welding tailgate in???

i know some people have done it.. Im curious as to what the pros and cons are between welding in the stock tail-gate vs. welding in a skin... i plan on using a stock rear bumper, and shaving the tail lights as well too... im assuming i'll cut out some strips to fill the gap on both sides of the gate and tack it in... think i should even bother welding in the gate or do a skin and brace it up???

and if anyone has pics of a stock gate welded up please post them... thanks for the help!

yrs ago this was a factory tailgate welded up, i just reworked it alot for this outcome, but it did start as a welded tailgate.

^^^ THAT'S DOPE.

Heres my old bed, put some steel rod between the tilgate and rollpan gap, it came out pretty good.

if your planning on keeping the bumper and not doing a full skin i would just use the tailgate.

Edited: 7/29/2008 4:05:37 PM by lost cause

I've welded all my tailgates shut

PRO: You save A grip of cash not buying a skin

CON: Your bed feels like some fat fuck is sitting in it when you take it off your truck

I've never had any problems though,....do like bryan (cruzinlow88 ) said and weld some round stock inbetween the "gaps" and you'll be just fine

or you can do like i did and drill out the spot welds on the factory tailgate and pull off the skin and use the factory tailgate skin!! yay!!looses bunches of b.s. weight.

thats what i did.. no problems yet

i dont plan on molding in a roll pan or anything, just running a stock chrome rear bumper to drag the piss out of...

i was also considering keeping the stock tails, but if i do im not i'd ever be able to get them out unless i cut out sections on the sides to get to the screws...

i'm thinkin what dave said, and pull the stock skin off the tailgate... slick idea!

Edited: 7/29/2008 5:45:59 PM by Slappy Mc Nasty

Edited: 7/29/2008 5:45:16 PM by Slappy Mc Nasty

Edited: 7/29/2008 5:44:20 PM by Slappy Mc Nasty

i welded in my gate because im known to drag a rollpan off in no time, and i know the new one will be in the pile soon as well.

pros-1. much cheaper to buy an old a gate vs. a combo.....2. less bracing needed to weld in a gate vs. a combo.....3. if yer a dragger, ease of cuting a dragged rollpan vs. combocons-1. light weight combo replaces both gate/rollpan in 1 unit......2. light weight addition vs. a tailgate.....3. alittle more fabrication if you want "custom" lights out back