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Tailgate Alternatives - Anybody Built Anything?

nvrenuf

nvrenuf

Holy crap, it's running!
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I'd love something that would give more visibility yet still keep anything loose from rolling out. Sort of a half height tailgate or something. I've seen the 5th wheel tailgates and they're not bad but I'm not sure they're even made for our trucks anymore.

Not a big fan of the old nets, seemed like they always got "baggy" and flapped around.
 
Be fairly easy to fab your own 5th wheel type gate. Just a little time consuming
 
Bed I bought once had a home made tail gate with expanded metal mesh,full height,but I opted to let the seller keep it,as I was planning to use my old tail gate,I wasn't interested in it..that lowered the price of the bed by $50 too..
Thought I had a picture, but I can't find it..whoever built it did a good job..

I have seen a original tail gate that got dented in bad, and they cut out the damaged area,left about 4" around all four sides,and welded expanded metal mesh to it...looked pretty good,and backing up was probably much easier since you can see thru it..
 
I had one of those stupid nets one time. Those things are worthless. I would have been better off just cutting a 2x12 to the right length and clamping it back there or something when I needed it. It would have done a better job of keeping small objects from tumbling out. Like the time a dirty diaper flew out and almost hit the state patrol car. That guy had lightning reflexes. *Word to the wise: if you have to transport a dirty diaper in a truck bed, put it up towards the cab. Don't just toss it back there.*
 
I'm really diggin this thing...

full


full
 
putting paddles on the K5 too? :rotfl:

painted it would look better on your truck IMO.
 
skunked said:
putting paddles on the K5 too? :rotfl:

painted it would look better on your truck IMO.
Click to expand...

No paddles.... but I've always wanted cut Boggers! :saweet: :woot: :burnout:

I'd definitely make it paint to match, just something to make the world behind me a little more visible. I'll probably always have a regular gate but it sure would be cool. :pimp:
 
you might find a half gate kinda a PITA if you're using the rig to carry any gear.
 
I was thinking of making some type of tailgate with a military style pioneer rack (for shovel/axe, etc) on it.
Good timely topic!
 
skunked said:
you might find a half gate kinda a PITA if you're using the rig to carry any gear.
Click to expand...

I agree but I doubt the Blazer will ever have anything big loose in the back. Ideally, I'd like a half height gate. Similar to a cut down door, still mostly functional but offering more access and visibility. The truck is too tall for me to hop my fat butt up on the gate to sit on so as long as it's tall enough to catch any stray water bottles or trail trash that's all I'd care about.

The only real downside I can think of (for a trail only truck) is the ability to see in to the bed by sticky fingered folks on the occasion it would get driven around town. I have a small tool box (lockable), Hi Lift and air tank that'll be back there, maybe an Artec quart crate later on.
 
That's what's in the box (more of a chest than a truck tool box). :thumb:
 
You can easily make a frame out of square tube that will very neatly slot into the tailgate area. You do have to notch the top of the body just a bit. At least on my '74, there were captive nuts welded into the sides of that channel, so you drill through the sides, weld a round tube through so you don't squish the frame, and you can bolt the thing in place nice and solid. If memory serves it's 1.25" square tube, but maybe 1.5". You can measure easy enough.

Hard to see with the crazy paint, but some pix:

tailgate-frame-1.JPG


tailgate-final-4.JPG


from there you can do anything you want. Expanded mesh, the fifth-wheel pattern instead of full rectangle, whatever.

Then if you don't like it or wanna switch, you unbolt, slide it up, and switch back to the original tailgate.

-- A
 
Bumping to see if letting this soak for a year has helped.
 
Always doable. Still not 100% where to go with it.
 
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