Outside of a 1987-1996 Ford tailgate with arrows marking the six 3/4 inch trim panel bracket holes and a tape measure across it

87-96 Ford Truck Tailgate Trim Panel Mounting Hole Locations

I got a message from a customer asking about the location of the holes for mounting the tailgate trim panel. They wanted to mount a panel on a tailgate that did not originally have one. These pictures will help document where the holes are on the tailgate.

The back/outside of the tailgate has 6 holes for the Blue Truck Parts Tailgate Brackets (yes, that was a shameless plug for our product). Each hole is about 3/4" diameter to accommodate the base of the bracket posts.

Tape measure from the left edge of the tailgate to the first pair of bracket holes
Measuring from the left side of the tailgate to the first set of holes.
Tape measure from the left edge of the tailgate to the middle pair of bracket holes
The middle holes measured from the left side.
Tape measure from the left edge of the tailgate to the right pair of bracket holes
The right side holes when measured from the left edge.
Tape measure from the bottom edge of the tailgate up to the bottom row of bracket holes
The bottom row of holes measured from the bottom edge of the tailgate.
Tape measure from the bottom edge of the tailgate up to the top row of bracket holes
The top row of holes measured from the bottom edge.

The tailgate also has two sets of 1/4" holes on the edges. Small threaded trim clips mounted to the back of the panel run through them. They are held in place with acorn nuts on the inside tailgate flange.

Arrows marking the two small 1/4 inch trim clip holes near the end of the tailgate
Tape measure from the edge of the tailgate to a 1/4 inch trim clip hole
Edge of tailgate to mounting hole.
Tape measure up from the bottom edge of the tailgate to the 1/4 inch trim clip holes
Measured up from the bottom edge of the tailgate.

Lastly, the inside of the tailgate has six 5/16" holes for attaching the bracket screws. The measuring edge would be the passenger's side of the tailgate when installed in the truck.

Inside of a 1987-1996 Ford tailgate with arrows marking the six 5/16 inch bracket screw holes and a tape measure across it
Tape measure on the inside of the tailgate to the first pair of 5/16 inch screw holes
The first set of holes measured from the left edge when looking at the back side.
Tape measure on the inside of the tailgate to the middle pair of 5/16 inch screw holes
The middle set of holes measured from the left.
Tape measure on the inside of the tailgate to the far right pair of 5/16 inch screw holes
The far right holes.
Tape measure from the bottom edge of the inside of the tailgate to the bottom screw holes
The bottom holes measuring up from the bottom edge.
Tape measure from the bottom edge of the inside of the tailgate to the top screw holes
The top holes measuring up from the bottom edge.
Three black Blue Truck Parts TPB87R tailgate trim panel brackets with screws and washers

The tailgate mounting brackets are available for purchase via the Blue Truck Parts online store.

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