Opinions Please

[hotrod1]

The tailgate of a tri 5 truck always looked like they forgot it and added it on afterward. If fact, it looks like they had the tailgate left over from a different truck and just plastered it on the back. That being said, we wanted to try something a little different. We removed one of the rear stake pockets and temporarily moved it back so it is flush with the tailgate. Wanted to see how it looks. Not so sure that I like it either. Maybe I am not used to it. What is your opinion, flush or stock/no flush? Please take into account that the non flush side is not ripped up like the flush side (bed side tubing).

Anybody seen any pictures of this done before. I know that Fesler did something similar but they completely re-fabed it custom and theirs is all flat where we still have the somewhat stock (if you want to call it that) tailgate.

[NEWFISHER]

Every one has an opinion right? Shorten up the lower stake pocket and loose all the punched holes. They distract from anything subtle you are trying to do and that fad will be over soon. The last truck, although a lot has been done to it, has no style at all from behind. Mabey I am getting older? Keep it simple for 2 reasons, if you ever plan to sell it or if you ever don't plan to sell it.
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[hotrod1]

Thanks Newfisher. I understand about going too wild and not conservative. Its like Levis. They never go out of style.

The lower crossmember with the punched holes is the rear of the frame and will be covered up by a roll pan or something similar. The holes wont be visible. The rear cross sill is missing at this point. When you move the stake pocket, you loose the cross sill pocket as well. Have to do something different there.

[meter swinger]

I like the look. it kinda cleans up the rear end without being too wild.
It makes me wonder how a narrowed fleetside tailgate would look on it.
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[mr48chev]

It cleans it up a lot but I'm with Newfisher in that the puched holes in the tailgate leave me cold.

The one thing I have run into on my own truck when modifying that area of the bed/box is that you have to be real careful that you don't eliminate the things that provide the strength to hold it together. I rounded the bottom corners of the stake pockets off on mine and welded the stake pockets to the panel under the tailgate and in the process lost the bolts that held it together and provided a lot of the strength causing my welds to crack out.

[hotrod1]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

It cleans it up a lot but I'm with Newfisher in that the puched holes in the tailgate leave me cold.

The one thing I have run into on my own truck when modifying that area of the bed/box is that you have to be real careful that you don't eliminate the things that provide the strength to hold it together. I rounded the bottom corners of the stake pockets off on mine and welded the stake pockets to the panel under the tailgate and in the process lost the bolts that held it together and provided a lot of the strength causing my welds to crack out.

Thanks for your input. I appreciate it. My whole build kind of defiles different parts of the truck. Trying to make a performance truck at the same time as having it still be somewhat classic. Not all the way classic.

Do you have a picture of what you did and how the welds cracked?

[mr48chev]

I'd have to dig in the old photos to see if I have a photo and I took that bed all apart a few years ago and am going to find new stake pockets for it.

I'll see if I can get a photo of the stake pockets when I get home today. It was one of those bright ideas that didn't work like it was supposed to.

[Dan in Pasadena]

The truck that's totally flat leaves me a bit cold too.

I like the bed sides being terminated with the radius tube BUT I always wondered why guys that have the fab chops to do that never extend the same tube diameter all the way across the tailgate to the other bed side end? Seems like a no brainer to me.

Yes, you'd then likely have to do something with the bottom tailgate roll to kinda match how you've modified the top but I think it's a "new" avenue to explore - to the degree there's ANYthing new to be done to these trucks!
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[Kabwe]

Hotrod 1,

Personally I really like the stake pockets being moved like that its a smother look. It opens up lots of ideas for me. I'm not going to comment on the holes because I know you have carried that theme throughout you build so I understand why you did that. I also know you are building a pro touring truck. I do dig the stake pocket mod, actually you got me thinking now. Dang more work for me.lol

[hotrod1]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Hotrod 1,

Personally I really like the stake pockets being moved like that its a smother look. It opens up lots of ideas for me. I'm not going to comment on the holes because I know you have carried that theme throughout you build so I understand why you did that. I also know you are building a pro touring truck. I do dig the stake pocket mod, actually you got me thinking now. Dang more work for me.lol

The smart thing for me to do would be to sit back ad wait until you have figured it out. You are the king of tasteful mods and will figure out a way to make it work (if you wanted to).

Doing this makes it so you loose the stock rear cross sill. I will replace it with a 2x3 rectangle tube. Does anyone know the gauge steel the rear cross sill is made from?

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

The smart thing for me to do would be to sit back ad wait until you have figured it out. You are the king of tasteful mods and will figure out a way to make it work (if you wanted to).

Doing this makes it so you loose the stock rear cross sill. I will replace it with a 2x3 rectangle tube. Does anyone know the gauge steel the rear cross sill is made from?

I would go with 16 gauge.

I don't know about this king of tasteful mods stuff, but thanks for the compliment. I do believe I have vision and I see the possibilities of your mod. Its a really solid idea, but with everything for every action there is a reaction. Thus the rear cross sill (I just brought a new one, but who cares.lol) and the opening and closing of the tailgate which I think I've already worked out in my head.

Man the more I look at it the more ideas pop in my head. I know I will end up doing it.lol You have ruined the stock setup for me after all this time that you are been talking about it I finally see your point.lol I have too much work to do before I get to the bed again but that just gives me time to plan it out.

[hotrod1]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

I would go with 16 gauge.

I don't know about this king of tasteful mods stuff, but thanks for the compliment. I do believe I have vision and I see the possibilities of your mod. Its a really solid idea, but with everything for every action there is a reaction. Thus the rear cross sill (I just brought a new one, but who cares.lol) and the opening and closing of the tailgate which I think I've already worked out in my head.

Man the more I look at it the more ideas pop in my head. I know I will end up doing it.lol You have ruined the stock setup for me after all this time that you are been talking about it I finally see your point.lol I have too much work to do before I get to the bed again but that just gives me time to plan it out.

Sorry to screw you up.

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

The smart thing for me to do would be to sit back ad wait until you have figured it out. You are the king of tasteful mods and will figure out a way to make it work (if you wanted to).

Doing this makes it so you loose the stock rear cross sill. I will replace it with a 2x3 rectangle tube. Does anyone know the gauge steel the rear cross sill is made from?

+1 kabwe is king of tastefull and the prince of mod's.

[Chevette]

Lookin' Good. I like the stake pockets and the dimpled holes. It's all about innovation. I dig what you're doin'. Good luck with your build.