Barn doors or Tailgate??

[TrailLeadr]

I'm just wondering what kind of rear access you have on your 'burban and what's your preference?
I personally prefer the barn doors. I think it looks better. But there's times I'd like to have a rear wiper, which is not offered on the barn doors.

Cast your vote above!

[Steve]

Did they have the barn door as an option in 1978? :-)

[97bigredburban]

BARN DOORS........ :wink: my 97 has them....and i just feel like you cant think suburban unless you think barn doors. thats my opinion. the barn doors are what let the suburban stand alone from the rest.

[TrailLeadr]

That's a good question! I haven't found an answer to that yet. Steve I did find something you might find interesting.

http://www.fedrelandsvennen.no/amcar/brochures/chevy/bilder/78sub2.jpg

Ok, actually it looks like they did make barn doors on the '78

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:_X5GzgjTaqUJ:www.rustfreecars.com/images/Img240.gif

[Steve]

Don't forget to vote.

[Steve]

yeah, looks like it was an option. How about that. Well, I've always had a tailgate on my trucks and SUVs, until we got the Trailblazer. That's got a full lift-hatch in the back.

[MN_Burbon]

I have the barn doors and generally that would be my preference, there are some times that I think it might be handy to have the gate but not that often. And I agree I think the barn doors are more visually appealing.

[Dieselburb]

My vote is for the tailgate, mainly because that is what my Suburban has.
The barn doors are standard equipment on all Suburbans up to at least 1991( I'm not 100% about the newer ones). The tailgate was an option on all trim package levels except the Silverado trim, which it is standard and the barn doors were an option(saved you roughly $300). With the tailgate on my Suburban it has the rear window defroster and power glass controlled by either dash switch or keys. The power glass is kind of nice on days when I want good air flow through the interior. While driving I can lower the glass and with the rear A/C fan switch on it draws in outside air and blows it across the interior roof(helps for air circulation).
The barn doors have their advantges, such as easier loading and unloading. You also do not have to worry about broken tailgate hinges and rusted rear tail pan support( a fun repair).The tailgate is also pretty hefty with the glass inside it.
I also think the lines of the tailgate flow with the truck a little nicer. Just my 2bits.
Ron

[MN_Burbon]

The power back window would definately be nice.

[Steve]

1978 Silverado with power back window. :-)

[Steve]

Well, this rig is a hand-me-down. I just have always had a tailgate. I remember sitting on the end of the tailgate for everything. Waiting in a parking lot for someone? throw the tailgate down! Going fishing and need something to sort your takle on? There's the tailgate. You have to have the window down before you can drop the tailgate, so that's one thing, but with the power window it's not that big of an issue.

[TrailLeadr]

There are definately advantages to both. I'd also like to say that with the barn doors, you can enxperience the same hinge pin bushing failure as with the doors. My passenger side barn door currently sits just a hair lower, due to one of the pin bushings that has started to deteriorate, and tends to close a little funny. Another project, but I could hardly complain about that.

[MN_Burbon]

The other thing I have seen with the barn doors is that occasionally the electrical contacts have to be cleaned. They are the "wireless" door joint style, set of pins on the door that hits a plate and when that gets coroded or dirty the power locks don't work.

Side question, does anybody else with the barn doors have a problem with the window trim panel screws coming out?

[3com]

OK my 2 cents. my 86 has the tailgate, 94 barn doors. i love both for there utility. but got to admit when hitching horse trailer barn doors are the best, open them up and back up to the trailer and its a one shot deal because you can almost see the trailer ball, and thats a plus, also loading and unlaoding feed is better with barn doors, the old tailgate has had way to many bails of hay and bags of feed droped on it and had to replace tail pan hinge support, but the 94 aslo needed a hinge pin set on passenger side, that aint no better to replace. its a pain in the ass, and makes replaceing a regular hinge pin on a car feel like a walk in the park. but the tailgate is good when i need to pick up 10' or longer lumber at my local sawmill. but seeing this is my wifes vehicle i have to go with what she likes and thats the barn doors, for ease the tailgate is real heavy for her to close.
when you put the door trim pannel screws back it put a dab of locktite on them first and that should solve the problem MN_burban.

p.s. :twisted:
THE WIFE CALLS THEM THE URBAN ASSALT VEHICLES, AND WONT DRIVE ANYTHING ELSE ON A TRIP OR INTO THE BIG CITY!

[Aeropagus]

Just out of curiosity. How hard would it be to turn a tailgate suburban to a barn door suburban?

[TrailLeadr]

Hmmm....Never considered converting barn doors to tailgate or visa-versa. I would think it shouldn't be too hard. I bet getting the barn doors wouldn't be very cheap though.

Hey 84Fiero123, got any advice on changing the pin/bushings out on the barn door. I think I may tackle that task this weekend.
Maybe I'll just drive around with the barn doors off for a couple days. Could be fun :lol:

[Steve]

Watch out, if you have your doors off Aeropagus might come up and snag them so he doesn't have to go out and find his own.

[TrailLeadr]

I think if he trucked his way up here from New Mexico just for my barn doors, I'd guess he'd deserve them. :lol:


Don't get any funny ideas Aeropagus!

[3com]

not sure but even i wouldn't try it without the help of a good body man. hinges on the newer burbs for the barn doors are welded in place to the body and the door so adjustments are no easy. not to mention the fit of the boors could be a pain in the ass.

[TrailLeadr]

I never really looked at them before this. I had presumed that they were bolted on. But now I see that they are welded. So, yeah that would be quite the job. Good luck if you decide to do that.

[3com]

changing pins on barn doors was a pain in the ass, at least for me. tried to knock them out but did nothing but agrivate myself, and hit my thumb. then cut pin with die grinder, heated hinge with a welding torch with a friend as he knocked them out with hammer and punch, they do make a tool to remove these pins with but after talking to a buddy at a body shop found the way i did it is how they normally do it. how ever you do it its a pain. but i only had to replace passenger side door hinges. it did only take 45 min. tho with the torches, spent 15 min beating on the pins without torches to no good.

ps it is not a good idea to drive with doors off, and i think illegal, if not at the very least you will get exhast fumes in truck when stoped so be careful

[Steve]

I think that every state is different when it comes to the laws about doors, etc. I've got a buddy that takes his doors off of his '70 Bronco every spring and puts them back on every fall. Of course, that was up in Seattle when you can do that. You would die of heat stroke in Texas if you did that.

Yeah, the doors would be a major pain. It's hard enough to hang a door right in the house, let alone on a vehicle! I do have a brother-in-law that is a body man though. :-)

[ellis]

Gotta go with the barn doors....I just like the way they look

[TrailLeadr]

I was only kidding about driving with the doors off. I would probably never do that, although the idea does seem fun. Around these parts just about anything is illegal, so I wouldn't doubt that I'd get nailed for no rear doors.

Never did get to those doors, so maybe this weekend. I'll have to see how it goes. I'll let ya know if I have even worse results :lol:

[Karey]

I love the barn doors on mine. They are great for having to constantly get in and out. I also feel like it sets my burban apart from the rest. I would have loved the electric window and the back wiper though. Too bad the barn doors don't have wipers.

[3com]

you know the wipers on the barn doors would probably be easier to put in than the barn door, never seen them on any burbs but i bet if you could find a small wiper motor for the tail gate model it wouldn't be that difficult to retrofit to barn doors, at least a lot easier than changeing from tailgate to barn doors. 8)

[MN_Burbon]

Custom is a wonderful thing.... how good of a welder are you Aeropagus? Couple hours with a sawzall and a welder would probably cover it if you had an able donor. ;-) (btw keep away from my truck) lol

[Rockman59]

The last two Suburbans I have owned had barn doors....my new '06 has the hatch/split window. Have to admit I do like the hatch/split window version. And GM is no longer offering the barn doors on the newer models as of 2006.

[sidedrifter]

I have owned both and I prefer the barn doors. My 89 had a tailgate and my 99 has barn doors.
Pete

[brownbomb]

My '96 has barn doors. I like them because you can open up the rear even if you are hitched to a tralier. Friends have told me the tailgate doors are nice because you can load groceries in the dry if its raining. Since I don't do much grocery shoping... I don't care.

Roger

[Steve]

My overall preferance is the rear-access door found on my Trailblazer. However, that's not an option on the Suburban. (Wouldn't that be an interesting MOD?) Otherwise, I think both of them have the advantages and disadvantages.

[larryderouin]

Being that the Suburban is mine I got the barn doors, as I find it's easier to put stuff in the back and the bottom is lower than the tailgate in the bottom position. Plus I don't have to worry about more stuff going wrong (wiper/washer) and remembering to refill the washer. But the wife is always Bitching about the center pillar blocking the view thru the inside mirror. I guess it's a wash as I bitch about the "C" Pillars on her Grand Am.

Larry

[esponet]

i believe, you would have to re-inforced the side pillars, cause they are not strong enough to support the weight of the barn doors, if you have tail gate.

as for me, both burb i own, has tailgate. i would much rather prefer barn doors, but i think for family stuff its better to have tailgate. but i have a 94. on the newer one, i would never consider the tailgate due to that it is one piece. kinda big i wouldn't be able to open it inside the garage with the garage door closed. but then again i plan on lifting the burb in a few montrhs. so it probably won't fit in the garage anyways.

btw, the big disadvantage of having a tailgate, for me anyways, is that on both burb i have a nice hefty dent by the handle. thats from forgetting that my trailer handle was in the way and i dropped the gate down on it.

[mcrich]

I perfer the barn doors I have a 89 Bur with a tailgate and I hate it. I have replaced the Motor in it twice and it still acts slow and it's about 200lbs. I having barn doors put on soon it's going to take a little modifacation but it's going to be worth every penny. I hope to have some pic of it getting done to post. I will update soon.

[KD7ONE]

I got barn doors on my burb. I like them, but they have their drawback. Like when I am loading groceries into the back and I got people parked on both sides of me. I have to have my wife and one of my stepsons hold the doors so they don't hit the other vehicles.

[TrailLeadr]

I got barn doors on my burb. I like them, but they have their drawback. Like when I am loading groceries into the back and I got people parked on both sides of me. I have to have my wife and one of my stepsons hold the doors so they don't hit the other vehicles.

That is a pain isn't it.
One of my hinges is on it's way out, so the door tends to stay where I put it, but the other door likes to swing closed on me when I'm leaning in loading or unloading. Nothing quite like a bump in the backside when you least expect it.:lol:

[Crawdaddy]

I love my barn doors, as has every person who I've shown the truck to. I've only had one situation so far where I could not open them up all the way, and I had my uncle hold onto the door. It's a minor inconvenience, but it's well worth the extra effort ovr the tailgate. I also have a hinge that's going out, it's starting to break at the pin, so I will be replacing all 4 hinges for good measure. Not a terrible exspense, and will revitalize the doors for the next 15 years. Plus, the barn doors will hopefully give me somewhere to mount a pair of subwoofers where they won't be in the way. ;) That still remains to be seen depending on what I find in the door, but I'm guessing the odds will be in my favor for that one. I just gotta figure out how to route the speaker wiring since there's no existing loom.

[TrailLeadr]

I love my barn doors, as has every person who I've shown the truck to. I've only had one situation so far where I could not open them up all the way, and I had my uncle hold onto the door. It's a minor inconvenience, but it's well worth the extra effort ovr the tailgate. I also have a hinge that's going out, it's starting to break at the pin, so I will be replacing all 4 hinges for good measure. Not a terrible exspense, and will revitalize the doors for the next 15 years. Plus, the barn doors will hopefully give me somewhere to mount a pair of subwoofers where they won't be in the way. ;) That still remains to be seen depending on what I find in the door, but I'm guessing the odds will be in my favor for that one. I just gotta figure out how to route the speaker wiring since there's no existing loom.

Do the same thing that GM did with the rear defoggers!!
Get some of those push button connectors from a boneyard.

[Crawdaddy]

That is a pretty good idea, but I don't think that the connectors would be able to take the current that would get pushed through them. 300 watts worth of power, I use at least 14 gauge for that much power. However, I'll invesitgate that, and the potential no-load condition with the amps...

[Steve]

... bump this old thread!

[ftwken]

Barn doors. You got to have some place to put the speakers for the 32" flat screen tv when you are tailgating at a car show..also for the stereo system.. sound better going outward not downward.. :great:

[jicurtis]

barn doors seem better to me, my 08 has the door raising up, but it hits the top of my garage door if I open it while it is parked in the garage.

[zippy]

For me, barn doors are best... having a choice goes way back:

http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/PickupTrucks/1946ChevroletSuburbanCarryall.jpghttp://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/PickupTrucks/1948ChevroletSuburban-c.jpg

[jov]

I have Barn Doors and most of the time they're great; however, whenever I'm towing the trailer, I wish I had a tailgate.

Joel
El Buey Azul - '96 Suburban

[95CTburb19]

I've had barn doors and I've had tailgates. Tailgate is the way to go. On my burb the barn doors leaked like crazy all the internals were rusted and only 1 door opened. :grrrrrr:

[cmjust0]

Our '03 has barn doors.. Love'em. We've owned two other SUVs with liftgatehatchdoor things and both of them needed to have the holder-upper pistons replaced (which I never did).. Needless to say, it was a common occurance to get knocked in the back of the head as you were loading stuff in the back..

Or...you'd load in one thing, turn around to get another thing, then turn back around to find that the door had quietly dropped about a quarter of the way while you weren't looking. Typically, you found it with your forehead, teeth, or eyesocket.

Not a problem with the barn doors.

[mcrich]

I have a 89 with a tail gate and I have barn door that i want to replace the gate with but I can find anyone to do it with giving them an arm and a leg I was told that it was a easy bolt on process but that was wrong............ If anyone knows a way to get it done please speak up

[95CTburb19]

Our '03 has barn doors.. Love'em. We've owned two other SUVs with liftgatehatchdoor things and both of them needed to have the holder-upper pistons replaced (which I never did).. Needless to say, it was a common occurance to get knocked in the back of the head as you were loading stuff in the back..

Or...you'd load in one thing, turn around to get another thing, then turn back around to find that the door had quietly dropped about a quarter of the way while you weren't looking. Typically, you found it with your forehead, teeth, or eyesocket.

Not a problem with the barn doors.

those rams are really cheap, can be bought at Autozone or other stores like that and can be changed in about 14 seconds :neutral:

[JMoney02]

BARNDOORS, Yeah Baby !!!!!!! Got to let the animal out, ya know........:rofl: