P1000 DIY Tailgate stiffener and bed extender

[Hondoman]

I posted a few pix during construction but heres the finished product. Made the tailgate stiffener out of 3/16" diamond steel plate with 1.25" square tubing sleeves for the removable bed extender. Used 1" square tubing, expanded metal and 1" straps for the support bars on the bed extender. Tailgate is removable. Large enough to accommodate an Rtic 65 cooler with the rear seats up. Rattle can bed liner for the finish.

 

[Chevy412SP]

Very nice work! Well thought out.

 

[ehart814]

Looks great! Looks like you could push trees over with that thing. Nice job. I'd like to do something similar, but I feel like i'd end up spending a ton of time and money on materials and it wouldn't turn out the way I like.

 

[DDDonkey]

Great work!

 

[Hondoman]

Looks great! Looks like you could push trees over with that thing. Nice job. I'd like to do something similar, but I feel like i'd end up spending a ton of time and money on materials and it wouldn't turn out the way I like.

A buddy gave me the steel plate, but I'd be surprised if I had much over $100 in the rest. I spread it out over a few weekends, but may have two days worth of time between building and painting.

I know the feeling, I'm never 100% happy with my own work. I'm my worst critic.

 

[ehart814]

I really like how you did the sides of the basket around where it mounts to the plate. Very well thought out. And I like the tailgate latches you used. They look like they will hold up.

 

[Jankyeye]

I know this is a little old. But very nicely done. One of these days I need to learn to weld.

 

[WagginTail]

That looks great. If I had seen this a year and a half ago I might have built something like this instead of the basket I made that goes in the hitch

 

[sheamus]

Do you have any plans or drawings you could post, or was it fab-on-the-fly?

 

[Hondoman]

Do you have any plans or drawings you could post, or was it fab-on-the-fly?

Fab on the fly, I usually just mock up as I go.

 

[CID]

I know this is a little old. But very nicely done. One of these days I need to learn to weld.

I highly recommend learning how to weld, it will open doors for the rest of your life. I can build anything I can dream (or copy). Doit.

Before painting the aux battery tray for my Talon.

 

[Jankyeye]

My son just started the Hobart school, hoping he will teach me when he’s done

 

[Ericseabaugh]

Fab on the fly, I usually just mock up as I go.

Easiest way for me also. I way better with a pile of steel, plaza cutter, cutting torch, and a case of beer than I'll ever be with a case of pencils and all the paper in the world!