailgate. While the XJ Cherokee shares many front-end components, the Comanche tailgate is unique to the truck.
• Paint and Finish: Assume you will need to repaint the tailgate to match your vehicle. Don’t let a "matching color" sway your decision unless you’ve confirmed it’s a perfect match for your specific vehicle’s faded paint, which is highly unlikely.
• Shipping Logistics: Tailgates are large, heavy, and awkward. Shipping costs can be substantial, often hundreds of dollars, and require specialized freight services. Factor this into your budget. Local pickup is always preferred if possible.

Where to Hunt for Your Comanche Tailgate

Finding a Jeep Comanche tailgate for sale requires persistence and knowing where to look:

• Online Marketplaces:
  • eBay: A primary source for rare and discontinued parts. Use specific search terms like "Jeep Comanche tailgate" or "MJ tailgate." Be prepared to pay for shipping.
  • Facebook Marketplace & Dedicated Groups: Numerous Facebook groups cater to Jeep Comanche enthusiasts (e.g., "Jeep Comanche MJ Owners," "Jeep Comanche Parts"). These groups are often the best place to find parts from other owners or part-outs, and you can often arrange local pickup.
  • Craigslist: Search local listings. This is ideal for finding parts within driving distance, avoiding shipping costs.
• Dedicated Forums and Enthusiast Websites: Websites like ComancheClub.com and NAXJA (North American XJ Association) have active "For Sale" sections where members buy, sell, and trade parts. This community often offers more reliable listings and helpful advice.
• Local Salvage Yards/Junkyards: Call around to local salvage yards, especially those specializing in older American vehicles or Jeeps. You might get lucky and find a Comanche still largely intact. Be prepared to pull the part yourself.
• Specialty Jeep Part Dealers: While they might not stock used tailgates, some larger vintage Jeep parts suppliers might occasionally acquire and list them. It’s worth a call or check of their inventory.
• Word of Mouth: Let other Jeep enthusiasts know you’re looking. Sometimes, the best finds come from unexpected connections.

A Buyer’s Checklist: Inspecting a Potential Tailgate

Once you’ve located a potential tailgate, whether in person or through photos, use this checklist for a thorough inspection:

• Visual Inspection:
  • Overall Shape: Is it straight and free of major warps?
  • Rust: Check the lower lip, inner seams, drain holes, and around hinge/latch mounting points. Ask for close-up photos of any suspicious areas.
  • Dents/Creases: Note location and severity.
  • Paint Condition: Assess if it’s original, a repaint, or if there’s evidence of bondo.
• Functional Check:
  • Latches: Do they operate smoothly? Are they present?
  • Hinges: Are they present, straight, and free of excessive rust or damage?
  • Support Cables/Chains: Are they present and in good condition?
• Ask for Detailed Photos/Videos: If buying remotely, request high-resolution photos of all angles, especially problem areas (rust, dents). Ask for a video showing the latches operating.
• Verify Part Numbers (if possible): While not always visible or present on used parts, sometimes you can verify authenticity through casting numbers or labels.
• Seller Reputation: Check seller reviews on eBay, or ask for references in online communities. A reputable seller will be transparent about the tailgate’s condition.

Installation Insights: Bringing Your Comanche Back to Life

Once you’ve secured your tailgate, installation is relatively straightforward for someone with basic mechanical skills:

1. Preparation: Clean the hinge mounting points on the truck bed and tailgate. Lubricate the hinges.
2. Mounting: With the help of a friend (tailgates are heavy!), align the tailgate hinges with the mounting points on the truck bed. Install the hinge pins or bolts.
3. Latches and Striker Plates: Ensure the tailgate latches properly and securely to the striker plates on the truck bed. Adjust striker plates if necessary for a snug fit.
4. Support Cables/Chains: Attach the support cables or chains to their respective mounting points on the tailgate and truck bed.
5. Alignment: Close the tailgate and check for proper alignment with the truck’s body lines. Minor adjustments to hinges or striker plates may be needed.
6. Lubrication: Lubricate all moving parts (hinges, latches) with a good quality grease or spray lubricant.

Always follow safety precautions, such as wearing gloves and eye protection, and ensure the vehicle is stable before working on it.

Restoration vs. Replacement: Making the Right Choice

Sometimes, the tailgate you find isn’t perfect, and you’re faced with a decision: restore it or keep looking for a better one?

• When to Restore:
  • Minor Surface Rust: If the rust is superficial and hasn’t perforated the metal, it can be sanded, treated, and repainted.
  • Small Dents/Dings: Easily repairable by a body shop or with DIY dent-pulling tools.
  • Missing or Damaged Hardware: If the tailgate body is solid, but hinges or latches are bad, these can often be sourced and replaced.
  • Nostalgia/Originality: If you’re passionate about preserving as much of the original vehicle as possible, restoring its original tailgate (if you have it) can be rewarding.
• When to Replace:
  • Extensive Perforating Rust: If rust has eaten through large sections or compromised structural integrity, especially along the bottom lip, repair can be more costly and time-consuming than finding a solid replacement.
  • Severe Warping/Major Collision Damage: Significant damage that has bent the tailgate out of shape will be incredibly difficult and expensive to straighten properly.
  • Missing Beyond Repair: If the tailgate is simply gone, or what’s left is beyond recognition.

Consider the cost-benefit analysis. A cheaper, heavily damaged tailgate might end up costing more in body shop fees than a more expensive, solid one.

Challenges in the Tailgate Hunt and How to Overcome Them

The search for a Jeep Comanche tailgate can be fraught with challenges:

• Scarcity and Demand: The limited production run of the Comanche means parts are inherently rare, and demand from a passionate enthusiast base keeps prices high.
  • Solution: Be patient, persistent, and broaden your search geographically. Join dedicated online communities.
• High Prices: Due to rarity, even damaged tailgates can fetch surprisingly high prices.
  • Solution: Set a budget, be prepared to negotiate, and weigh the cost of a "perfect" tailgate against the cost of restoring a "good" one.
• Shipping Difficulties: Large, heavy items like tailgates are expensive and cumbersome to ship.
  • Solution: Prioritize local pickups. If shipping, get detailed quotes from freight companies. Ask the seller about proper packaging (crating).
• Dealing with Misadvertised Parts: Sellers may inaccurately describe condition or fail to disclose damage.
  • Solution: Always ask for detailed photos/videos. Use the buyer’s checklist. If buying remotely, use platforms with buyer protection (like eBay).

Jeep Comanche Tailgate Price Guide

Prices for Jeep Comanche tailgates can fluctuate significantly based on condition, completeness, location, and seller. The following table provides a general guide:

Condition Category	Typical Price Range (USD)	Notes & Factors Affecting Price
Poor / Salvage	$150 – $250	Extensive rust, major dents, missing hardware. Good for parts/template, requires significant restoration.
Fair / Usable	$250 – $500	Moderate surface rust, minor dents/dings, may have some hardware. Needs bodywork and paint.
Good / Solid	$500 – $800	Minimal rust (mostly surface), few minor imperfections, often includes latches/hinges. Ready for prep and paint.
Excellent / NOS (New Old Stock)	$800 – $1500+	Near-perfect condition, minimal to no flaws, factory primer or original paint (if NOS). Extremely rare.
Restored (Professional)	$700 – $1200+	Fully prepped, rust-free, bodywork done, ready for final paint. Quality varies, depends on restorer’s reputation.

Note: These prices are estimates and can vary based on market demand, location, and the urgency of the buyer/seller.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Jeep Comanche Tailgates

Q: Are Comanche tailgates interchangeable with other Jeep models, like the Cherokee (XJ)?
A: No. The Jeep Comanche tailgate is unique to the MJ pickup truck. It is not interchangeable with the Cherokee’s hatch or any other Jeep model’s tailgate.

Q: Can I buy a new aftermarket tailgate for my Jeep Comanche?
A: New, dedicated aftermarket reproduction tailgates for the Comanche are extremely rare, if they exist at all. The market is too niche for manufacturers to justify the tooling costs. Your best bet is to find a used OEM tailgate.

Q: What’s the most common problem with these tailgates?
A: Rust, particularly along the lower lip and inner seams, is the most prevalent issue. Dents and damaged/missing hardware (latches, hinges, cables) are also very common.

Q: How much does it cost to ship a tailgate?
A: Shipping costs can range from $150 to $500+ within the US, depending on the distance, carrier, and whether it’s shipped to a commercial address or residential. Proper crating adds to the cost. Local pickup is always the most economical option.

Q: Is it worth restoring a severely rusted tailgate?
A: It depends on the severity of the rust and your budget/skill level. If the rust has caused significant perforation and structural compromise, especially along the bottom edge, professional repair can be very expensive, often exceeding the cost of finding a better used replacement. Minor surface rust or small rust holes are more manageable.

Q: What hardware should I ensure comes with the tailgate?
A: Ideally, you want the tailgate with its original hinges (upper and lower), latches, and the support cables or chains. These individual pieces can be difficult to find separately.

Conclusion: The Gateway to a Complete Comanche

The search for a "Jeep Comanche tailgate for sale" is often a rite of passage for owners of this beloved vintage truck. It requires patience, diligence, and a keen eye for detail, but the reward is a complete, functional, and aesthetically pleasing vehicle. Whether you’re embarking on a full restoration or simply need to replace a damaged component, understanding the market, knowing what to look for, and employing smart buying strategies will significantly improve your chances of success.

The tailgate is more than just a piece of metal; it’s a gateway to the full utility and charm of your Jeep Comanche. With the right approach, you can find that elusive part and keep the spirit of this iconic truck alive for years to come. Happy hunting!