[Mace]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Cool, imitation is flattery, right?
Post a pic when you get it done.

Greg, did you put any sound deadening inside the tailgate to clean it up a bit? Makes it all nice and shinny in there.

It is flattery.. Great work

And it will take me a while to get it done. I have to make the cruiser run first..

I was thinking HDPE for the panels instead of plywood. Cutting board tailgate might be neat

[GAS-A-LOT!]

TOOK ABOUT JUST UNDER 2.5 HOURS...+ SOME CLEANING... NO SOUND DYNOMAT THOUGH..... I do luv it. Great storrage and now I can corner like a porshe... Well sort of Last night I tried to corner like I robbed a bank and coul feel the tires trying to come off the wheels.... Also jerked abit instead of drifting....

LOL oh and now that my tailgate weighs more... the rear swings more.... can you say boat effect?

[esh]

Got mine mostly in and tried to get shots of the process. Next is to find some deadening material and I'm gtg for the winter.




screwdrivers are pointing at a couple hidden spotwelds here.. was hard to guess at what was underneath so I took it slow

[Mace]

I would think, that a three pound sledge rattling round in there would be a bad idea..

Just a thought

[kevinmrowland]

Haha! That is just neat to see! Thanks for the pics.

Originally Posted by Mace

I was thinking HDPE for the panels instead of plywood. Cutting board tailgate might be neat

I have been working hard on an HDPE lid variant. I think I have found a supplier that is willing to work with me on the small quantities (a few sheets at a time) but still get me a good rate. The HDPE seems to be the most cost effective plastic alternative, but it is still 3.5 times as expensive as the ply. The big draw back is that it can not be laser cut since it just melts, but I have a business associate that is setting up a CNC router. Hopefully we can work out an arrangement and I will be able to offer a plastic lid option! (retro-fittable of course)
My big concern with these is the durability of the ply. Mine has been holding up incredibly well, even using it as a workbench, dragging things across it, sliding forklift forks across it (yes I load things in the back of my cruiser with a forklift) but it is certainly showing the wear.

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by esh

screwdrivers are pointing at a couple hidden spotwelds here.. was hard to guess at what was underneath so I took it slow

Dude, come on, did you not read the thread? Or the Instructions?

[Mace]

male > instructions

[esh]

Originally Posted by Mace

male > instructions

instructions?

[Mace]

exactly, the more you have the less you need instructions

[overhanger]

Originally Posted by esh

instructions?

Ken, how do you ever get any work accomplished when you are taking so many pictures? Granted, they are always good pictures.
Any guesses on the weight change from stock to fully modded?

[kevinmrowland]

The lid weighs in at 15lbs, but you remove a few pounds from the tailgate to get it in.

[Pathfinder]

Looks real nice good work!

[archtimb]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Haha! Mine has been holding up incredibly well, even using it as a workbench, dragging things across it, sliding forklift forks across it (yes I load things in the back of my cruiser with a forklift) but it is certainly showing the wear.

That must have been the operator at the delivery point. I know the operator at this end NEVER touched that tailgate!

Looks good Ken! But the important question is, does Max like it? Or does he just want to go for a ride...And to keep it tech, that looks like a lot of analog tools for a digital guy! And, it looks like you need a better moisture removal system on your compressor. Me too!

Mitch

[euclid]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

The lid weighs in at 15lbs, but you remove a few pounds from the tailgate to get it in.

Crap. Now my truck's gonna be slow.

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by archtimb

That must have been the operator at the delivery point. I know the operator at this end NEVER touched that tailgate!

You put the pallet in too far! My forks wouldn't balance it, so I dragged it out with a chain.
All in the name of tailgate testing.

[CaliCruiser]

Damn it! It looks like my parents want to buy me something for my cruiser for chistmas so they are partially paying for this. I asked if I could "partially" install it and got denied. Looks for pics of mine somewhere around Dec. 26

[esh]

Originally Posted by overhanger

Ken, how do you ever get any work accomplished when you are taking so many pictures? Granted, they are always good pictures.
Any guesses on the weight change from stock to fully modded?

Look for the Jan/Feb Trails cover. Seeing how long I can keep the streak going for Oregon covers, hehe. Have some ideas for Mar/Apr.. something Moab-y to get people worked up for May, but Todd's probably getting tired of me.

My guess is about 10 lbs added (yes i read your notes above, Kevin) and then probably 15-20 more depending on what kind of junk you toss in there. I am thinking fluids, CO2 stuff, and dog stuff for the tailgate. I am definitely doing this for all the panels I can get apart. Need to make some decent rear speaker enclosures and get some tweeters mounted higher up above gear levels. My gf now wants to do this in her '85 4runner and is a little stoked to see Kevin's setup in January.

The 8 year old, used, OME HD springs seem to be taking it well with the 4x4 labs rear bumper, alum roof rack and tent, Max, and all the camping gear- rides level. Moving the tent to the front of the rack for a trip to Missoula this weekend, now my bullbar is nearly finished, so that should give them even more relief.


Mitch- I have two traps on the air and one is after a length of coiled hose. The moisture is external, similar to the condensation buildup on a CO2 setup. Not much I can do about it (was keeping my gloves dry hehe). Could really use a bigger compressor but the pump is a gem and even constantly running keeps the die grinder spinning pretty well.

What, no comments on the gear oil on the floor (and on some of the 62's rear carpet)?? Just found a deal on a 700r4/AA/3spd case for FJ454. No matter how much you drain that crap, it always finds a way to leak. Got a stall mat for the cargo area of the 62 until the dynamat/re-panel/window track cleaning project gets underway.

that ought to be enough rambling to make this non-tech

[esh]

Originally Posted by euclid

Crap. Now my truck's gonna be slow.

2FE/4spd/toybox/split case/3.70s, all the cool kids are doing it! Just ignore the oil-burning bigots and take the money you save on a diesel conversion + 5 spd and get a custom monster tank.

(not convinced on the 3.7s.. will do that after the rest is in)

[pyrotech]

Gday from down under,

that is one sweet idea you have there, what would the shipping cost be to get one of these sent to Australia??

-Pyro

[mep1811]

I would like to get into this. Please PM me with prices etc.

[sirenmoses]

Mep:

The answer lies within....

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

For Response Please See: http://forum.ih8mud.com/wagongear/179840-tailgate-storage-box-%93-sale-thread%94.html


PLEASE, EVERYONE, THIS THREAD IS FOR TECH ONLY.
ORDERS, LIST REQUESTS AND PRICING ARE FOR THE "FOR SALE" THREAD

The first post is continuously updated with progress.

[polarweasel]

Originally Posted by pyrotech

Gday from down under,

that is one sweet idea you have there, what would the shipping cost be to get one of these sent to Australia??

-Pyro

A lot! You should definitely get 10 of your friends to order them, too, so you can save on shipping.

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Originally Posted by esh

instructions?

A man with cutting device needs no instructions...so my little brother said weilding a plasma cutter. Later found out that he blasted a brake line on his pickup. Good thing for e-brakes!

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by polarweasel

A lot! You should definitely get 10 of your friends to order them, too, so you can save on shipping.

Man, you're not kidding, I checked this morn and I could not find anything for less than the lid itself!

Oh, and welcome to the forum pyrotech.

[1967 TLC]

My tailgate lid arrived today!! Very stoked! It is more substantial than I thought it would be. Has a bit of weight to it. Feels very solid.

Thanks Kevin, Great job!!

[rondog]

What about 1/8" aluminum? Also try waterjetting for the plastic, it isn't as expensive as one would guess.

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Haha! That is just neat to see! Thanks for the pics.






I have been working hard on an HDPE lid variant. I think I have found a supplier that is willing to work with me on the small quantities (a few sheets at a time) but still get me a good rate. The HDPE seems to be the most cost effective plastic alternative, but it is still 3.5 times as expensive as the ply. The big draw back is that it can not be laser cut since it just melts, but I have a business associate that is setting up a CNC router. Hopefully we can work out an arrangement and I will be able to offer a plastic lid option! (retro-fittable of course)
My big concern with these is the durability of the ply. Mine has been holding up incredibly well, even using it as a workbench, dragging things across it, sliding forklift forks across it (yes I load things in the back of my cruiser with a forklift) but it is certainly showing the wear.

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by 1967 TLC

My tailgate lid arrived today!! Very stoked! It is more substantial than I thought it would be. Has a bit of weight to it. Feels very solid.

Glad you like it!
Every time I ship one out, I hope whoever gets it is getting what they expect.


rondog,
I tried aluminum in a few various forms, but it just does not have the strength. To get it strong enough it would have to be really thick, or have ribs, edge folds, ect all of which add weight, work and a considerable amount of cost.

I also have things water jet cut on a regular basis for work. The hourly rate for the machine is actually the same as laser cutting, but the water jet moves considerably slower. It is usually 3-4 times the cost of the laser process, but really cool.

[rmcquet]

Some pics of the install process for the tailgate. Thanks Kevin! (Note my new signature line).

In my excitement to get cutting, I had to be sure to remind myself to not cut any of the latch or punch through to the metal on the other side. I used a jig saw to cut, and up on some wood blocks to raise the blade (per KMR's instructions - yes, I actually read them). Then used a grinder to clean it up a bit.

I took some small vacuum hose, cut it lengthwise, and put it around the wimpy wire for the license plate light. Taped it down w/ some foil tape.

The silver lining stuff is basically bubble wrap w/ foil on either side. I bought it at Home Depot in the insulation section, it's inexpensive (maybe $20 - $25?). You can't see it, but I folded it down at the bottom, so it covers both the inner and outer portion of the tailgate to form a little pocket.

Will add more of the installed product if anyone is interested.

PS: I have one $OR tailgate carpet for sale if anyone wants (I will post in FS aslo).

[rmcquet]

one more pic

[kevinmrowland]

That looks great!
I'm starting to feel bad for all these poor, defenseless tailgates. (not)
I am the enemy of wasted space!