tacoma tailgate! (bending)

Looks like it is time for an old thread revival. Still going strong no matter what I put on it.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/138006-home-brewed-tailgate-re-enforcement.html

 

My tailgate is significantly more rigid than stock:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...der-coated-tailgate-cap-system-kb-voodoo.html

 

lol good advertising moment.

 

Every chance I get. Thanks for the bump

 

I know i'm about 7 years late to the party here, but has anyone successfully straightened their bent tailgate? Is there a procedure somewhere I should be looking for? I see plenty on preventing the problem, but nothing on fixing it after it's already happened. I bought my 06 about a month ago and there is a pretty sweet bend in the tailgate that i'd like to get looking a little better. Unless one of you gentlemen tells me otherwise, I am probably just going to go about it in a very redneck manner. Pull it as straight as I can get it, then weld in some better support. Any direction here is appreciated. Hopefully one of you can save me from myself.

 

i straightened mine, it was bent pretty good from snowmobiles and cracked right in the middle. did it like you mentioned. forced it back straight and then put in some steel to strengthen it. 1" x 3/16 angle on the top and vertical supports, and old bed frame on the bottom to tie it all together. once everything was bolted in i jammed a mig up there and tacked all the joints enough they haven't come loose yet and its been quite a few years and plenty of abuse.

 

Yeah I ended up doing pretty much the same thing, welded some eye bolts to it, and used a ratchet strap to pull it straight. Then threw down some crappy looking welds and reinforced it. Happy with how it turned out! It's by no means perfect, but at least I can get my cap closed now!

 

Stupid design by toyota. Glad I purchased these.

 

yeah man, I wish I had the opportunity to purchase them before the destruction occurred. Unfortunately at this point I'd have a hard time spending 200 dollars to prevent my already shitty tailgate from getting bent! Once I had the thing apart, I couldn't believe how weak the construction of the thing was. I know they say tailgates aren't supposed to be load bearing... but come on, they know no one listens to that rule!

 

I agree.