Headache rack/insert build

[brushtrooper]

I had to put the ranch truck build on a short hold. So it seems I am hard on tailgates, been through 3 on my 21' Ram 2500, shortbed. Its no pavement princess and gets used pretty hard. This is a culmination of a few headache racks I've built in the past. The headache and rails, I built in 04 for a dually with 8' bed I had, the floorplate and tailgate were from company trucks where i built similar setups. When model years changed, they let me keep the old setups. Note the bedrails, I always used stake pockets or channel topped with 3/8"s flat bar just like you see on GN/big truck trailers. You can use 2" ratchet straps to secure loads vs the pipe/square tube tops on others. The tailgates I built were originally "barn door" setups to make it easier to load/unload with forklifts. This was more of a budget build, it would have been easier to use new metal for tailgate section. The tailgate frame bolts to the original tailgate striker holes, then i have bolts mid section and close to the front near headache rack for securement. Floorplate is 3/16" diamond plate. the "bulkhead" is to protect my 60 gallon fuel tank I use. The angle on bulk head is taller than my fuel tank so I can carry 8' to 10' lumber/or whatever without having headache it. Longer stuff gets headached. Tailgate is welded together to make a folding gate like a stock gate. Its 1-1/4" x3/16" tube with expanded metal. I used the factory tailgate cables and mounts welded into the new frame. Tomorrow is prime/paint/install day. Pretty happy with the results. Then its back to the ranch truck build

[donpablo]

That's awesome!

[Dale Moser]

You ever consider using mirrors?

[brushtrooper]

You ever consider using mirrors?

Agreed, backing up by braille just is not working out

[EliteDriver]

You ever consider using mirrors?

That's funny right there!

[brushtrooper]

That's funny right there!

Here is a funny one, not long after I bought the truck I got divorced. I was moving stuff to the ranch and needed my big GN to get the rest. Unhooked my cargo, pulled around, lined up on my GN and backed up.....with the tailgate up! Yea, paid my stupid tax with a new to me tailgate. The other 2 tailgates were thanks to cows getting rowdy when feeding cubes from bed of truck. That new tailgate should be cow proof. I say that conservatively as I've learned over the years, cows can break an Anvil!

[Dale Moser]

Here is a funny one, not long after I bought the truck I got divorced. I was moving stuff to the ranch and needed my big GN to get the rest. Unhooked my cargo, pulled around, lined up on my GN and backed up.....with the tailgate up! Yea, paid my stupid tax with a new to me tailgate. The other 2 tailgates were thanks to cows getting rowdy when feeding cubes from bed of truck. That new tailgate should be cow proof. I say that conservatively as I've learned over the years, cows can break an Anvil!

I have come so close to doing that, it's scary. I did forget to latch the gooseneck ball in the truck when I flipped it over....twice. Realized it both times when I went to load the skid steer and she came up out of the home and drove the coupler into my tool box...