tailgate project

been a while since ive been on, been busy with tree work and snow, to put it mildly Ive been working the hell out of the truck. Ive had it loaded with 5ft white oak logs, snowblowers driving up steep hills in deep snow, and even used it to pull a stump out (these pics soon). In the process it got a little banged up. While unloading the logs I had the truck backed up close to the chainlink fence so I could toss the oak trunks I had (weighed a ton!)into the yard. The fence is on a hill, so when I pushed the cluch it rolled a bit before going forward. When I got it into the driveway and went to close the gate I noticed the pass. side corner was peeled up and inch! It got caught on the fence and even broke the metal. I was a little disapointed, I knew the gate were flimsy, but I was shocked. anyway I took all the plastick off banged the corner back, then jb welded it, sanded it and painted it. looks pretty good for a hack like me! While I had it pulled apart i did my own tailgate tsb. I screwed 1" steel strips over the gaps (what a difference!) heres the pics... any questions ask

the damage

the fix

These are the metal strips I added (not bolted in this pic) as you can see there is not alot of support there, I cant believe i never broke mine.
The gate looks almost un-noticeable where i fixed it. This weekend i had a 1980 toro 8-26 snowblower (over 300lbs) up and down on it on ramps and it didnt budge. Im very happy. here are the materials and cost:
touch up paint: $12
4'x1'' steel: $7
1 box 3/8ths screws $8
total: $27

 

Nice job on the tailgate, I am gonna have to look into adding some sort of support on mine.
Been lucky so far.

 

Now that ive seen how flimsy/un-protected the stock tailgate is.......
I'm definitely gonna adding some supports!

 

way to go! Post up those pics of the taco in action

 

Did you cut the steel in 5 sections?
Or is it One piece ran though or under the supports?

I would love to see some pics of the project completed!


A while back someone did some angle iron as well but can't remember how it was done.

 

they are 5 pieces cut. 2 are around 7", 2 are 9'', and the one in the middle is 10''. its done the only thing you dont see in the pics are the screws holding it, (2 on each strip). its prob not as strong as angle iron but at the point where the strips would break, the cables would prob snap too.

 

Do you think with them cut it will add much strength?

 

yeah, it bolts them to the supports and really almost makes it one piece. it tightens the gate up. when my snowblower wheels were on the gate it would sag alot if the tires were not on the braces. now it doesnt budge, and that toro is an '80, all thick steel no plastic, well over 300lbs. its a cheap and easy fix. I wouldnt have wasted time doing it unless i was sure it was going to be structurelly sound and beneficial. Its both.

 

Great!! I might do this soon (even though i have the TSB tailgate.)

 

if you can take a pic. Id like to see what a tsb gate looks like

 

My tailgate is sagging bad and getting worse, I want to fix it but I just can't see how this would stop it from sagging? Dose anyone know what the real tsb entails?

 

TSB is kind of sort of an added stiffener inside to help prevent bending. Honestly, when I had the inner cover ff my 2010 I realized even with a TSB tailgate it still needs help.

There have been topics where you could buy a sheet metal (heavy gage) that lines the entire inside flat panel area and adds a very rugged upper edge to stiffen it up.

PK