Tailgate Strengthing

Like many of you on here, I use my Tacoma to haul my motorcycle on a pretty regular basis. My specific model of Tacoma suffers from the well-known tailgate bend with my 300lb bike rolling across it (already have a good sized dent in the middle section). I know relentless fabrications makes a reinforcement plate for the 1st gens, and I’d love to buy it, but its going to end up being over $200 shipped for a piece of metal which I’m having a tough time justifying. Any mildly priced options to strengthening the tailgate?

 

How much is a replacement tailgate? How much is your current tailgate worth to you?

 

That's the only reasonable option besides doing it yourself.

 

Unfortunately, this is a replacement tailgate. Its been painted to match as well. So a few hundred.

It doesn't need to look pretty just be functional. @whitetaco01

 

If a tailgate opens and closes without binding, then it's still functional.

But you could replace the inner cover with 3/16- or 1/4-inch steel. Trim to fit nicely, drill the screw holes, round off and deburr EVERY edge to make it nice and smooth, then primer and paint it to your liking.

 

It must be the weight of a single wheel I roll much heavier things over mine all the time for a few years .

Do you haul this bike all the time or just once in a while??

A piece of 3/16" about 24" wide long enough to go from the top of the tailgate to the bed for the times you haul the bike.