Tailgate Nets?
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
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Tailgate Nets?
Hey guys. Im not really sure where to put this, so i guess ill start here. I apologize if its in the wrong spot. I bought a tailgate net over the weekend and was talking to my boss about them and he said if they are left on a long time, your bedsides can warp and your tailgate won't fit back on. Id like to avoid that if its true and i was just looking to confirm what he said. If this is the case, i guess i can fashion a nice steel rod at the top to keep the proper dimensions. I just figured i'd ask here cause it seems a lot of you guys would run without tailgates. thanks in advance.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
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From: Senoia, GA
no its not really offroad related but its no biggy.
if you are talking about the stretchy nets that look like a spider web, then no i seriously doubt it woul warp your bedsides! if it does you need to invest in some metal body panels.
i've strapped motorcylces in my bed and tighten the straps down HARD and i can still very easily open and close my tailgate
-cutts-
if you are talking about the stretchy nets that look like a spider web, then no i seriously doubt it woul warp your bedsides! if it does you need to invest in some metal body panels.
i've strapped motorcylces in my bed and tighten the straps down HARD and i can still very easily open and close my tailgate
-cutts-
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 545
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From: Shreveport, La.
It all depends on what you do with the truck while the air net is in place.
As with fish's example above, you can usually get away with torquing the bed sides inward. If you were to apply pressure that would be pushing out on the sides for a long enough period (especially with no tailgate) of time or with enough force, the sides would begin to lay outward.
Have seen many truck (usually the type truck that's ben beat to death, just refusing to die) going down the road with no tailgate and sides splayed to the outside like they've been carrying 2000# watermelons.
Don't really know what would happen to the sides of a truck (with no tailgate) if you off road it in a severe manner for long enough.
As with fish's example above, you can usually get away with torquing the bed sides inward. If you were to apply pressure that would be pushing out on the sides for a long enough period (especially with no tailgate) of time or with enough force, the sides would begin to lay outward.
Have seen many truck (usually the type truck that's ben beat to death, just refusing to die) going down the road with no tailgate and sides splayed to the outside like they've been carrying 2000# watermelons.
Don't really know what would happen to the sides of a truck (with no tailgate) if you off road it in a severe manner for long enough.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
That's the first time I've ever heard of a bed warping from not having a tail gate in. I don't see it as any different than driving around with the tailgate down. Sure, if you bash something into the bed side (from either side) you could cause this more easily without a tail gate but then again at this point you'll have other things to worry about too.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
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From: Spokane WA
I dont want to sound like i'm causing problems, but a buddy of mine at my old work was running without a tailgate on his 80's f150 long term and you can grab ahold of the taillight and move the whole side several inches. It's a beat-to-crap truck, so I dont know if it's related, but I too have heard of it happening.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 789
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From: Durham, NC
If you leave a tailgate off and wheel really hard, the sides break away from the bed. It breaks right where the inside column on the rear meets the bottom. Same happens with just leaving the tailgate down. I run a wire from the tailgate latch holes and keep it tight when I wheel hard cause I run without a tailgate. Another fix is to gusset with sheet metal. I doubt the bungy nets do much to help.
What happens is the bed sides wave back and forth causing the metal tabs on the columns to give. I've seen it happen alot. And have 2 beds that that happened to.
What happens is the bed sides wave back and forth causing the metal tabs on the columns to give. I've seen it happen alot. And have 2 beds that that happened to.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
Originally Posted by 74fordtruck
I dont want to sound like i'm causing problems
So this leads me to wonder, is a ror connecting the bedrails at the top going to stop this? It would limit movement but I stil think you'd have some side to side sway, they'd just sway the same direction at the same time. Also, is it only going to be an issue for a heavy beating offroad? I've known several guys to run nets for years and never have a problem but they were more street driven trucks with occasional trails.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 789
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From: Durham, NC
I think the side to side motion of a truck isn't quite as drastic for gravity to take it's course as the motion the sides take when the truck rear end sees air and comes down. THAT's the motion that I'm scared of breaking my bed sides. And Yes the ror does the trick.
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Alright, sweet. thanks. It's not a heavy off-roader, but i do like to have some fun with it. It's not a stretchy net, but it is more of a heavy vinyl type material. I gotta make some trips with it in a few weeks and i wanna see if it actually reduces drag, plus, i've always thought they looked cool 
. The truck isn't beat to death, but i could see how the bedsides would sway. I doubted it when i heard it, but i wanted to check it out further. I'm off to install. thanks!
. The truck isn't beat to death, but i could see how the bedsides would sway. I doubted it when i heard it, but i wanted to check it out further. I'm off to install. thanks!
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