Tailgate rust questions

These photos are from my 2004 doublecab tailgate. I just bought it and I really like it but need to do something about the rust. I'm just wondering if any of you have run into this problem before, is it surface rust or is it rusting from the inside? looks like surface rust to me but I had a Nissan that I tried this with and I could never keep the rust away. I wonder if it is worth sanding and repainting or should I just replace the tailgate. This forum has been a great help to me, thanks for your thoughts.

 

If you can find one in good shape from the salvae yard do that. looks like more then just sanding and painting.

 

you should see my tailgate it isnt rusted but there is alot of paint missing

 

New gate..... if its rubbing on the bumper the bumper needs to be adjusted!

 

Gotta figure out how to fix the rubbing issue too or it will continue no matter what you do.

 

Mine also did the same thing, in the same spot... I got rear ended roughly a year ago and had to do some bondo work to my tailgate and respray it.. I noticed rust in those same areas and fixed it, and re applied seam sealer on the backside. It's already bubbling and rusting again. I just took the POS off. You can buy a new one and have it painted to match and throw all your hardware on it if you want, to me it's not worth it.

 

salt lake city.

not good.

 

Take the inside cover off and hose out the dirt that may have accumulated in there. When I wash mine there are drain holes in the bottom that I try and flush some extra water into.

 

I went out an looked at mine and it to is rubbing just a tad, going to take off the plastic and trim off some where it rubs. thanks for the heads up!

Could trim the plastic but that would look like shit, so I loosened the 4 bumper bracket bolts that are attached to the frame moved it down so it cleared took all of 15 mins.