Automan2164 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Call it my 'No soldier left behind' mentality, and whowey can attest to this, but if we run across an MJ at the yard... All easily removable MJ specific parts will come home with me. Tailgates are low hanging fruit. No tools needed, just grab and go. While not a horrible idea, it lead to me having a collection of tailgates in miserable condition. Midwest lip rot, dents, scratches... 75% of which would never get redone to be something like they once were. I had a stack of them in the corner of the garage. Last week, I noticed an ad on CL looking for older, stamped steel tailgates. Curiosity got the best of me. I had an idea of what the purpose was... Few years ago I noticed people building benches and tables out of them to put in their mancaves and dens. He called back a few days later, and sure enough, he was using them for just that. I told him about my stack, and we worked out a deal. I gave him all the gates, some bleacher wood I salvaged for material (Because I was set out to do the same, just no time), and an old park bench for parts. In exchange, I set aside 2 gates and he's making me up 2 benches to keep. Not a bad deal for a bunch of gates that had no home other than rotting away or being thrown out. Additionally, there will be a bunch of MJ gates flying around repurposed as furniture... How cool is that? On top of that, he picked everything up in an XJ. Man after our own hearts. He said he will most likely keep the patina, flake off any loose stuff, and matte clear the gates as is. Previous benches he's made and sent me pics of: Once he has a few of them done, I told him to let me know, and I would make a for sale ad for him in the classifieds. He was excited to get the gates, said the size could make them good coffee tables. Maybe some could end up in your home. I'll keep you guys posted. Rob :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I actually had plans of doing the same thing this coming spring during some much needed landscaping. Very cool! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Now that is true recycling. Or maybe it's called re-purposing. Outstanding! :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellaheep Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Nice! I have 8 tailgates myself..... But all are rust free and straight except for one..... Perhaps I've just found a purpose for it....:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldseddie Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 Or you could just sell me one. Be less work for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancome433 Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 I have tailgate that I think I'm going to end up doing that with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 He sent me a pic the other day of one he has almost done: Rob :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Has he thought about the possibility of having the TG actually work, with a compartment behind it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 He sent me a pic the other day of one he has almost done: Rob :D Looks like he's used treated, non-treated, and a piece of stained lumber. Going for the folk art look or will all be painted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GirsMJ86 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Has he thought about the possibility of having the TG actually work, with a compartment behind it? I was thinking something like that but make it so the gate opens and folds down to become the seat, normally nothing being there. Could have the compartment idea to act as a cover for the flat retro boat vinyl seat attached to the inside of the gate. I also think on the Jeep ones, make the legs angle out and form the traditional Jeep trapezoid wheel well shape. Though that might be going too far... unless you offer them as a "luxury" model. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 Looks like he's used treated, non-treated, and a piece of stained lumber. Going for the folk art look or will all be painted? I think he's going for a folk art/rustic look. Fits my style though. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DangerWillRbnsn Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 Super cool man. I may have to build one, hope you don't mind me stealing your idea. Have any pics if the coffee table? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmoore1031 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I got a small collection of tailgates myself. Time to sell them since I sold the MJ months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpace6a Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I got a small collection of tailgates myself. Time to sell them since I sold the MJ months ago. If you have a fairly mint one id be interested in buying one for my mj. all the ones I see in the pnp yards are trashed and bent to hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmoore1031 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I got a small collection of tailgates myself. Time to sell them since I sold the MJ months ago. If you have a fairly mint one id be interested in buying one for my mj. all the ones I see in the pnp yards are trashed and bent to hell. Far from fairly mint. All have some rust or rot. 2 of them are also bent. My observation is that all NY Comanches have been used and abused work trucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a4xnut Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I thought having a working one to use as a fold-up work bench/writing desk... might need to put a flat surface on the "inside" to give a nice flat working surface when deployed... it's something I thought about doing with an old CJ tailgate I have that would be supported by chains instead of the p/u's folding arm design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 I thought having a working one to use as a fold-up work bench/writing desk... might need to put a flat surface on the "inside" to give a nice flat working surface when deployed... it's something I thought about doing with an old CJ tailgate I have that would be supported by chains instead of the p/u's folding arm design. Like this? Surprisingly, I bought this one already made up off CL. Guy had it hanging on the wall in his son's room as a school/work desk. Drove 3 hours to get it, paid $50. I just haven't gotten around to hanging it on the wall on the lower level. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a4xnut Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Hadn't envisioned using that much bed, but in a nutshell, yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellaheep Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Hauled a POS trailer to the scrapper, but couldn't let the tailgate and tail light go.....awesome patina. Gonna be wall art. Gonna mount the tail light to the right lower side with an old bracket. Need to find a janky license plate too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 I picked up the good today. I think I might add some old '80's plates and some weathered bumper sticker under the seat by your legs to break up the clean wood. They need to sit outside and get some weathering on them. Maybe some emblems on there as well. Class them up a bit. He just did these as a trade so I imagine they are pretty basic. I like them raw like this anyway, I can now make them my own. He has his own etsy shop, is at some of the local swap meets out here (Rockford, IL area), and is soon coming to facebook. https://www.etsy.com/shop/LangleyFabrication?ref=l2-shopheader-name Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 :rock on: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitbull4x4 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 If anyone wants to sell a nice tailgate for my truck let me know ,truck is silver for now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellaheep Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Picked up this POS trailer a month ago..... Image Not Found Wall art..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellaheep Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 And another. Freebie trailer from Craigslist. Gonna cut the back off like the Chevy one I did, but this bed has a perfect bulkhead up front that unbolts and should bolt up to the end I cut off to make a shallow spot behind the tailgate. Maybe do some cushions. Gonna put it on some feet and make it so the tailgate comes down for a bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 My bed was wrecked. I found a decent ( for the rust belt) bed for $150...and it included the tailgate in very good condition ( mine had been bent in the middle and straightened back up) and nice tail lights. I feel lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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