How I decided to reinforce my already bent tailgate.

Wen I bought my truck it already had a bent tailgate, I use the bed all the time for my ATV, 3 wheeler and stuff like that and I know how weak they are so I had to come up with an idea to reinforce it. Since I couldn't use any of the methods I seen on here, because it was already bent, I couldn't fit a straight angle, scare tubing or the piece that completely covers it.

Here's what I came up with. Bought a 1/8"x8" straight flat piece. My buddy works at a machine shop and bent the top straight bend. To bend the other side that had a bow in it I used a grinder and made a groove to give it a weak point where I wanted it to bend then went at it with a hammer, about an hours later of working it I had pretty much a perfect bow.

To fasten it there I had another piece inside the tailgate with holes that I taped threads into it. Pictures are self explanatory really. lol

Tailgate now feels a lot better, very stiff, no flex at all and I like the looks of it. For now its only spray painted but I plan on getting it Line-x or something.

Hope you guys enjoy this and hope this helps out someone that has a bent tailgate! lol

 

Well done

 

Nice!

 

Looks good!!

 

How exactly did you go about bending the curve? I see your groove, but how did you bend the curve?

 

"a weak point where I wanted it to bend then went at it with a hammer, about an hours later of working it"

Sounds like he pounded the pogies out of it...

 

Missed that. Reading is hard.... Thank you.

 

Really nice. Like the way it fits the tailgate curve.

Any chance we can see a photo of the bent tailgate, before you worked on it?

Also, this pic had me studying it a bit, thinking what was that horizontal piece just inside the tailgate. Then realized it was an optical illusion.

 

It does look like an illusion, probably because of the curve lol
Here's a pic of the bent tailgate.. from the center its bent 5/8 down, plus the piece of plastic was torn to sh*t!

Anyone know how much weight the cable can handle.. I'm more worried about the bolts holding the cables ripping out wen I load my Can-am.. Its about 900lbs with me on it. I'm not worried about the tailgate bending anymore but anyone ever year about the bolts ripping out?

 

Damn, that's nice work for a finished result. I've loaded up a honda foreman 500 that is probably around the same weight with no issues on the cables both on my 14' and also my previous 10'. Luckily I've never had any issues with the tailgates either though.

PS what's up with all the gouges on that last pic?

 

My truck says 300 lbs for the cables.
Although I did load a 1150 lbs Harley, with a plywood going from the tailgate to the front of the bed with no issues, drove 80 klicks like it was empty.

 

Good to know! Tore up the piece of plastic loading up this little beast, the runner on the front ski.

 

I think i'd love to drive THAT !!
Looks custom, did you put it together

 

I see your GoPro.
If I give you my email, do you have a clip you can send me.

 

Yessir I built it! I have a video on youtube actually.

 

A lakee a lot !
I think I baught my GoPro accessories the same place you did

 

That in Moncton?

 

Yeap Moncton/Dieppe

 

wait for it...wait for it... someone is bound to ask, "can you reproduce this at a reasonable price?"

awesome job OP!

 

I have around 5hours in just this little piece lol

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback