Flareside hidden latches

ProStreet66 · Post by **ProStreet66** » June 12, 2010, 9:55 pm

Anyone know the best hidden latches to use? Or has anyone made their own? Any ideas? Thanks for any info.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » June 13, 2010, 7:48 am

[albumimg]8186[/albumimg]
this is how I did the Econo tail gate... picked up these latches from my local ACE hardware... they are spring loaded gate latches. I made a small latch for them to catch on then used a small chain to run from latch to latch on the inside of the bed... It worked for me and made the outside nice and clean...

[albumimg]8187[/albumimg]
A clean looking tailgate....
(click the small pic for a bigger pic...then click that pic for a jumbo pic....) I hope you can make out the latches in the pic..

Truckfarmer2 · Post by **Truckfarmer2** » June 13, 2010, 9:31 am

A buddy of mine uses seat belt ends on the inside of the bed

slickmainer · Post by **slickmainer** » June 13, 2010, 7:44 pm

chuck does this as well.

ProStreet66 · Post by **ProStreet66** » June 13, 2010, 8:21 pm

Great ideas. Thanks guys.

Uncle Skip · Post by **Uncle Skip** » June 14, 2010, 7:57 am

Merle.
How about the little rubber ball and stainless socket that some of the big rigs use to hold down the hoods?
I've even seen them on a few ATV's.
Seat belts tend to rub and ruin the paint
U@ss

semotrucker · Post by **semotrucker** » June 14, 2010, 4:55 pm

I thought Merle was from Ohio. His truck is most definitely not a flair side unless he is working on something new.

Cam

slickmainer · Post by **slickmainer** » June 14, 2010, 7:12 pm

super duper magnets?

ProStreet66 · Post by **ProStreet66** » June 14, 2010, 8:13 pm

Im not Merle. Sorry for the confusion. It happens all the time.

prost66 · Post by **prost66** » June 14, 2010, 9:38 pm

I am Merle, I made my own out of a 72 latch( whitch opens up and down) and mounted it inside the bed on a removable panel.Sir Micheals said it couldn't be done ,because the tailgate is too thin,that was enough of a challenge,it can and was done. I had to shorten the swing arms a little to clear the other side of the gate, but the original 66 rods were used and it works great,I used the seat belt latch on the 62 uni-cab,but i didn't like as well.Both gates I then reskinned the out side smooth.There are pics. of both in my album. Sorry I didn't notice the flareside title.I made a spring loaded latch for one, sort of like a inside house door sliding latch,only I made a new tube and spring loaded it. Worked well.

ProStreet66 · Post by **ProStreet66** » June 15, 2010, 8:00 pm

Hi Merle. My name is Rick. Thanks for the door latch idea. That is what Iam going to do. That should work out great.