Tailgate mounting questions

[Cal_Gary]

Hello All!
Getting ready to install my tailgate soon. I plan on buying a length of pipe for the bottom mount. My question is:

Is the pipe secured by the end mounting brackets, or are there holes I willl need to drill and tap into the pipe, then thread the appropriate bolts into?
Thanks,
Gary

[Nickathome]

Not sure I understand what you're asking but the pipe goes into mounting brackets which are bolted to the sides of the bed. This is what acts like a hinge allowing the tailgate to open and close.

[Cal_Gary]

Thanks Nick,
Let me try again:

I know that the pipe goes into each end mount. What I do not know is if the tailgate is somehow secured to the pipe itself or does the bottom section of the tailgate just "surround" the pipe? The after-market tailgate that I have shows a pair of holes in the back-bottom area about a foot from the tailgate ends where the pipe passes through. They are oval holes and it appears that bolts could go though these two holes into the pipe, therefore affixing the bottom of the tailgate to that pipe which would then rotate with the gate as it is raised or lowered. Does that make sense?
Gary

[refit1701]

This is a good topic as my tailgate is missing entirely and I'll probably have to get a repro. If they don't come with the pipe, what do you use?

Good question.

[Nickathome]

Thanks Nick,
Let me try again:

I know that the pipe goes into each end mount. What I do not know is if the tailgate is somehow secured to the pipe itself or does the bottom section of the tailgate just "surround" the pipe? The after-market tailgate that I have shows a pair of holes in the back-bottom area about a foot from the tailgate ends where the pipe passes through. They are oval holes and it appears that bolts could go though these two holes into the pipe, therefore affixing the bottom of the tailgate to that pipe which would then rotate with the gate as it is raised or lowered. Does that make sense?
Gary

I got you now. The pipe should be secured to the gate. Now how that is accomplished I don't know. I'm going to assume its welded together with the rest of the gate. The oval shaped holes you mention sound like water drainage holes to me. Of course as always I could be wrong.

[Nickathome]

This is a good topic as my tailgate is missing entirely and I'll probably have to get a repro. If they don't come with the pipe, what do you use?

Good question.

My repro came with a pipe. Be foreinformed though that you will need to tweak your gate, and or your brackets to get your gate to function properly. I had to work with my gate for about two hours with emery cloth on the pipe ends to get them to slide freely in the mounting brackets. I had that gate on and off about ten times before I got it to work to my satisfaction, each time test fitting as I went. I also had to polish the brackets with a round sanding drum on my grinder, and also had to bend the ends of the bed sides ever so slightly to allow clearance for the new gate. No repro gate is gonna be an exact fit, so if thoughts of sugarplumbs are dancing through your head in that regard, you'll be in for a rude awakening.

[Cal_Gary]

Ok Nick that helps tremendously-thanks! Retfit, I got a piece of 3/4 x72 galvanized pipe at OSH, checked around and nobody has the chain brackets that are on the tailgate top corners, so I ordered a pair of the bed chain brackets from VPW and will modify them to fit. I don't envision this as a simple "bolt on" install, but it will be a welcome change from my M37's Painless rewiring project that is nearly completed.
Thanks again!
Gary

[chucka]

In short the pipe is welded on four seperate brackets inside the sheet metal that surounds it.
Once you have cut the welds(look on back of gate) so the sheet metal surrounding the pipe can be spread apart to reveal the pipe and mounts. The sheet metal may have to be cut in another location in order to have access to the pipe and it's mounts. This is how I did mine. After cutting the welds in the back I made a cut accross the entire width of gate.
You will find these mounts near each end of the gate and also near each side of the opening in the middle of the gate where the other hinge/support is.

Why are you using galvanized pipe...? It sucks to weld, and the smoke stinks. Hell I'm sure that stinky smoke gives you cancer. LOL

Make sure your OD of the pipe is correct or the gate will not line up properly.

I hope this answer your question and is found helpful.

chucka
long time reader first time writer

[Lifer]

I agree with your question about the use of galvanized pipe. Quite apart from the stinky, difficult welding part, I think that "black" pipe (as used for gas lines) would be a better choice. It's also much easier to paint! I'm sure he'd at least want to paint the middle of the pipe where it sits on the center rest. The galvanized pipe would stick out like a sore thumb.

[Cal_Gary]

ChuckA and Lifer,
Thanks for the info. I had no knowledge of the difficulty of welding galvanized pipe, so I'll go exchange it for some standard pipe (which is a bit less expensive anyway). I did a more thorough inspection of this tailgate: it has holes about 2 inches in from each bottom end, two more holes left and right of center around the middle bracket area, and 4 more holes on the very bottom of the gate in the previously described positions. It appears to me that I can drill and tap all of these holes then bolt the pipe in place which should provide a very secure mount.
Thanks again!
Gary

[DJ]

Welding on galvanized steel can make one very sick. The fumes are very toxic.

DJ

[Cal_Gary]

Progress made-I exchanged the galvanized pipe for some standard 3/4, centered it up, drilled then tapped 4 3/8x24 holes into the pipe. Now waiting for the end and center mounts to arrive (should be this week).
Thanks for your advice,
Gary

[Nickathome]

Gary;

You sure bolting is a good idea? Have you thought of the clearance between the bolt heads and the bed floor? If you plan to bolt where I think you are planning(along the bottom edge of the gate), when you rotate the gate down to open it the bolt heads will bind on the bed floor thus preventing you from being able to fully lower the tailgate.

I checked my gate over the weekend in thinking of this thread and mine was spot welded all along the bottom edge which I assumed was done to hold the pipe in place.

Maybe those holes were put there so when you slide the pipe inside, it will facilitate plug welds to hold the pipe in place?

[W_A_Watson_II]

I used a piece of pipe, welded a nut in each end, and then a bolt with a flat fender washer.

[Cal_Gary]

Nick and W A-thanks! Great picture too! I'm not sure about clearances yet-the other hangers arrived this morning so I'll see about mocking it in when I get home from work this evening. I need to get one of those digitals so I can post pics too, but I'm still applying funds to the last bits and pieces I still need, so a camera will have to wait.

More to follow,
Gary