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Hey Folks! I often haul mountain bikes with my ’77 F250, which is still in great driver condition. Problem is… those fat bike forks/wheels draped right over the tailgate. I know newer trucks use those big padded covers, but honestly, they look way out of place on a vintage beauty like this.
So I’m on a mission: find a tailgate cover solution that protects the truckand keeps the classic look alive.
Here’s where I’m at:
Rubber mats are already covering the bed floor.
I’ve seen ABS plastic sheets used on Tacomas (smart, but I’d prefer no/minimal drill holes).
Wood would work… but prefer something "less pretty"?
What clever fixes have you seen—or made yourself—for old-school trucks? Drop your best ideas, I’d love to see what the community comes up with!
In the early '80s, My FIL plated his '77 TG on the inside with either 3/32 or 1/8" steel sheet, then had a piece of angle across the top that added strength to eliminate bowing under load and gave a reall secure grip as a fellow went to shut it, then it was all painted. Was a heavy tail gate, but no dents or bends from loads of firewood.
In 20r22 I just used the TG protector that came with my under lip drop in PendaLiner 83001SRX, but first I had installed a Stainless Steel bed top cover to add strength, this all on my NIB Ford tail gate. I had the TG and top guard since the '90s, bought this drop in liner in 2022.
In the early '80s, My FIL plated his '77 TG on the inside with either 3/32 or 1/8" steel sheet, then had a piece of angle across the top that added strength to eliminate bowing under load and gave a reall secure grip as a fellow went to shut it, then it was all painted. Was a heavy tail gate, but no dents or bends from loads of firewood.
In 20r22 I just used the TG protector that came with my under lip drop in PendaLiner 83001SRX, but first I had installed a Stainless Steel bed top cover to add strength, this all on my NIB Ford tail gate. I had the TG and top guard since the '90s, bought this drop in liner in 2022.
I forgot to mention that long ago, when I had that older one I last mentioned .... was sawing some wood using the TG as a bench, run a skill saw with carbide blade a few inches into the top inside of the original TG, aluminum cap, and tailgate protector. It didn't seem to faze the saw blade, them things cut wood the same whether was nails in them or not. I knew a guy took 3 fingers off his left hand before he got stopped, he was holding the wood on his knee somehow, he was lucky he only lost three fingers. Said he saw red before he felt it. Kind of put my goof in perspective, as I saw that cut in my TG for 30+ years every time I opened it.
Like your drink opener too.
When I was building my log home, I had a shell on my truck, and used a full sheet plywood with 2x2s bordering places for my tool boxes, etc. I found it slid easy on the bed liner, even with two tool boxes up near the front, so often is where they remained to not be so visible to prying eyes. I'd drive to my building site, slide the plywood back to reach the tool boxes, then got tools I needed.
sorry just so I'm clear... you're looking for something to cover the inside of the gate, the outside (both?)
IF it's both, would you consider a cover (material TBD) that is like an upside down "U" which could simply slip over the gate when in use.. when not, pulled up and off and you're back to the original 77 look?
I forgot to mention that long ago, when I had that older one I last mentioned .... was sawing some wood using the TG as a bench, run a skill saw with carbide blade a few inches into the top inside of the original TG, aluminum cap, and tailgate protector. It didn't seem to faze the saw blade, them things cut wood the same whether was nails in them or not. I knew a guy took 3 fingers off his left hand before he got stopped, he was holding the wood on his knee somehow, he was lucky he only lost three fingers. Said he saw red before he felt it. Kind of put my goof in perspective, as I saw that cut in my TG for 30+ years every time I opened it.
Like your drink opener too.
When I was building my log home, I had a shell on my truck, and used a full sheet plywood with 2x2s bordering places for my tool boxes, etc. I found it slid easy on the bed liner, even with two tool boxes up near the front, so often is where they remained to not be so visible to prying eyes. I'd drive to my building site, slide the plywood back to reach the tool boxes, then got tools I needed.
Geez- that is one focused dude! I couldn't imagine literally sawing off fingers and not noticing it. My cousin did something kinda similar and lopped off his 2.5 outside toes and walked home a half mile on the injured foot without noticing. He rolled his Quad while wearing sandals and hit a culvert...but he was as drunk as a skunk, so there was a clear reason why he didn't notice. Any sane person would have stopped and called 911 with that severe of an injury.
PS. I'm sure we could start a seperate thread with insane injuries like these
sorry just so I'm clear... you're looking for something to cover the inside of the gate, the outside (both?)
IF it's both, would you consider a cover (material TBD) that is like an upside down "U" which could simply slip over the gate when in use.. when not, pulled up and off and you're back to the original 77 look?
Just trying to picture what you're after
Both ac@mac.motorworks
First I am trying to get a good fixed solution for the gate interior.
Once that is solved, I want to then make a removable cover that can flip over to protect the top/exterior of the gate like a bike tailgate pad would as I haul mountain bikes, SUPs, etc that drape over the back of the gate. But I have a decent idea what I want to do for that, so my top priority is to get an era-correct looking tailgate covering.
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