Tailgate Hinge Kit

What Is a Tailgate Hinge Kit?

Tailgate hinge kits are replacement hardware assemblies that restore the pivot points connecting a truck's tailgate to its bed. Tailgate hinge kits typically include left and right hinges — and often hinge insert bushings for both the bed side and the gate side — giving you everything needed to complete a full repair in one purchase.

The tailgate hinge is one of the hardest-working components on a pickup truck. Your truck's tailgate hinge allows it to open and close while also connecting it to the body of the truck. Every time you lower the gate to load lumber, gear, or equipment, the hinge pivots under the full weight of the tailgate itself. Over time, this constant cycling — combined with exposure to road debris, rain, and corrosion — takes a toll.

Why Tailgate Hinges Fail and When to Replace Them

Tailgate hinges are susceptible to wear from the elements like dirt, road debris, and rain, and can also suffer damage from accidents. They can rust and deteriorate over a vehicle's lifetime of use. The signs of a failing hinge are usually hard to miss: a sagging or misaligned tailgate, a grinding or popping noise when opening or closing, excessive play or slop in the gate's movement, or a tailgate that won't stay fully open. Ignoring a worn hinge can lead to the tailgate flying open at highway speeds — a serious safety hazard for other drivers.

In many cases, the hinge body itself is still serviceable and only the plastic or nylon insert bushings have worn out. A bushing-only insert kit lets you save time and money by replacing only the worn component instead of the entire assembly. When the hinge body is bent, cracked, or corroded beyond saving, a full hinge kit with both bed-side and gate-side hardware is the right call.

What to Look for When Shopping Tailgate Hinge Kits

• Complete kit vs. insert-only: Determine whether your hinge body is intact and only the bushing inserts are worn, or whether the full hinge needs replacement.
• Left and right coverage: Most quality kits include both driver-side and passenger-side components so you can restore both pivot points at once.
• Direct-fit design: Look for kits engineered to match OEM specifications for your specific year, make, and model to avoid fitment headaches.
• Material quality: Replacement kits that use solid construction — rather than hollow stamped metal — are more resistant to long-term deformation under load.

Top Brands for Tailgate Hinge Kits

Dorman is one of the most recognized names in tailgate hinge kits for good reason. With over a century of automotive aftermarket experience, Dorman engineers its hinge kits as direct replacements designed to restore proper tailgate alignment and function on specified vehicles. Their lineup covers a wide range of popular trucks, including GM, Ford, Dodge, and more, and their kits are backed by a U.S.-based team of product experts.

Sherman is a Michigan-based manufacturer with deep roots in collision and body repair. Known for its commitment to quality and detail in fit and finish across body panels, brackets, and structural components, Sherman brings that same precision approach to tailgate hardware — making their kits a solid choice for body shop professionals and DIY restorers alike.