Ever since I fabricated my own tailgate and tailgate spring pins earlier this year I've been wondering what to do for straps. I knew I didn't want to go back with chains, I toyed around with the cable idea but I couldn't find a simple, clean way to mount them.
In the end I decided on nylon webbing. I stumbled on some 1" nylon webbing at a local surplus store. I decided to use some cool chrome strap hold downs that I found at the marina the last time I was at the lake to anchor one side of the strap. I wanted the strap to be removable (just in case) so I opted for some standard spring clips. I was able to find a pair of them at my local hardware store that have a square swivel for the webbing to attach to. The last piece I needed was something for the spring clip to clip to. I found by way of the bathroom. Yep, I have toilet parts on my truck. I had to replace a toilet seat not long ago and got to looking at the hinge assy and found the part I needed.

I sewed my own straps. I bought a sewing machine awhile back and have been practicing so I can do my own interior work. I will have to redo my straps as all I had was blue thread. I need to remake them with black thread.
Here's some pics (more in my Poor Boy Tailgate gallery);

raw materials

Anchor point on tailgate...I welded studs to the tailgate so I wouldnt have to drill holes in it

Toilet seat hinge pieces as bedside anchor

Final assy, I'm going to have to sew up another set of straps using black thread


So know, not only do I have a mish-mash of parts from a variety of automobile manufactures but I also have toilet parts and other assorted pieces from the hardware store living happily in my truck

I hope everyone else had a great weekend!
Bobby

 

looks good. i like your tool choices as well, you get the best ideas using those in pairs

 

Hey Bobby, that's so cool, but it ain't FORD! Let it not be said that you're not versitle! I wish you lived next to me, we'd hang out!! Us darksiders got to stick together! I work at an upholstery shop, so if you need any help with your interior just shoot me an email! Also you did just right the way you sewed the X and the rectangle around it for the straps you made. I also love your valve covers.


Later

 

looks great

 

Bobby;

You definitely get my vote for most inventive fabricator, nice fit!

Tom

 

Two Budweisers,two sets of roach-clips-er,needle-nose pliers.

 

neat clean (and out of sight ),as i would have said in the early 60s .

 

Bobby, you obviously think outside the box and there's nothin' wrong with that! I wish I had your imagination! Great idea...

 

Thanks guys

Sometimes the creative juices must be replenished with the careful addition of a frosty beverage or two.

Terry, I'll most definately pick your brain in the future about upholstery stuff. I'm going try my hand at some slip covers for my wife's Falcon before tackling the late model buckets in my truck.

Bobby

 

KUDOS on the straps. They look KOOL. And as for the toiletry thingy-ma-bobs What ever it takes to get the job done. Good work my friend. A frosty to ya after the 12:00 bell. Have a good day.

 

Or, Those are Bad!

Great imagination Bobby

 

Hey Bobby,

You coulda saved yourself the Sewing Machine if you simply installed two Toilets for Seats !!!

Think of the possibilities !

Dawg-A-Roo

 

Good work, Bobby. I know how nice it is to get something like that done. For awhile, I was driving around with rope as restraints. Then the rope broke and I almost crashed the tailgate. I was happy to get some cables on it.

 

Hey man anytime! You already got a plan. Work on something "else" for practice. I forgot to tell you since you already got the straps sewed up, on something small like them straps. You can take a black sharpie marker and go over the blue thread and color it black. We do it when we have a small place that shows and our bobbin thread is a different color than the top thread. Just a thought to keep you from having to redo them??
Let me know when you need any help at all, I'm here!!

 

A 2 seater throne!! Woohoooo!!! I'm there man!

Terry,

A sharpie!? way cool!

Great tip! As soon as I get home I'm going to "magic" my blue thread black (then I can put of my "someday" indefinately)

Thanks
Bobby