Dumb question-- Tail gate camera hole plug options?

I have a dumb question:

I have a rear swing out bumper and moved my tailgate camera onto the swing out. That left me with an empty hole where the camera lived near the tailgate handle. This gets the inside of the tailgate filled with dust, mud, water and also dries out my lock mechanism. Does someone sell a 3-D printed insert or does Toyota have a plug to throw in there? I tried stuffing a rubber grommet in there but it fell out after a while because the hole is not round. Basically, I'm asking if they make a buttplug for my truck.

 

buy another used or non-functioning camera (junk yard, ebay, facebook, here) and install it???

Until then - temporary solution: Painters tape??

 

I covered it with a piece of gaffer's tape on the inside of the tailgate and haven't thought about it once in the three years since.

 

You might investigate if the Tundra handle will fit. Looks like it might be the same design without the camera hole.

$20 OE Replacement Toyota Tundra Tailgate Handle (Partslink Number TO1915113)

https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Toyota-Tailgate-Partslink-TO1915113/dp/B00DOST48E

 

Go to a junkyard and buy a second one to fill the hole.

 

Try your local hardware store. Most have selections of black plastic hole plugs that should fit. Use a little black RTV sealant on it and just pop it in.

 

Perhaps you can find something that will work here:

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/plugs/protective-plugs-1~/?s=rubber+plugs

 

Bro, the first rule of buttplug is flared base.

 

If you want to semi permanently seal the hole I would put masking tape on the outside then apply rvt sealant on the inside of the tailgate where the hole it, the tape should keep it flush with the tailgate after you remove the tape.

 

That made me chuckle.

OP: I would find a right sized rubber plug with a flared base to keep it locked in there. There are tons of these type plugs available at hardware stores or auto part stores, but your challenge will be finding the right size that will adequately seal the hole. Start with measuring the diameter of the hole and go from there.

 

To plug the hole, something like this might work.

$14 76PCS Black Hole Plugs Silicone Stoppers Assortment Kit Rubber Plugs for Round Holes, Flexible Rubber Stoppers Waterproof Tube Plugs T-Type, Used for Sealing Plugs Bathtub Jet Covers

https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Sto...s=rubber+plug+kit&qid=1746368666&sr=8-16&th=1

 

I filled/covered two small holes a previous owner drilled into the bed on either side, with two of those black "Christmas-Tree" clips with the ribs that press into the hole. They were on that narrow ridge on either side of the bed that runs from the wheel-wells to above the cubby-doors. These clips are the ones that are a p-i-t-a to remove once you press them all the way in. They sell them in a bunch of different sizes.

I have used them to seal different holes in the body and frame here and there and to re-attach the rear fender-liners and the front wheel-well curtains where the OEM plastic clips either broke or let go over time and disappeared.