Time for the Bed
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 71
From: Lavergne, Tn.
I had a sheet metal shop bend mine on a hydraulic brake. He only charged 20 bucks to make 4 bends. I was expecting considerably more. He only charged a minimal price to brake my running boards also.
Drewski
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 71
From: Lavergne, Tn.
Donald, go see Woody at Progressive Sheet Metal. He's a really nice guy. Note that I did not buy my steel from him.........he deals mostly in stainless and aluminum fabrication. Also if you need any structural tubing, there's a shop in Lavergne that has been really good for me. I buy from them on a regular basis. They don't care what lengths you need and have never charged me to cut steel. Mingle and Elrod Steel charged $5 per cut last that I bought from them.
Drewski
Drewski
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 929
Likes: 0
From: S.C.
Drewski, Just had to tell you that's a great looking rear pan on your truck. what type of taillights...?
Ed
Ed
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 71
From: Lavergne, Tn.
They are glass cab clearance lights with stainless trim rings. I picked them up at a chrome accessory shop for 18 wheelers. You will find that these shops have a wide variety of lights that can be adapted to hot rodding type projects. I did make my own bases and installed the bulb sockets. I wanted to be able to adjust how deep the light sits in the tunnels of the pan.
Drewski
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 71
From: Lavergne, Tn.
Well, looks like you've got a great start. Keep the pictures coming. Looks like you set yours up about the way I did mine.
Drewski
Drewski
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 0
From: Northwestern PA
Ther are a few more pics in my misc/bed build gallery
I'm still not sure about the rear area where the tailgate will go, ie: hinge area, and where the gate will seat to the walls. You have any pics of how you did that area ?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 28
From: manitoba
looking really good!!! wish i went a few inches taller on my bed, i did something a bit different with my tailgate, i built hinges and made it open sideways so its easier to get to my fuel filler.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 0
From: Northwestern PA
I've gave some thought to a side hinged gate, but I'm just not sure what I want as of yet. I'm pretty sure I want my gate to close inside of the bed so as to be flush on the outside. I've been thinking some sort of jam for it without it being to overbearing.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
Nice Mike! You have made great progress. I have put a lot of thought into your new tailgate. (almost 30 seconds) 
I like the idea of the flush-mounted tailgate with a jam. How about the idea of the tailgate being supported in a similar fashion to the glove box? You could attach arched supports that would sink into the bed floor as you shut the tailgate. And when the bed is open, they would act as the supports. That way you could forego the chains or folding arms that most people use on their tailgates.
Just my two cents worth because I wish I was building a truck of my own. Jag
I like the idea of the flush-mounted tailgate with a jam. How about the idea of the tailgate being supported in a similar fashion to the glove box? You could attach arched supports that would sink into the bed floor as you shut the tailgate. And when the bed is open, they would act as the supports. That way you could forego the chains or folding arms that most people use on their tailgates.Just my two cents worth because I wish I was building a truck of my own. Jag