Open tailgate of a black-and-silver Ford SUV with rear-mounted s…

First, I added the '80-86 style tailgate trim panel, but I liked this style better and finally found this one. A few months later, I swapped the whole t/g for a '96 with the same trim panel. The taillights are '87-91 with the larger wraparound backup light lens.

The hitch hauler is my own design, and has been used extensively. It fits into the standard 2x2" square receiver (probably stronger than Class V) that I built into the bumper. I've loaded it to the point that I could lift one front wheel off the ground by hand, so it's stronger than what my Bronco can carry.

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Owner caption June 2003 · Photo 16 of 5000