My #1 Regret for M416 Build - Cutting Tailgate

[dieselcruiserhead]

That's all, with a lid and good gas struts the tailgate isn't needed. It's also hard to build a solid tailgate with no air or moisture leaks in the rain. I haven't used it once since I did it. I thought I'd mention it for all the people prone to tailgate cutting...

 

[bkfj40]

I was thinking it was gonna be not wearing kevlar sleeves on your shirt


It was great looking over your trailer at Moab - Have you been working on your bumper yet?


bk

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I was thinking it was gonna be not wearing kevlar sleeves on your shirt
bk

seriously. I was thinking about that gash when I reached for the grinder yesterday.

My tailgate is going to be great for loading tires, especially since it's going to be SOA. I guess it all depends on what you use it for.

Planning on welding the tailgate shut then?

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

probably not because it's already there. It's just a PITA and if I wanted to be really anal I would probably redo it but it works and works decently. It would be helpful for a big SOA truck but my trailer is already close to that height anyway (I measured all of our trucks) and I still wouldn't say I need it. That said my trailer with lid is closed and I won't be using it for hauling tires etc also because I have a pickup as my DDer. So good point there...

Kevlar sleeves, good stuff...

 

[Exiled]

I respectfully disagree, I use mine all the time while the tent's deployed, and it makes it easier to load heavy stuff. It took me a while to sort it out, bu mine seals tightly, I don't get any water seepage from driving in heavy rain at highway speeds.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

That is always good to hear... I designed my lid similarly to an AT where I can get in and out of the trailer with the tent deployed. The tailgate I figured would be nice perhaps for maybe loading at the beginning but right now I don't mind loading in heavy coolers etc from the main lid, to the extent I haven't even used the tailgate yet...

 

[Mud_Guppie]

my soa M101 with 35" tires is hooked to my truck almost everyday. I haul heavy cruiser parts back and forth between my shops. I would go nuts if I didn't have the gate. Best thing ever for my application

I can see the water tight issue being a problem though. Lots of cargo trailers have doors so there must be a few decent options for sealing the gate. The only thing I found to be a problem with my gate is that the trailer sides flex a bit and the opening varies in size depending on how tight my ratchet straps are.

 

[Thornton]

I took my M-416 and cut in a tailgate and have no regrets. I have it set up with a Conferr roof rack that I narrowed down to the width of the trailer, with a roof top tent. Sprung over and no lid. I plan to eventually have a tarp that will cover everything. Right now my gear is in Rubbermaid ActionPackers.
I can see where everyone has therir own preference on what they want and how they plan on using it.

 

[Box Rocket]

I am glad I've got the tailgate on my trailer. I knew going into it that I'd be using it for stuff around the house. Hauled 3 cu. yards of landscape bark in it last week. Tailgate sure made unloading it a peice of cake. Also took a load of yard crap to the dump. Tailgate was nice for that too.

Andre, I can see your point because the couple camping trips I've done with the trailer up to this point, the tailgate wasn't ever opened. But it's those few times that you really wish you had a gate that make the effort worth it. I haven't had major issues with dust/water infiltration yet, and mine doesn't seal well at all. It closes tight and secure but there's still a decent gap at the seam. Could take some time to sort that out over time but probably worth the effort.

 

[ExpeditionXJ]

Recently borrowed a bud's 416 for an event since my trailer isnt close to being done. He does not have a tailgate cut into it.

It rained for 3 of the 4 days, and heavily in the late afternoon/evenings when we were not on the trails. I found that if i forgot to grab something out of the trailer it was a major PITA to get to it. Now, i did have the RTT set to open on the non hinge lid side.

My trailer project has a tailgate, i cant imagine not having one personally.

 

[Box Rocket]

Dre, now that you've had a proper beat-down about the necessity of a tailgate......you could always weld yours back up.

Post up when you have your latest changes, so I can check out the fixed frame etc.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Will do... I won't weld it up mostly because it's there and it is OK... Hoping to get to fixing it shortly, as in the next week hopefully... A little burned out on the shop lately, I gotta post some pics