I need a new tailgate...

My Tacoma was a week old when my father locked his 4x8 utility trailer onto my trailer ball... or at least he thought he did. Was locked, but NOT on the ball. I drove his quad onto the trailer, tongue flipped up and straight into the tailgate. I should have checked the ball myself... My dad felt HORRIBLE. My first new vehicle... After taking to a body shop and finding out it was going to be $700 to fix, I said screw it and bought some touch up paint to keep it from rusting. Damage was nowhere near as bad as OP's.

 

Even then, if the right size ball was used, the tongue lock would have to full on fail for the trailer to pop off the ball. Make sure you are using the right sized ball. Im betting that flat bed with its 7 pin harness and electric brakes and big ole beef frame uses a 2 5/16ths ball and it looks like you have a 2in ball on there.

Ill put money on its not a fault of the trailer.

 

And you’re 100% right! We don’t tow regularly so there’s no way we would’ve been able to eyeball the difference at night. I didn’t hook the trailer up, trailer owner did!

 

I talked to the seller about it. He’s building an Offroad truck. No longer needs bumpers/fenders/tailgate.

 

Always ask them to unlock the tailgate with their key to prove its their tailgate... no key, no sale.

 

Chalk it up to a learning experience. I hope you didnt tow the thing very far if at all.

 

Craigslist has a ton of stolen tailgates for sale.

 

Seems a little sketchy.

A nearly new $40K 2018 Tacoma being dismantled for an off-road vehicle. Seller must have lots of money to use a newer vehicle over an older one.

Selling a tailgate not needed, but without the camera, wiring, plastics, or handle. What's the seller going to do with the missing parts?

The key suggestion above is a great idea.

 

My old truck… I hooked it on a slight slope, thought I locked it until I stepped on the backend and popped up and rolled forward. It was 10+ yrs and never fixed it- I wouldn’t do the same on the taco though

 

There’s no lock/handle/camera:/

 

Nope. Just down the street.

 

I know, it doesn’t seem right at all. Unfortunately there’s no way of ever knowing. That’s why it’s always a good idea to lock your tailgate!

 

If you're in Los Angeles theres a guy selling one for 130 silver in great condition

 

Esmeralda got any color you want . . .

 

OP, I say keep it just as it is. That's character...shows where ya been and what ya been doing!

 

I vote leave it, that way if it happens again you won't have to worry about it. Can't see it from the drivers seat anyways

 

If it was anything but a brand new truck I probably would. But being that it’s only got 10k miles... and it’s such a cheap fix... I gotta fix it.

 

I completely understand. A toolbox fell off of a trailer in front of our new suburban earlier this year, 7k miles. We couldn’t avoid it, I was sick. Only new vehicle I’ve ever bought. Had to fix it