anyone ever elimated tailgate chains on a stepside

[84_chevrolet]

Has anyone on here ever slimated the ugly tailgate chains on a stepside bed, like a laych and handle, any ideas or pictures would be appreciated Thanks

[Slonaker]

I have seen seatbelt buckles used as latches on 2 different pickups. It looks really clean from the outside. The just used one per side, and attached the two halves to the bed and tailgate so they latched when it was closed.

I don't recall what they used to hold up the tailgate, though. The chains on a stepside bed hold the tailgate up when it is lowered, right?

Slonaker

[Rc 415]

Originally Posted by Slonaker

The chains on a stepside bed hold the tailgate up when it is lowered, right?

Slonaker

yup

[Srubydo1986]

lmc has a hidden tailgate latch kit. the have an ss and a plain set parts numbers are plain= 38-3024 and then ss= 38-3025.

hope this helps some they are kits so every thing u need is there

[killthewabbit]

The LMC hidden latch kit will only replace the chains as far as holding the tailgate shut. I have an old Classic Trucks magazine that had an article about installing a mar-k kit that got rid of the chains and used what I think was a gas strut or something to hold up the tailgate when it's lowered. I'm checking out Mar-k's site now to see if I can find it, but no luck so far.

[killthewabbit]

Found the article. Not mar-k at all, but rather WOW Products. Here's a link to the article I was talking about:
http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/cl...side_tailgate/

That issue had a great article about what seats will fit in a C-10. I think I still have it somewhere.

Here's the page on the WOW Products site:
http://www.wow-products.com/Merchant...gory_Code=TGLS

[Srubydo1986]

o my bad got the wrong idea i was thinking something else i guess

[boxrodz]

I've seen quite a few seat belt/buckle setups (like Slonaker mentioned) in the older trucks. But, here's a cool, stealth setup on a stepside. BTW, I suppose you could carry a couple of removable tailgate straps under the seat and pull them out when you need to use them when the tailgate is down.

[killthewabbit]

Holy duplicate topic, Batman!

Boxrodz, that is a super-ninja-stealth latch system right there. That's awesome.

[MAR-Ktech]

Mar-K does offer a complete tailgate assembly with built-in latches and the links that keep it level when you open it. http://www.mar-k.com/54-87TAILGATEWHANDLEORIGBS.pdf We also have the links separately if you want to eliminate chains with your stock tailgate and make your own latching system. http://www.mar-k.com/41-53TGlinkassy.pdf They fold up inside the tailgate end and are hidden when you close the tailgate.

Mar-Ktech