85 4runner Pickup Tailgate Swap and Spare Tire Carrier/Rear Bumper Build.

4runnin'

Observer
Well I think it is safe to say that I am never as happy with my truck as I am when I am working on it...that being said I decided to tackle two projects at once: 1. Pickup tailgate swap 2. New rear bumper to mount higher and tighter under the pickup tailgate. My plan for the rear window is to make a camper shell style rear window out of 1/4" plexiglass. (Eventually I will go to a soft top...) All in all the project is about 95% done as of now.

I will let the pictures do the talking:

How the original set up was with old bumper and stock 4runner tailgate.
390047_10150384281281356_561751355_8717520_1828883101_n.jpg


Mocking up the truck tailgate...lots of clearance gained!
375486_749625203279_35802160_36322014_1583773298_n.jpg


Pic of the tailgate in. I used a piece of 1x2, welded in between the body where the stock tailgate would bolt and then welded the hinges from the tailgate to the 1x2. I could have spent the extra time to make everything bolt on but for what it is I was fine with welding everything. Last thing to do here is to make a filler plate from the 1x2 to the bed.
394831_749625128429_35802160_36322012_1735592363_n.jpg


4runner under the knife and making the filler plates to cap the fenders. Hit it with the grinder, coat of bondo and some paint.
380117_749625153379_35802160_36322016_1739542153_n.jpg

381296_749625208269_35802160_36322025_813711819_n.jpg

389380_749625148389_35802160_36322013_525436736_n.jpg

396050_749625198289_35802160_36322022_1055884093_n.jpg

407499_749625143399_35802160_36322010_1939064876_n.jpg

383695_749625138409_35802160_36322008_1389935891_n.jpg

409502_749625133419_35802160_36322009_320059468_n.jpg


For the bumper I picked up some scrap 2x3 1/4" and then cut it up to wrap around the rear quarters for protection. (On the passenger side it is now protecting a dent!)
373897_749625123439_35802160_36322015_29254009_n.jpg

376106_749625188309_35802160_36322020_459738612_n.jpg

407138_749625118449_35802160_36322007_1145335573_n.jpg


Built some brackets that slide in between the frame rails and bolt to the stock locations. Also welded 1.75" tube from the wrap around corner protection to the frame. Figured if I ever take the bumper off I'll cut the tubes and make a sleeve that enables them to be bolted together.
Also picked up a new trailer spindle for the swing out carrier, hole sawed and then welded top and bottom.
384995_749625916849_35802160_36322028_1600166488_n.jpg

Roughly mocked up.
403675_749625183319_35802160_36322023_1959445609_n.jpg


I needed to modify the tire carrier because now that the bumper was raised, the spare tire was moved way too far upwards along with the top toggle latch (ordered a new toggle latch instead of cutting the old one off). I cut and spliced new tube to make it work. After all that I think I would have rather started from scratch as I can see a few things in the old carrier that I would like to make better...maybe a project later on.
389423_749631750159_35802160_36322084_625578096_n.jpg

408973_749631969719_35802160_36322089_1356350709_n.jpg

379413_749631755149_35802160_36322085_1025211570_n.jpg

Found the round plate that the studs are through in the scrap baskets outside of sims. I saw that and knew right where it was going!
402708_749631770119_35802160_36322088_598353871_n.jpg

401004_749631730199_35802160_36322082_924190464_n.jpg

384985_749631765129_35802160_36322087_2089097544_n.jpg


Well thats it for now. Will post up more as everything gets finalized and finally buttoned up.
 

coryc85

New member
Wow, fantastic. I would LOVE to have your '85. Very interested to see what you come up with for plexi hatch on the hard top.
 
when i did away with the power window in my 89, i used the frame out of an old cmper top that came off of a nissan that i used to have. i took the old glass out of the frame, shaped and cut it to fit, and used self-tapping screws to secure it to the metal channel in teh top where the rear window would sit when rolled up. i put some gasket makeer around the edges to seal it up. i'm no body man and it shows, but it is definetly functional and doesn' t leak. i'll try to get some pictures today if the weather is nice.
 

fatrat

SE Expedition Society
This is awesome! My 87 needs a new tailgate and everybody around here want too much $$$ for a 4runner gate. This also reminds me of my old Taco that I chopped the rear quarters on.

IMAG0127.jpg


Looking forward to seeing pics of the plexi window.
 

JasonRedwood

Explorer
I dig the mod. The soft top I got from softtopper was one of the best buys I have made so far.
Once it went on it never came off.
 

Overlandtowater

Well-known member
just wondering what kind of driving you do and if you broke that trailer spindle yet???? I was going to build one using a spindle but heard bad things and just wondering how yours has worked out?

Thanks
 

Forum statistics

Threads
185,529
Messages
2,875,555
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top