Tailgate Latching Question on the Darkside?
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
For rail top latches, I like yours a lot more.. they fill in the rail top, which the aftermarket latches don't..
I did have to extract a small piece of chain ear that was left in the rail top as part of the manufacturing process to use even the small latches.. (which I suspect is why they are small diameter).. and then had to repair the hole left in the outside face of the tailgate.
sam
FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,545
Likes: 8,225
From: northwestern Ontario
That looks cool, you could probably fill that with water and have a pool party and when you do show us the pics
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 71
From: Lavergne, Tn.
It latches easily and I set it up with some adjustment to align the outside of the tailgate to the bed. I'll dress it up a little with some polished stainless bolts and nuts and it'll be good to go. I couldn't believe how smooth the latching action is when closing the tailgate.
Thanks,
Andrew
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 71
From: Lavergne, Tn.
I had seen it years ago, but until Bobby reminded me I had forgotten about it. Just what I was looking for..... something simple and easy but very effective.
Andrew
Andrew
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Weather proof
like the seat latches, will they resist weather ? Or rust over time. I havent come up with a solution to hold tailgate in the open position, leaning towards cables but the rubbin' factor will probably play hell with the paint.
Tom
Tom
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
I used some plastic-coated cable restraints that I made up. But my bed has Herculiner, so I wasn't worried about scratching paint.
The most foolproof way I have seen of restraining the gate and not messing up the paint is the folding chromed sheet metal supports that look like card table leg supports. Mid Fifty has them. See page 119 in their 2008 catalog. "Show Quality" for $69.95/pair.
The most foolproof way I have seen of restraining the gate and not messing up the paint is the folding chromed sheet metal supports that look like card table leg supports. Mid Fifty has them. See page 119 in their 2008 catalog. "Show Quality" for $69.95/pair.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 71
From: Lavergne, Tn.
Someone suggested using a gas cylinder like used on the hatch of many SUV's to hold the tailgate in the open position. I'm going to look into that and see if it has possibilities. If not I'll probably use the folding strap type like used in some boat hatches. I'm fairly sure they can be gotten in stainless, which would be one less problem with rust.
Andrew
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 71
From: Lavergne, Tn.
I thought I would revisit this thread again to show what I finally came up with on the tailgate supports.
I did a little redneck engineering on a folding support. I used some thin strips of oak to mock-up the folding straps and bent up some stainless mounts for the straps on the bedsides and tailgate.
After getting the action worked out, I cut my support straps from some scrap stainless in the metal pile and after some polishing and a quick trip to my local TSC for some stainless bolts and lock nuts..........
I did a little redneck engineering on a folding support. I used some thin strips of oak to mock-up the folding straps and bent up some stainless mounts for the straps on the bedsides and tailgate.
After getting the action worked out, I cut my support straps from some scrap stainless in the metal pile and after some polishing and a quick trip to my local TSC for some stainless bolts and lock nuts..........
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 879
Likes: 40
From: Colorado Springs /Mesa AZ
Great minds think alike. Drewsky this is how I installed mine. They are the same seatbelts that you used out of a Ford pickup.
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48 Ford F1 - Darkside
46 Ford Tudor - Street Rod
"When I grow up I want to be a Hot Rodder, just realized I can't do both"
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48 Ford F1 - Darkside
46 Ford Tudor - Street Rod
"When I grow up I want to be a Hot Rodder, just realized I can't do both"