The tailgate coffee table project

[Andres629]

While an LMC tailgate may be thin... you're not going to be sitting on this I don't think.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

While an LMC tailgate may be thin... you're not going to be sitting on this I don't think.

We have to consider drunkedly falling on it, rowdy sex on it or just sleeping on it.

 

[TheTopher]

We have to consider drunkedly falling on it, rowdy sex on it or just sleeping on it.

Definitely! Plus I believe I can cut lexan just like it were PVC can't I.


Maybe it was lucite I'm thinking of. It's been so long I can't remember what guys used to build computer windows out of.


I'd definitely prefer something that I can work myself, there's no need to call a glass supplier six times for the same piece and have the whole place know how often I screw things up.

 

[TheTopher]

I just did some early morning googling and you're the man. That is exactly the stuff I was looking for. This whole time I've been trying to remember why nobody with a transparent case ever had scratches on it.

One thing to notice, while it may not scratch it certainly dents...your wallet that is.


Guess I'll just be buying smaller sheets to play around with for now. No sense dropping that much cash until I actually HAVE the stupid tailgate.

Edit: Found this while I was googling, thought a few of you may enjoy it.

 

[multiranger]

If I were doing this type of project I would take a grinder and grind all the paint off leaving a rough surface after all the paint is gone wash it with denatured alcohol Don't touch any bare metal with hands.. get some automotive type clear add just a dab of black to give it a little tint and clear the bare metal. I'd also cut out the lower hinges take the latches out and cut some wood for inserts on the end of the tailgate. Then stain the wood... Build something as similar as possible to surround the couch....

check out this site for some ideas. http://www.motoart.com/

 

[dp88]

I want the mile high bed form that link....

 

[TheTopher]

Picked up the second toolbox and a couple 9"x9" sheets of lexan to play with today


Gonna see about propping my truck's tailgate across them later this week to make sure they'll be strong enough. now that I've been working with them the boxes feel a little flimsy so I'll have to test it and go from there.

 

[TheTopher]

Alright, did a quick teaser pic. The boxes are definitely strong enough.

I also took some measurements and having the lids open at a 45 would make the table be about 25 inches, much too high for a coffee table. It's a shame too because it would've looked badass and I even came up with a bracket to hold them like that.


Anyway, here's the teaser pic I promised.

I've been feeling a little under the weather lately but hopefully I can get motivated a little later today to start trying to mount the power supply.

 

[jhammel85]

Cool! Looks like it's coming together!

 

[TheTopher]

Yea', now I just need the actual tailgate I'm gonna use.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Lids dont have to opened at a 45 do they? Wht the heck are you gonna keep in there? I was thinkin just enough for a couple mags. Or you can always cut a hole in the lid so that when open at 45 the tailgate sits inside the lid. nevermind too narrow. I dont know, I almost had a good idea.

 

[TheTopher]

Well it would have looked badass with the lids halfway open. Unfortunately the perfect height is with them closed. Oh well, not a big deal.

 

[shane96ranger]

That contour ain't that bad on the newer tailgates. You could put a beverage on that no problem

 

[TheTopher]

It's possible. There's a few downsides to it though. First off, the sheet metal on the tailgate is thinner than I had hoped and it's not solid to hold any real weight up. The next reason is the more important one, if I go with a 3rd gen tailgate, I won't be able to make light up F.O.R.D. letters under a piece of lexan

 

[03Fx4MN]

I read through this and thought, If the lexan is a big task couldn't you clear it with the same type of clear coat stuff you use when you do the front ford oval color change on the newer emblems? Its just a thought but then with those smaller pieces lexan you could cut the ford out of the tailgate and then place the lexan on the inside as a backing then the top would be all flat and it would be reinforced with a layer of Envirotex. Then lighting would be easy just drop a few lights on the inside of the tailgate and voila lighted cleared tailgate coffee table. Idk if what i said makes any sense just by reading tho

Envirotex website