For the tailgate (AD trucks) is there anything that prevents the tailgate from going all the way down to the bumper when you open it? Or are you just supposed to use the chains to hold it up when you open it? Has anyone found any method to not have the hooks dig into the tailgate when it’s open?
You can look to retrofit cables, or… My truck came with a crease in the tailgate from someone opening it onto the bumper, I recently did a complete tailgate restore/repaint/ on that…
Since I dont want to be that guy that expects his wife or friends never to make the innocent mistake of not chaining it flat if they open the gate when I’m not looking.. I went with the MarK folding straps option, which require notching the inside edges of the tailgate, still have the chains to lock it when up, kinda would miss the exterior chain look though there are latch options out there, but as always, personal choice……. Me and the wife tend to open it and sit and picnic at the few events we attend, so a strong strap and PPF made sense… each their own Ps, wife thought I was nuts to cut, punch, edge dye & stitch up the chain covers from some leather I had around…..an hours work, she’s prolly right…
Cool. That was exactly what I wanted to do. Keep the chains but have something that will simplify the opening process. The mar-k ones just seem so darn expensive for something so simple. So you have to cut the tailgate to make them work?
It’s more about the hooks to me. Just seems like any weight on the tailgate and the hooks would just dig right into the gate….
If you did all that leatherwork in an hour, I am super impressed. They look great; a lot better than the plastic chain covers I am used to seeing.
How did you like the Mar-K kit? I have looked at it a couple times and agree that it seems fairly expensive for what it is, but it is cheap compared to fixing or replacing a creased tailgate.
I also toyed with the idea of getting some tailgate cables from an 03-06 silverado and trying to retrofit them. It would be cheaper but a lot more work.
Here’s some for less. I may contact them and ask for the instructions. I don’t mind repainting the tailgate but I do not want repaint bed sides right now.
Not my first rodeo with leather, have done any number of vintage bicycle handlebars which are far more labor & complex with wetting, stretching the curves, and the brake levers in the way. I have all the tools that makes it go smoothly. PS: seemed like an hour, likely a bit more but not much For me chain strength was not an issue, only that the hinge straps would be that strong.
MarK kit: nothing that remarkable but I trust them to have it right, looks same to me as the Classic Ind unit and same price as at Summitracing which is free shipping, they support Stovebolt so why not Mar-K. They carry SS and Galv so the expense is your choice, anything you do costs time $ unless you pick n pull…. I cut the inner tailgate recesses shorter and shallower than the template and only increased enough for the hinge to work properly, I consider nothing standard on my truck so I worked up to the correct length and depths, take your time….assume templates are universal so have extra space built that might be unnecessary. Chuck
Last edited by Hanks custodian; Sun Feb 26 2023 05:13 PM.
I often see sideboards that detract from a vintage truck because they are out of proportion - too small in size and mass. You did a fine job selecting the stock for yours. Also - the bright finished wood goes well with the cream body color.
All in all , very well done.
Age 68 is not too late to start hot rodding , right?
