Mountain Hatch holes not aligned

You wouldn't believe how expensive and complex the process is. My company averages about 5 submissions a year in the US and from what I hear even that's small potatoes. We keep a patent attorney on full time, he only has two tasks. One is to translate the business development team's science-speak into legalese and push it through the patent office, and the second is to watch the filings for a competing company's submission and raise the appropriate objection (if any). Those two things keep him working long hours.

 

Oh I believe that for sure. I misspoke in my original post. I still believe folks and companies put patent pending on crap with clear intent of deceiving the public. We can't enforce speeding laws but I'm sure we have a special operations force ready to pounce on "Mary's Candles" Etsy store...LMAO.
Zim

 

This looks almost the same as MH, too bad they don't ship to Hawaii. I over paid for mine for sure.

 

I have one and am happy with it. It is light enough to retain the ez-open tailgate. Never even seen a MH in person, so cannot offer a comparison.

 

I replaced my Mountain Hatch with one of these:

https://aloffroadusa.com/collections/accessories/products/toyota-tacoma-trailgate-panel-2nd-3rd-gen

 

LOL I love this, "Knee-Saver (Huge Plus)". I can 100% agree that getting up on this jagged stock tail gate panel fucks up my knees.

 

Wish I found this forum sooner! Just got a new 2021 Tacoma SR5 about a week and half ago and ordered one of these Mountain Hatch covers which I received last Friday. Went to install it today and the holes didn't line up. Contacted them about it and got a prompt reply that I had to start in the corners. None of the installation videos I watched on Youtube mentioned this and it seemed like all the holes lined up for the people who installed it.

When I get one corner in (treaded loosely), the hole on the opposite side is so misaligned, the screw would have to go in at an extreme angle. Don't want to force it in. Seems like that would bend the Mountain Hatch panel and put undo stress where the screws go into the tailgate. Thought this thing was going to be a direct OEM fit.

Here are some pictures, going from the passenger side, the screw holes get more and more out of misalignment until what you see on the driver side picture. Same thing happens in the opposite direction if I start on the driver side first.

 

Completely unacceptable in 2020.
Zim

 

I have a hard time buying something from a company that can't take the time to clean up their product for the photo shoot. That picture reminds me of some bad craigslist crap. I'm sure it is a quality product, but damn, the least they could do is spend a few minutes with some 409.

 

I just took it out to try one more time, this time starting with the corners closest to the bed (as suggested in a return e-mail I got from Mountain Hatch) and I'm still getting the same misalignment of the screw holes on the opposite side I start on. I'm just going to stick with the stock cover for now. Hoping this thing isn't too much of a hassle to return.

 

LOL I agree. Makes you think about a cutting board on the back of the truck being a good idea. Presentation is everything.
Zim

 

I had a few that were off on mine as well. Nothing a bit of work with a drill couldnt solve, but I suppose for the price I should be a bit disappointed haha

I also bought all new plastic inserts for the tailgate. Those things strip out so easy its not funny. With new ones I was able to get a good bite and pull the screw tight even if it was a bit off

$10 Rexka 40pcs Nylon Screw Grommets 3/16 Screw Size for Tailgate Protector Toyota Tundra Tacoma 90189-06010 Nissan Infiniti Honda Mazda

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D6JYSLC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I had the same exact experience. The holes didn’t line up perfectly but started at one corner and worked my way around the panel put all the screws in. Leaving them loose until all the screws were in. Then tightened them all down. It’s not 100% perfect but 99% perfect is good enough for me.
I love it. Glad I bought it. Picked it up on the Black Friday sale.

It only takes mm off from Toyota and a mm off from Mountain Hatch and now you’re holes are off.
Good luck with your purchases with whatever you guys buy.

 

Look great. Love the color you picked

 

No kidding and it isn't even a clean cutting board. It really does look like a cutting board with some drink holders you find at a boat store. I might understand if they were trying to highlight their product putting it in a dirty truck, but they did a half ass job of cleaning what they are trying to sell.

I think I'll send a few more dollars plus a bit for my Dremel and get the mountain hatch.

 

This was my answer to the cutting board. $1.99 Walmart. LMAO
Zim

 

yah but you're not gonna get the IG cred

 

sweet table! DIY? Or where'd you get it?

 

True, and I'm ashamed for that, however, I did not drag my dick across that cutting board 10 minutes before cutting the steak....ahahahahahahha.
Zim

 

Thank you. I built it and credit goes to a good ole Arkansas guy that may or may not drink a little too much on youtube...lol I'll post up his channel if I can find it. It folds up and swings across the tail gate. Bad for getting in and out so I just disconnect it and stow it along the side. Now I can throw it up on the roof rack too.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMTVtnWiKV61ubZ8dKekdVg
Thanks again.
Zim

Edit. I still think it's unacceptable to provide a product that fits horrible. I do like that panel and think it's awesome. It's just not twofiddy awesome to me.
Zim