Budget Tailgate Stoarage

[Bluetribal]

Since I can't seem to win the lottery I have to continue on my Cruiser Budget ways. Everything I have done on my cruiser has been on the cheap or used but done with enough diligence that hopefully it will only need to be done once.
So with that being said, I have had this idea for a boat hatch in my tailgate for almost a year and the other week I was bored and on my Amazon app and I bought a hatch. So here it is and if I were to do it again I would go with the 17" wide hatch and not the 23" so you can keep the supports in the the tailgate.

Not too shabby for $59 and an afternoon.

Link to hatch on Amazon, prices verry for color. I went with Ivy because it was the cheapest for the 13x23
Amazon.com: Tempress White 1115 Cam Hatch without Lock: Sports & Outdoors

 

[sdnative]

That's slick. Good job on the install.

 

[Brentbba]

Nice job Mark!

 

[1973Guppie]

slick setup! can you post a pic of the boat hatches you used?

looking at hatches now, would love to find a stainless steel one? something flush mounted. May use this in conjunction with my aluminum plate I just had cut for the rear tailgate.

 

[Bluetribal]

Huh? I did post pics and a link to the hatch I bought off of Amazon.
It was your post about the tailgate plate that finally got this mod rolling.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD App

 

[Dan2722]

Nice work!

 

[1973Guppie]

Huh? I did post pics and a link to the hatch I bought off of Amazon.
It was your post about the tailgate plate that finally got this mod rolling.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD App

oops, sorry did not see it at the bottom of the page.

I am thinking of using these hatches:
Cabela's: Custom Hatch

and installing one of these SS latches:
Cabela's: Southco Flush Latches

all installed inside of an aluminum base.

Noah

 

[Bluetribal]

I would go with the small hatch so you don't have to cut the brace inside the tailgate like I did. I would say 17" wide is your absolute max and 13" tall otherwise you get in the way of the latch mechanism. Even at 13" tall mine overhangs the carpet a little in the bottom corner.

 

[1973Guppie]

I would go with the small hatch so you don't have to cut the brace inside the tailgate like I did. I would say 17" wide is your absolute max and 13" tall otherwise you get in the way of the latch mechanism. Even at 13" tall mine overhangs the carpet a little in the bottom corner.

good point but I am expecting the aluminum plate will strengthen up the whole rear tailgate quite a bit when installed.....

 

[619TOY]

Very nice! I'm not so sure I could just jump into cutting a hole in my tailgate...

That does make me curious about a new part we've designed for truck bed build outs. Might be too big though

 

[1973Guppie]

holy crap that looks perfect! what are the dimensions, wanna sell me one? sent you pm...

 

[619TOY]

Like I said, it might be too big, don't have my LC here to check. Maybe one of you can.

Exterior dimensions are 11 7/8" X 48"
Mounting hole dimensions are 10 1/2" X 46 3/8"

 

[1973Guppie]

nope, too big to use the stock holes, looks like 10x45 would be the ideal size......

 

[Bluetribal]

That should work, what stock holes are you trying to use? I was planning to put two 23" wide hatches in my gate with 5-6" separating them.

 

[Bluetribal]

Very nice! I'm not so sure I could just jump into cutting a hole in my tailgate...

Not too big of a deal, lot's of people are ordering WagonGears full hatch almost identical to what you have pictured.

 

[1973Guppie]

That should work, what stock holes are you trying to use? I was planning to put two 23" wide hatches in my gate with 5-6" separating them.

I am using the stock plastic fastener holes, going to use nutserts into them with countersunk screws to hold it in place.

 

[619TOY]

I'll bring one home and take a look if I can.

 

[Bluetribal]

I am using the stock plastic fastener holes, going to use nutserts into them with countersunk screws to hold it in place.

Oh, OK that's for the aluminum sheet.

 

[Rattler]

In for a subscription.

 

[The Jade Bean]

oops, sorry did not see it at the bottom of the page. I am thinking of using these hatches: Cabela's: Custom Hatch and installing one of these SS latches: Cabela's: Southco Flush Latches all installed inside of an aluminum base. Noah

I like all the ideas here. I wanted TrailGear, but it's a bit much for our budget. I'm digging the possibilities of the Cabelas option above. Look forward to seeing what other ideas surface here.

-Daniel Kent