so since i've been talking about building stuff (headache rack etc) for the truck for a while i finally started on one of them.. as it is time for me to get out of stock truck club and into the modding club. im building a tailgate like Plum Crazy's on his 95.

here's what it looks his looks like


on the truck
.

im using some pretty beefy 2x2 angle iron for my build, either its use the beefy stuff and add a piece to make it the right length or it was use flimsy stuff the right length to start with... i chose the beef. haha.. and im going to use expanded metal,so right now i have my pieces cut and im just figuring out how i want it to look.

once the "frame" is done i will lay some expanded metal in and then bolt some vertical piecs and sandwich the expanded stuff. then if the exp metal gets beat to **** i can easily replace it with a new piece.. i will post pics of the progress later today when im tired of working on it for the day. oh and im using my stock tailgate mounting hardware as well. im keeping the stock gate too just in case i need to haul some dirt or something i can swap gates pretty quick.

 

so here's what i got done, after i started this thread i went back outside and tried to line stuff up but it was too damn cold so i came in.

im not much of a fabricator and the stupid little lip on the sides and bottom of the stock gate got me all confused. so i took some more measurements w/o the little lip's and im going to make it to that size, then add a strip of metal to make a lip later.. anyhoo got the pieces cut and some what where they need to go. here's the pics

this piece started out as 3x3 angle iron as i only found a couple pieces of 2x2 angle but had a bunch of 3x3 so i cut it to make a 2x2.. anyhoo.. here's one side 2" and the other is 3" was during the cutting.


and here's is the frame, its just sitting there not tack welded yet.. once i get it tack welded together im gonna test fit on the truck. might even pull the truck into the shop for that.. should have it welded tomorrow.

 

Looks great man good job

 

Interesting idea. I have never thought of that but there is a TON of things you could do with that like make holders for jerry cans, spare tire, tools, etc.

 

well because my tailgate is tweaked a bit and looks like ****. its also starting to "bow" like all stock tailgates too. so i wanted something that would hold up to the abuse that i give it. i haul lots of lawnmowers, quads, bikes etc and the stock gate will just get worse.. oh and my racing mower is 326lbs chopped down, so its no lightweight and i want my gate to hold up.

plus im not worried, if it looks like **** and i dont like it i will cut it up and use the expanded metal for something else, not a big deal. i have a beefy trailer that im building up as well for the mowers and it will have expanded metal on it too.

that is why im building it. and im tired of looking stock. stock is boring. im also going to put 3 cross pieces instead of 2. so when i roll a mower up onto the tailgate the tires should be close to a cross piece. thats the theory anyways..

 

Looks good! Utility is always good. LR

 

I wanna see pics with it shut!

 

k give me like 2 mins..

EDIT: this is also PlumCrazy's tail gate. the only one that i could find real quick.


i will also match the tailgate with a headache rack to protect my rear window. and i got a big beefy 4x4 square tube bumper going on it also.

 

learn to use your head and look around lol makes backing up easier. I'd say go for it, my tail gate is bent on the in side from overloading it with something. i didn't do it but i like my stock tail gate till i decide how I'm going to build my rear bumper and tire gate thing.

 

^^^ thats what we are saying once you lift your truck you can turn around and back up and see very easy

 

here's a picture of what my stock tail gate looks like.. and that is just from backing into a tree with the bumper.. i'll snap a pic tomorrow of what it looks like under the black plastic liner..

 

mines worst from dropping firewood on it probably 2-300 truck loads

 

ya i bet!! haha

my truck has only seen a few pieces of firewood because the leaf springs are ****ed. but once i get them replaced next year i will be helping the neighbour get some wood.

 

yup, on my third tailgate for the same reasons...bending in the middle...

have an idea to mount a spare tire to it as well....just not the angled Tiregate though..

and mine is barely over stock...and backing up to my camper can be a hassle...so a "see through" tailgate would be a help...

l8r, John

 

i will take a pic of mine when i get home friday and show you its really bad. lol

 

^^ sweet. thats my sister's b-day on friday...

anyhoo.. didnt have much time to work on it today as i had an appointment as 2pm. but before the appointment i got the 2 end piecs cut down to size. then after when i got home i added a piece to the chunk i had already to it long enough.

 

keep the pics coming

 

just replaced mine with some off a 93 4wd .... truck rides great now and as far as i can tell it didnt get higher.

 

i already have leaf springs from a 93 4wd and they are done and sagging.. the passenger side is the worst, its pretty much straight and possibly a little bent past straight. the driver side i noticed is finally starting to sag. hoping to get my class 3 soon and get into a dump truck.. once that happens the mods to the ranger will start

also i'll finish getting the "frame" part welded tomorrow and i'll get some pics as i didnt get as much time today to work on it that i thought i would... was thinking about making a "How To" for building one of these, but we'll see. mine is 18" wide (from top to bottom) and 54" long, (side to side).. also want to pull the truck into the shop and attempt gettting the bed off.. all in good time!! haha..

oh that it was ****ing cold out today.. like -5*C all day playing with cold metal in a non-heated shop. haha

 

hahahah

 

Yeah Tremor...your posts aren't really needed. We don't need slams of members or their vehicles in the polite way that you did/do it. lol. You don't have to kiss everyones ***, criticism is welcome, just don't be a dick about it.

Though I do agree with you on some points.... If you know your vehicle and know the location of your hitch(dead center of tailgate) and the location of the trailer and it's tongue, you should be able to get it really close in person. I always stop about 3" too short. Otherwise, it's dead on perfect. And I'm always by myself....and my truck has 8" under it and 35's.... Can't see **** but damn I can get it ball parked really close. I don't see the need for a tailgate like this, but I commend the guy doing the work and making it look good, even with it in it's unfinished stage.

 

im going mostly for looks. not so i can back up to a trailer easier.

 

Man I missed all the fun, dang. Keep up the work Op

 

so i just pulled the truck into the shop, not much room left.. hahaha, gonn have a couple cups of coffee then head outside in the -5*C and get at er again!! because you cant build **** when sitting staring at a computer screen!!

 

seems like i do more "screen" wheelin' and fabbin' than actually outside with my rig.....

most times i am like Fx4wannabe01 and get it pretty close as well...just be easier with a see through gate is all..... just opinions on my part...

can't wait to see it done

l8r, John