I type too much so feel free to skip to the pictures (once I post them)

Basically, I smashed the crap out of my tailgate and couldn't find a replacement for under 500 dollars (professionally painted to match that is), which is still about 10X what I was willing to pay. Having a step side makes it hard to find one. One junkyard around here had one for 50 bucks but it was rusted to pieces.

After thinking about it for a few days I decided to just go ahead and build one. It's made out of angle iron, square tubing, and plate steel. I got the latches, cables and hinges off the old tailgate and welded them on to the new. I was hung over one day and drew the plans on a napkin and called the steelyard that morning. I have a bed cover so a net wasn't really an option, as I like having the dry storage.

I tried to take pictures of all the steps and ended up losing patience with the camera and scrapping my first version of the tailgate, but you can tell how it was made just by looking at it. The first coat of primer is drying right now, I'll post the pictures of it when I put the final color on.

All the steel combined was 60 dollars, all i used was an angle grinder, a tape measure, clamps, and a really crappy stick welder (I am ashamed of how the welds look but they are strong-ish). It looks better than it sounds... It may actually be bulletproof too which is an unexpected benefit.


Dimensions: 43.5x19 inches, all the steel is 1/8" thick, new tailgate is about 20 lbs more than the old one.

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Alcohol was not involved in the smashing of the original tailgate, I was on my property and backed into a tree.

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2005 Stepside 4.0 auto 4x4 (base model)
Two kicker 6x8's and a memphis 12" sub, two amps
Homemade Tailgate
Access Roll Away bed cover
Welded on glasspack
Many Scratches from driving though the woods

No one asked if alcohol was involved....hmmmm lol

lol yea but I mentioned being hung over, just wanted to clarify. This is my first post on this forum, don't want too look too bad in front of the whole world (of ford ranger forum)

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2005 Stepside 4.0 auto 4x4 (base model)
Two kicker 6x8's and a memphis 12" sub, two amps
Homemade Tailgate
Access Roll Away bed cover
Welded on glasspack
Many Scratches from driving though the woods

Its good to see more and more people are starting to make their own parts and not spend $500 on a part that realistically probably only took $100 to make by machines

Ahh I remember when I backed into my first tree. My Tailgate got McFu**ed up. Thankfully someone local totaled their ranger and the tailgate was same color and perfect condition

Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD to your Potato III

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1999 Ford Ranger 5.0 AWD
35x12.50x18.
Many more mods!

Ah...welcome.....post pics right meow

Why not buy a regular tail gate then cut and reweld it to the proper size?

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Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?

Please click HERE to watch this video!

Too easy

pics?

X2

some pics here. I'm about to go get some paint. Im thinking a flat black for the frame and outer parts and attempting to match the green for the inside of the rectangular panels.

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__________________
2005 Stepside 4.0 auto 4x4 (base model)
Two kicker 6x8's and a memphis 12" sub, two amps
Homemade Tailgate
Access Roll Away bed cover
Welded on glasspack
Many Scratches from driving though the woods

I considered that, but I believe it would look bad. This design looks more like an aftermarket or custom tailgate than a patch job.

__________________
2005 Stepside 4.0 auto 4x4 (base model)
Two kicker 6x8's and a memphis 12" sub, two amps
Homemade Tailgate
Access Roll Away bed cover
Welded on glasspack
Many Scratches from driving though the woods

Brush painted it flat black then used rustoleum spray bed liner on the inside of the tailgate. Not too impressed with the spray stuff, but the brush job came out good. Had to thin the paint 50/50 with mineral spirits and put on 3 coats to keep the brushstrokes down.

I probably would have had better luck brushing the bed liner on. The spray can drips like crazy, and you can't really fix drips with a spray can.

I sprayed rustoleum gray primer on it and had no problems.

It's in my driveway drying right now.

__________________
2005 Stepside 4.0 auto 4x4 (base model)
Two kicker 6x8's and a memphis 12" sub, two amps
Homemade Tailgate
Access Roll Away bed cover
Welded on glasspack
Many Scratches from driving though the woods

Interesting!


Any pics of the locking mechanism?

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

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2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound

"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"