Homemade tailgate?

[Zack172]

My original tailgate is thrashed, I was gonna repair it but its a piece of crap with a poor design anyways, so I've decided to make my own. I was thinking either 1" tubing or angle iron, or a combination of the two, to make the frame. I'm then gonna cover the frame in thin gauge sheet metal. To deal with my window, I'm thinking of taking some hinges from a newer SUV and making them work, cutting the window channel off the back of the jeep, and having it swing upwards (the way it should have from the factory...) Then I'm thinking I'll take a whole bunch of weatherstripping and making some fit. What does everyone think? Any suggestions or tips? Thanks

[illegalFSJ]

Uh...Good luck! Sounds like a ton of work on something that's already been engineered. Why not buy a tailgate in good shape from another rig?

[Zack172]

because I'm poor and its a bush truck

[Zack172]

plus I'm in canada, and there aren't any tailgates in good shape, let alone other rigs... and I already considered buying from the states. I'm lookin at $600 to get it to my house. So like $450 for you

[oddfire]

I can get another jeep for $450...........phil

[Tad]

I think you should do it and take lots of pic's.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I seen one that was homemade. It used all the original latches and hardware and latch handle. From what I could tell, it was framed as you have in mind. Then Wire Grate was welded to the frame. Looked real good.

[Zack172]

Cool, thanks for the ideas.
Phil - The price of the parts isn't what makes it so expensive, I have to buy from the states, and shipping such a big thing is expensive. I bought my jeep for $100 canadian. Thats $60 bucks for you. Rusty as hell though haha

[95steel]

It took me over a year to find a strait(er) tailgate for a J10. I made one out of 1 1/2 square stock and 1/8 alm plate. Looked ok but I wanted an original gate.

[Maynard]

i have been trying to figure out how to do the same thing for years now, so take alot of pics and share your design ideas. what i really want to make is doors like that are on the impossible to find jeep panel wagons, one day ill figure it out.

[illegalFSJ]

Sorry, Zack172, I guess I'm just spoiled. I can choose between a halfdozen tailgates for $25 each at an area that's a 15 minute drive from home. So, if you decide to try to make one, let us know how it goes!

[Zack172]

you lucky batsturd! The junkyards up here don't even have any tailgates... let alone good ones for 25 bucks. I think I'm gonna reuse the original inside panel, and make a frame for the outside piece... the bottom of the inside panel is rusted out so I'm gonna chop it off and fit new hinges on it. I'll take pics, don't worry

[letank]

You could take idea off the older toy landcruiser..... tailgate with liftwindow.

I am sure we could have the underground send you a $25 tailgate from oregon.... to where in Canada

Michel
74 wag
(yes i do have a spare tailgate when mine fells off)

[porchpiggy]

I did something like this to a suburban rear tailgate, but it turned out pretty crappy because of my lack of fabrication skill, plus I hurried, and did not care too much because it is a trail truck. What I did was build a one inch square tube frame that followed the contour of the inside back, going along a piec at a time, screwing it into the body, and welding the tubes together. Thgen I built a second frame on top of that one, clamping it together and welding the second frame tubes together. What I ended up with was two frames that bolted to each other. I filled the gaps in the "inside" frame with bondo. The ouside frame was covered in sheet metal, and I used the original tail gate skin attached to the outsied frame to make it look like the original body work. It was originally a panel that I could remove with four bolts. But, it turned out to be very heavy so I tried to find some kind of hinges that would allow it to swing out away from the body to clear. Again, in a hurry and not caring enough, I used two sets of tubes sticking out the top, one pair welded to each frame, with a bolt going through it to make a hinge. It works, but it loks very ugly with two "horns" sticking out the back. I'll try to get a pic up if it will help anyone. I originally got the idea from a mag article about a guy from canada with a chero, he had made his back gate a panel with zues fasteners.

[Zack172]

Michel - I live in Surrey, BC. Just outside of Vancouver...
I started building it today, I took some angle iron and made a subframe, welded it onto the existing inner panel, which isn't that rusted... Next step is to cut the bottom part off, which is rusted, make new mounts for the hinges, and cover the outside. Should work fine, just no window now. I'll look into that land cruiser idea

[Torque]

Hey Zack,
I'm just north of you(North Van)give me a shout is you need a hand,always up to perfecting my skills on someone else's rig,sounds like an intresting project/challange.Have hammers will travel.

Eric
604-783-6420

[Zack172]

haha thanks Torque, I think I can handle the tailgate, but soon I will be tackling a SOA and a shackle flip so I'll definitely need a hand. When its done, we'll have to get together and go wheelin'.

Zack
604-535-8627. Let me know if you need any help with anything

[oddfire]

Zack, if you come up with a good, strong, durable design, you could probly sell a few on this board. Take lotsa pics.........phil

[PAJEEPER]

Thats what I was thinking of doing too. Only finding a junk truck cap with a good fitting window. And use it as the flip up window and gut the tailgate and use the skin from it.

[Bluesky4x4]

What about doing a wrangler style soft top rear window? Just roll it up when it's nice out.

[Torque]

Keep me posted Zack
I'll use the experiance to decide if I go SOA or Skyjacker.No big projects right now(lots of little ones,just removed carb for rebuild)just finnished engine/tranny/transfercase rebuild so its time to spend some time driving and enjoying the truck.On a happy note there is no fluid leaking from the beast and she's running much smoother.

[Zack172]

thats always nice to hear... no fluids leaking! I finished my rebuild on the tranny and transfer case, I'm gonna do the engine over christmas.
Phil- I'll take lots of pics, don't worry. I think I'll make two, one as a temporary tailgate, and the other as a final design. I'll let you know about the final design.

[Torque]

Zack,
If you need a good automotive machineshop let me know,I'll hook you up with the guys that did my engine.

[Zack172]

I will in a few months... thanks