Is this strip really necessary?

[RustyDusty]

1990 Grand Wag.
Is this plastic necessary, or was it just there to justify the $30k price tag back in the day? Can I get rid of it?

Thanks,
Russ

WagTailgate.jpg

[candymancan]

I think its just there as a sheild or protection from banging stuff into the body scratching paint when loading crap into the Jeep.

Id just peal it off if it were me. I have it on my 90 as well but its in good shape. But lets see what others think. I bet its just a armor lile shield

[HowardT64]

Id leave it

[SJTD]

Don't remember if my '84 had it. If it did I didn't even save it.

More lipstick on a pig like all the other overdone trim and molding on these things.

[babywag]

Not needed @ all.

[BCRAWLER]

Betting it was used to decrease space between gate and body allowing weather stripping to be tighter.

[Stuka]

It was purely a cosmetic change. No Wagoneer had it up until I think 86? I don't think the real early Grand Wagoneers had it.

But at the time having bare metal exposed was considered bad for a luxury vehicle. I honestly much prefer the look of it NOT being there.

[letank]

feb 85 model has it... it hides rusty holes

[RustyDusty]

feb 85 model has it... it hides rusty holes

So...it's a feature?

[fulsizjeep]

I once had an 84 that had it. It was only 4 years old at the time and looked fancy. Most of them have cracked and come apart since then. Dried out lipstick...