89silverpu's Swing-Out Tailgate Tire Carrier
10-15-2011, 09:38 PM
#23
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Dang...just typed a bunch of stuff that got lost....
I really like where this is going. Might have to steal some ideas.
I'd suggest tying the left support into the bumper. At the bottom you're almost there if not already touching. Weld it and put a nice gusset on the left. For the top, I'd cap-over the top of the bed with a piece of 3/8 plate and leave enough of a "tail" to run a tube down to the side hoop.
That exta tube might not look the greatest but it would make it all damn strong and will definitely support the swingout without having to add much support on the passenger side. Remember, the tailgate gets strength from both sides at the same time, pulls on the bolts of the support arms in one direction only, and takes much of the weight on the swivel point at the bottom of the bed where it's strongest. Your swingout will pull heavily on the top rail of the bed, especially when it's unlatched and not open (cantilevered to pass side)
I really like where this is going. Might have to steal some ideas.
I'd suggest tying the left support into the bumper. At the bottom you're almost there if not already touching. Weld it and put a nice gusset on the left. For the top, I'd cap-over the top of the bed with a piece of 3/8 plate and leave enough of a "tail" to run a tube down to the side hoop.
That exta tube might not look the greatest but it would make it all damn strong and will definitely support the swingout without having to add much support on the passenger side. Remember, the tailgate gets strength from both sides at the same time, pulls on the bolts of the support arms in one direction only, and takes much of the weight on the swivel point at the bottom of the bed where it's strongest. Your swingout will pull heavily on the top rail of the bed, especially when it's unlatched and not open (cantilevered to pass side)
I have been thinking about supporting the corners, and I'm pretty sure I know what I am going to do. I am going to weld a third piece of 2" tube across from one mount to the mount on the other side under the swing open part for lateral support, then I am going to make a J shape piece for the top of the bedside welded to the mount and bolted on to the bed railing, and then a 45 degree angled 1.5" tube mount going from the top of the corner to the bed floor. I appreciate all the comments and suggestions, I've definitely benefitted from posting this build up!
Thanks! It was fairly simple, yet tedious. I cut the corner at a 45 degree angle and then used a flap wheel on a grinder to blend it in to a smooth rounded corner.
10-16-2011, 05:54 PM
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I just finished the 45 degree support. I made it out of 1.5" .120 wall tube and scab plated the underside of both bolting locations. I welded the piece inside the light housing area up and put an extra two bolts to hold it on near the bottom. This set up really helped stiffening the corner up, and I doubt I will need anymore support, but I'm still gunna add another tube going across for some lateral stiffness. Oh, and I cut off the old carrier mount stuff finally 
Inside the light area scab plate, I had difficulty getting the welder set up to weld such thin metal with the .035 so the top and bottome welds are pretty crappy, but I got it dialed right the third time for the middle weld
And just to show the extra tube I am going to add going across:
And I cut these out as well, just in case I needed more support, but I am not going to add these as of right now, we'll see if I incorporate them later...
That's it for now...next step is going to be cutting and notching all the tubing...I hate notching tubing without a tubing notcher
Inside the light area scab plate, I had difficulty getting the welder set up to weld such thin metal with the .035 so the top and bottome welds are pretty crappy, but I got it dialed right the third time for the middle weld
And just to show the extra tube I am going to add going across:
And I cut these out as well, just in case I needed more support, but I am not going to add these as of right now, we'll see if I incorporate them later...
That's it for now...next step is going to be cutting and notching all the tubing...I hate notching tubing without a tubing notcher
Last edited by 89silverpu; 10-16-2011 at 05:56 PM.
10-16-2011, 06:25 PM
#26
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Might save you $40 worth of headache.
http://www.harborfreight.com/pipe-tu...her-42324.html
Looks great so far by the way.
http://www.harborfreight.com/pipe-tu...her-42324.html
Looks great so far by the way.
10-16-2011, 07:09 PM
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No, but I wish I had both of those! haha A vice is my next tool purchase, it would make all the metal work that I do so much easier, but to get a nice big one is like 150 bucks. I've made legs for sliders and welded them up on a buddies truck just doing it with a hand drill and hole saw blade...I can only imagine the luxury of having a nice tube notcher...
10-17-2011, 09:27 PM
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10-19-2011, 09:12 PM
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Well, I ended up working on it a bit today, I got the third tube welded in, and notched and welded up the mounting tubes and main cross tubes. I also started to get some of the structure of the tailgate together....but after looking at the pictures and thinking about it, I'm probably gunna have to cut that bottom third tube out and weld it in again...I've gotta drill the holes for the bolts for the pivots and I am probably gunna have to go in through the bottom due to lack of space between the pivot mounts, I knew it was going together too smoothly 
edit: I'm trying to think of a different route so I don't have to cut the third tube brace....how would a step drill bit work on 3/8" steel? Or does anyone know of a short length style drill bit series so I could fit the drill between the mounts with the bit in??
edit: I'm trying to think of a different route so I don't have to cut the third tube brace....how would a step drill bit work on 3/8" steel? Or does anyone know of a short length style drill bit series so I could fit the drill between the mounts with the bit in??
Last edited by 89silverpu; 10-19-2011 at 10:20 PM.
10-24-2011, 11:11 AM
#33
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I got some more work done yesterday, I got 2 of the 3 supports in between the rails, kind of tricky using a hole saw to get it perfect, but it ended up turning out pretty well. I also got the main tire holder welded up. I just need to have my hookup at the metal yard cut me a perfect circle for the actual mounting surface.
10-24-2011, 11:51 AM
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From the sketches you provided in your first post. I thought you were mounting the spare inboard of the tubing, but I see now that your plan is to have the tire hang off the back.
10-24-2011, 12:05 PM
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That was one of my original ideas and I kind of sketched it up that way, but I ended up making it with the tire on the outside. The whole purpose was to get the tire out of the bed.
11-01-2011, 08:16 AM
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I worked on it for a while yesterday and I got it 90 percent done. All I have left is to skin it, graft in the latch on the skin, round off the latch side top corner, add some simple hi-lift mounts and then paint it up. I just took some quick shots while I was working, so they aren't the best pictures, but I'll post up some more detailed photos once it's all done. The latch system worked out better than I thought it would. It doesn't rattle and everything is tight and secure. The slop in the bushings is way less than I thought, it only drops down maybe 3/4 of an inch at the very end. Not bad for $20 poly performance bushings holding a 65 plus pound tire 
I'm happy with it. I'm still thinking of how to mount the hi-lift, I've got a couple ideas but none I'm super happy with yet. Anyways here are the pictures:
Mock up-
Idk why that center gusset looks so off-center, but it doesn't look like that in real life lol
Latches
kinda dark but oh well, this is with the latch side cut down
And to try and keep sticky fingers off my tire
I'm happy with it. I'm still thinking of how to mount the hi-lift, I've got a couple ideas but none I'm super happy with yet. Anyways here are the pictures:Mock up-
Idk why that center gusset looks so off-center, but it doesn't look like that in real life lol
Latches
kinda dark but oh well, this is with the latch side cut down
And to try and keep sticky fingers off my tire
