The tailgate coffee table project

[MountainMike]

Hey Topher, you were thinking of finding a way to use the F O R D letters in the tailgate and I may have something. What about if you remove that trim panel and instead replace it with a piece of either glass or plexi sunk in a little bit. That way you would have your flat surface and have the letters. You could even use the space as sort of a mini display case.

 

[CHKNFKR]

glass is the way to go. plexi is great on a vehicle, but as a table top its pretty terrible.

 

[shane96ranger]

Me and my buddy had an idea back in high school (90-93; what a long time ago that was) to get bare block of a SBC and fill it with dirt, then plant 8 petunias in each cylinder. At least you're living the dream Topher...LOL.

EDIT.....I was just thinking about tail gates. The newer ones (98+) are 65 bucks brand new at the local certifit dealer here in Salt Lake. It's a lot flatter surface, and will require no body work. Just a thought.

 

[TheTopher]

EDIT.....I was just thinking about tail gates. The newer ones (98+) are 65 bucks brand new at the local certifit dealer here in Salt Lake. It's a lot flatter surface, and will require no body work. Just a thought.

That's a neat idea, are they really flat? My 95 has a decent bit of contour to it.

Hey Topher, you were thinking of finding a way to use the F O R D letters in the tailgate and I may have something. What about if you remove that trim panel and instead replace it with a piece of either glass or plexi sunk in a little bit. That way you would have your flat surface and have the letters. You could even use the space as sort of a mini display case.

The plexi is also a pretty good idea, I could even put a little bit of recessed accent LED lighting to cast a shadow over the FORD letters.

glass is the way to go. plexi is great on a vehicle, but as a table top its pretty terrible.

You're probably right, but you also have to remember I drink a LOT of Vodka. This glass would get broken in a heartbeat.

Me and my buddy had an idea back in high school (90-93; what a long time ago that was) to get bare block of a SBC and fill it with dirt, then plant 8 petunias in each cylinder. At least you're living the dream Topher...LOL.

Now I haven't seen that one but down in southern Delaware where I work, people using old boots and old toilets as planters in their garden is pretty common.

 

[gwaii]

i was thinking righ from the beginning that a glass top would be a good plan.i like the lighting idea.

 

[CHKNFKR]

plexi will get scuffed up and scratched very easily, before you know it you'll have a cloudy white thing on top of your tailgate and won't be able to see through it. glass is far more durable than most people think, i currently have two glass table tops. one is a 4' wide octagon and the glass is suspended on a wooden frame, held on only by a 3/8" lip all the way around. in my drunken debauchery i have actually stood on it. just sayin.

 

[TheTopher]

in my drunken debauchery i have actually stood on it. just sayin.

I'm sold.

How tough is glass to work with? I don't really know anything about it. Can I just treat it like I would ceramic?

 

[CHKNFKR]

i don't really work with it. once its cut (not by me) all i do is hit with some windex once a month or so, gotta get rid of those foot prints

 

[TheTopher]

That was the biggest reason I had wanted plexi, because you can work with it just like wood.

I guess it's gonna boil down to how simple I can make the application be.

 

[gwaii]

That was the biggest reason I had wanted plexi, because you can work with it just like wood.

I guess it's gonna boil down to how simple I can make the application be.

with glass your best bet is going to be giving a glass shop the dimentions you need,and let them cut it.it doesn't cost much.

also keep in mind the table top d.p.f. is referring to is tempered,like the side windows on your truck.if you try to stand on the glass you'll be getting you'll wind up in the hospital very quickly.

 

[MountainMike]

That's a neat idea, are they really flat? My 95 has a decent bit of contour to it.

The plexi is also a pretty good idea, I could even put a little bit of recessed accent LED lighting to cast a shadow over the FORD letters.

All trucks 93+ use the smooth contoured tailgate. A little too sloped for a table that will have drinks put on it.

I really like the LED idea, that could be the use for the handle. A simple momentary on/off switch.

i was thinking right from the beginning that a glass top would be a good plan. i like the lighting idea.

You know what they say about great minds

 

[gwaii]

You know what they say about great minds

yup....and there seems to be no shortage of great minds here

 

[shane96ranger]

The 93+ tailgates are contoured, but there's not a valley in the middle. Of course, maybe that will help your adult beverages stay upright, LOL.

 

[TheTopher]

Well, thanks to the rain it doesn't look like I'll be getting started on that filing cabinet today.


Stupid weather.

 

[CHKNFKR]

More time to think about all your options on the tailgate