Tailgate Installation

[Sandemonium]

Hello,

I have looked through the many posts that explaing the tailgate installation process, however I have a different problem than most.

I have recently assembled my shortbed fleetside with new wood, a reproduction passenger side bedside and front panel. My tailgate is also a reproduction that I also got from Goodmark.

My problem is when I put a square on the passenger side bedside to the rear sill it is square. When I put a square on the drivers side bedside to the sill the bedside is leaning in about an 1/8" which causes the talgate to rub on the top of the drivers side bedside.

I have tried putting a rachet strap on the drivers side bedside and pulling it out a little farther than square and loosing all bolts on the drivers side and tightening them back up, but I have not been successful in getting the rear drivers side bedside square.

What am I missing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[John Fabris]

Does the rear part of the DS bedside where it meets the rear sill, still have the welds?

I would try to first loosen the four bolts (where the bed is bolted to the sill), loosen the DS wheel well bolts, and loosen any of the brackets under the bed (splash gaurd and the rod that keeps the front of the wheel well tight), then use a 2x4 (wood) as a brace (clamped to top of both bedsides) to square it up with the other beside, then slowly retighten everything. If that does not work, you may need to cut those two welds around the bottom of the rear stake pocket and redo this.

Also, is the front of the bedsides squared? I would think worst case you would need to open (grind) the bolt holes up more to give more adjustment?

[Sandemonium]

John Thank you for the Reply......

The bed was completely dis-assembled with new passenger bedside and front panel. All welds have been cut.

The front of the box is square and I measured the top rail at the front and rear as well as the bottom of the bed front and rear and the measurements are the same for the top and bottom.

Yesterday I did loosen all of the bolts that connect the drivers bedside to the floor as well as the Wheel Well bolts and I was able to get the drivers side bedside to lean outward, but as soon as I started tightening the Wheel Well bolts the bedside began to come back to square and once all the Wheel Well bolts were tight it was about an 1/8" out of square (rear top of drivers bedside leaning in).

I was hoping there was something I was overlooking, but at this point I am not seeing it.

I will try loosening all of the drivers side bedside bolts again, pull it farther out of square and slowly tighten down the bolts and see what happens.

Thanks again for your reply,

Bob

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Originally Posted by Sandemonium

Hello,

I have looked through the many posts that explaing the tailgate installation process, however I have a different problem than most.

I have recently assembled my shortbed fleetside with new wood, a reproduction passenger side bedside and front panel. My tailgate is also a reproduction that I also got from Goodmark.

My problem is when I put a square on the passenger side bedside to the rear sill it is square. When I put a square on the drivers side bedside to the sill the bedside is leaning in about an 1/8" which causes the talgate to rub on the top of the drivers side bedside.

I have tried putting a rachet strap on the drivers side bedside and pulling it out a little farther than square and loosing all bolts on the drivers side and tightening them back up, but I have not been successful in getting the rear drivers side bedside square.

What am I missing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

**********************************************************


Is there an 1/8 of and inch on the pass. side that would allow you to shim the gate away from the drivers side with out rubbing the pass. side? If there is some large washers may solve your problem where the gate is held on at the bottom.

[Sandemonium]

I finally was able to get the bedsides squared and the tailgate to fit properly and I just wanted to share with you what I did.

Since the right side of the bed was already square and tailgate fit good I left it alone.

On the left side the bediside was leaning in so I loosened all bolts that connect the bedside to the wood, wheel house, front panel & tailgate. I removed the carriage bolts that connect the wheel house to the wood floor.

I used a rachet strap, secured one end to a stationary object (Lift) and the other end to the bedside with plenty of protection so the hook would not mess up the bedside. I tightened up the strap until the bedside was about an 1/8" out of square (leaning out) I then began to go to each fastener slowly tighten them down to see what is causing the bedside to be pulled out of square. Once I tightened the wheel house bolts to the bedside I found the culprit. One of the carriage bolt holes was drilled a little to far to the inside of the bed. I made a small adjustment to 2 of the bolt holes and tightened everything down and now everything fits as it should.

Sorry this story was so long........

Thank you to everyone who offered some help it was nice to have the moral support......

If you have any questions please let me know.

[glock35ipsc]

Good tip, thanks for sharing!