Tailgate replacement.....need pics!

[Hardwareman]

Since my tailgate handle became detached again from releasing one side of the latches (drivers side), I was wondering if anyone has fabbed something up along the lines of like say a tubed tailgate that can still be opened and closed.

I'm just tired of trying to watch for body damage and would also like to try something that just allows me to easily open and close the rear to hold stuff in with kind of a rugged look. Don't even know if someone has even tried this. Thanks.




Allen

[Wicked_Sludge]

just a suggestion...what about one of those tailgate nets?

[Hardwareman]

Well I actually need something more durable then that becasue I'm still using the truck for work and some of the items I carry would esaily break through that if they pushed up against the net with enough force you know?

Not fun for myself or whoever's behind me that's for sure. I just thought I remembered seeing something on the old forums that another member had in place of his stock tailgate. It looked pretty good too!




Allen

[Wicked_Sludge]

i see what your saying. just wanted to throw it out there in case it was one of those forehead slapping moments :icon_cheers:

[Loanranger]

Sasquatch Ryda built something similar to what you're talking about, but he also built a "logger" style bed which it mounts to. His thread is in general discussions call "the rangers transformation" or you can just do like I did and do a search for "Logger bed"

[Hardwareman]

i see what your saying. just wanted to throw it out there in case it was one of those forehead slapping moments :icon_cheers:

No....no problem, I knew you were just trying to help, and thank you. I just want something so that if it gets bumped or what not it does'nt crease or look to bad you know?

My current one needs body/functionality repair so I was thinking of using that money to have something fabbed. Thanks.




Allen

[Nehring13]

hey, just athought, but what about vented tailgates? an example and even a couple ones are on jcwhitney:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/Truck-Specialty-Tailgates/600000635.jcw?Ns=p_Product.LONGDESCRIPTION.sort&TID=8072949

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Heres what I did:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/601000-601999/601030_185_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/601000-601999/601030_189_full.jpg

It opens either way and is reversable

[metalmacguyver]

sasquatch, how exactly did you construct that hinge mechanism?

[85_Ranger4x4]

We have a steel net in our F-350. It is a service truck and we haven't had a problem with it yet. It looks just like the plastic ones but cut out of thin steel.

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

sasquatch, how exactly did you construct that hinge mechanism?

There is 2 solid steel pins inside of the tube on each end of the tail gate with a compression spring between them. The bolts you see sticking out are threaded into the pins and have slots cut in the tube so you can compress the pins together to open it. Then on the box itself there are 2 small chunks of tube that the pins fit into when closed. Both hinges are the same ( and greasable) so you can swap the tail gate 180 degrees and have the tire the other way around for more bed space.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/601000-601999/601030_199_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/601000-601999/601030_197_full.jpg

Any other questions let me know.

[Jonboy]

I seen something similar to this in a truck performance catolog

[Joe_Roofer]

Sasquatch, That's a sweet peice of work!

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I seen something similar to this in a truck performance catolog


Yea its called a Tiregate...and costs about a grand...this cost me 50 bucks in steel plus a bit of hardware and about 6 hours to build.