Hidden tailgate latches

[easymoney7575]

I have a 75 stepside and looking to put hidden latches on. Is there any kits out there that you dont have to cut the tailgate and wont mess the paint with the install

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Years ago in a magazine I saw that someone with a stepside had utilized seat belt tongues and buckles for tailgate latches. the buckles were mounted to the bed sides while the tongues were mounted to hinges on the gate so they could lay flat whe the gate was opened.

[walka]

Lmc have them

[njlimbaugh]

Here's what I did on my '74 stepside: I made a vertical slide bolt using a piece of angle iron and a piece of pipe. I mounted this above the latch plate on the rear of the bed so that the pin, that rides inside the pipe, slides up and down across the tailgate plate and into the hole where the chain hook fits. Cross drill the pin and press in a small round rod which serves two purposes: it gives you something to lift with a finger to unlatch, and keeps the pin from falling out of the pipe. Then I covered the open roll of the bedside and the gap between the roll and the bedside with a piece of flat plate, bent 90 degrees across the bottom. This hides the latch. I'll try to get a picture of it (I know this is sort of hard to understand otherwise) and post it. Then, inside the bed I mounted a couple of taillgate cables (had to make brackets, of course) to hold the gate up when the latches are opened.

[njlimbaugh]

Here's some pics of my tailgate setup:

[craazy22]

Wow great idea you got there. Imma have to try that on my truck.
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[83highsierra]

im digging the tail lights do you have a build thread and what did they come off of

[83highsierra]

sry if im off subject

[njlimbaugh]

Taillights are from a '61 Chevy sedan turned sideways. If you want to do this, you'll have to make a cover to fit inside the fender as the taillights were built into the trunk originally and aren't waterproof. Sorry, no build thread. I'm doing what the Brits call a 'rolling restoration' (customization). I still need a truck off and on so I don't keep it down any longer than I have to.

[83highsierra]

that is totally cool man to be honest i really never thought about puting it in the fender i was just gonna put oval LED's you got my wheels a turning thanks

[easymoney7575]

Is there any rattling with the pin

[njlimbaugh]

I've never noticed any rattling, but that would be easy to fix. Either cut a piece of rubber tubing and slit it to fit over the pin or make the hole bigger and put a grommet in it. Right now the truck is so noisy I wouldn't notice!