how to straighten a tailgate

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by uhjohnson, Oct 24, 2014.

  1. uhjohnson

    uhjohnson Bobtail Member

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    Jun 13, 2014
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    I bought a dump truck with a baxter built aluminum bed and will be hauling sand and gravel. The operator side is bowed about 1/4 inch in the middle on the vertical rise, there is a 1/2 inch round piece of a aluminum heliarched to the tailgate, on the inside to cit down on the gap but I can still see daylight and am worried that I will be losing sand on the highway. How can the tailgate be straightened to get a good seal
     
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  3. Mr.X

    Mr.X Heavy Load Member

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    Oct 31, 2013
    Spokane, WA
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    Aluminum cracks pretty easy, if its just a 1/4" maybe weld a little more material on there, or remove some high spots to close the gap a little? Wet sand won't seep out the cracks like dry sand will, maybe try dumping a bucket of the wetter sand on that spot. A good welder who knows aluminum could probably do a real nice job.
     
  4. skulldrinker

    skulldrinker Light Load Member

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    Just curious what about a steel tailgate? Is welding the only way?
     
  5. lobes1985

    lobes1985 Medium Load Member

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    Use plywood. Just make sure you screw where the ribs are so the screws don't go through the gate.
     
  6. skulldrinker

    skulldrinker Light Load Member

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    I was thinking there was a way to re bend it.
     
  7. lobes1985

    lobes1985 Medium Load Member

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    You can re-bend it. If he has access to a loader or excavator. He can push it with that.
    A guy I used to drive for had me back my loaded truck on a tailgate that another driver bent pretty bad dumping on a pile.
    usually for small gaps plywood is the easiest way to fix it
     
  8. Mr.X

    Mr.X Heavy Load Member

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    Oct 31, 2013
    Spokane, WA
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