Both my father and I have 1997 GMC Jimmy's...He has an SLE and I have an SLS. On his truck the hatch pops open and the remaining rear lays down like a tailgate. On mine it the hatch pops open and the hatch opens as a whole, like on a van. Was this something offered as an option and what was the way the truck would come originally?

 

The rear liftgate was an better optioned vehicles. SLE is a lower trim option than an SLS.

 

i think the one on yours was standard and the one on your dads is the optional one. im not sure on the different trim levels for a GMC so i dont know which is the higher trim.

on my truck, the glass opens up and the gate folds down. i have an LT which is the upper level on the chevy

 

i have an LS and i have the same rear hatch as otnietdehooo.

 

When the liftgate first came out, it was optional on the higher trim levels only. Standard on the Bravada. Somewhere along the way it obviously became optional on all of the trim levels as do most of the options as a vehicle line ages.

 

You guys are making me nervous anyway about my decission to trade up...I have a Jimmy with 92000 miles on it...seems to be in good shape. I traded up from a 1996 Toyota Camry...Been out of a truck for a while now and was tired of it. With all the negs about the trucks though...DANG...Im scared!

 

What are you scared of???

 

I have the LS model and mine is the drop gate. and my friend josh has an LS that has a lift gate.

 

I have the liftgate and had only seen the liftgates on them till I started visiting this site and then I also have seen more tailgate models around town since. I like the liftgate in the rain/snow since it shelters me. The tailgate would be better for hauling boards and having a good old fashion tailgate.

 

I just threw a Reese interlock kit with a 2" ball on my truck today. I don't plan on using it much, but at least it's there.
And now that it's winter, when it comes to getting stuck, anything you can grab onto comes useful for pulling.