Swapping a tailgate

[Heaveho]

I need to swap the tailgate on our Lexus IS300 Sportcross for a one in better nick. Never done this on anything previously. Any tips on what difficulties to expect? I'm expecting to have a bit of a game threading the harness through, but other than that? Some kind of sealant to make the hinges watertight?

[Skyedriver]

If the tailgate on a Volvo 940 Estate is anything to go by, weight!
Without the rams they are bloody heavy and they are aluminium.
Suggest you will need assistants.

[magpie215]

I'd agree with Skyedriver...get some assistance tailgates are heavy.

[105.4]

Thirded. An extra pair of hands will be very useful.

[Heaveho]

Thanks lads, already got that covered! More bothered about getting halfway through the job and not having something I need to complete, rather than the physical side of things. I've already got the spare tailgate, it's aluminium, and I can lift it reasonably easily alone, but there's no way I'll be embarking on the job on my own.

The reason it's being replaced is because it's an aluminium skin on a steel frame, will all the corrosive issues that causes. I've found a spotless tailgate in the correct colour, is there any way on Gods green earth I can introduce something such as cavity wax, etc, to prevent this happening again? I'm suspecting not, but happy to take any advice.