So recently I've been throwing around the idea of getting rid of my tailgate nd fabbing essentialy a swinging tire carrier in place of the tailgate, has any one done it?
CK5
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tire gate idea
- Thread starter 83ChevyK5Blazer
- Start date
If this is for your blazer it can be done BUT remember you'll be losing the rear window by doing so. That might not be a problem if your blazer is a trail only rig or one that you don't care about rain getting into it.
A soft top rear window snaps onto the tailgate right? So if it was the same hight a softtop might seal
63chevyll
1/2 ton status
Here is one I.saw that's cool. I like the idea if your in a warm state
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Some soft tops snap, others have a track that you tuck the seam into. seems like you could do it either way though. I'd be interested to see what you come up with. For what it's worth, I found it really challenging to work with my soft top in temps below about 50* or so, which may not be much of an issue for you on the coast.
rampage
3/4 ton status
If you're going to be doing a soft top with an open tube tailgate then you'll be sucking exhaust fumes. I don't know, maybe you like that. 
I plan on skinning whatever I come up with so its solid
Yeah, that's what I was thinking as I read this thread. Just make the tire attach to the outside of the gate instead of the inside. Then skin the inside to make it an actual tailgate replacement. You can probably even incorporate some weatherstripping. This would be really convenient, actually. K5 tailgates can be finicky to open and you always have that added step of opening the tire carrier and then lowering the tailgate. Plus you don't have that rear window to roll up and down. The two of those should more than compensate for the time of unfastening the soft top.
The tire could be on the inside, but it sure would take up a lot of cargo space. Plus, the soft window would have to be rolled up all the way every time you wanted to swing the gate.
The tire could be on the inside, but it sure would take up a lot of cargo space. Plus, the soft window would have to be rolled up all the way every time you wanted to swing the gate.
smier
1/2 ton status
I've had my softtopper for about 6 months now. I never installed the Velcro on the tailgate because my truck still hasn't made it in for paint. It takes about 3 seconds to unfasten the soft tops rear window and flip up out of the way. Only issue I see with a fabbed tailgate and soft top is making sure the new gate provides an area for the softop to rest against or attach properly, and that the tire doesn't interfere with the top.
crazedyak
That Guy
You could ditch the tailgate, and use one of these off the hitch... http://www.tiregate.com/hg_series_0.shtml
I seriously doubt it could take the stress of any heavy wheeling, but it does claim to have the ability to hold up to a 40" tire.
I seriously doubt it could take the stress of any heavy wheeling, but it does claim to have the ability to hold up to a 40" tire.
i wonder how this guy handles the dust and fumes
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Pretty dang neat if all you wanted was to get the tire someplace and you didnt abuse it!
