05+ Tacoma Tail gate reinforcement group buy

Eric,
After talking to my metal working friend I have swapped to aluminum for my tailgate reinforcement, I changed it on the list here.

 

Why, what did your friend say? Please share.

 

He works with sheetmetal most of he time in our machine shop and is a wizzard with bend allowance and such stuff, and can weld thin aluminum like mad.

Anyway he said he would prefer the 0.100" aluminum because while it might be a bit weaker (MAYBEE, like Eric said..), but the advantages are it does not need to be painted, and a bit lighter than the 14G steel.

That said, if you regularly drag heavy stuff across your tailgate which has bolts or nails sticking out, the aluminum (being softer) will gouge whereas the steel will just scrape off the paint (but will then rust).

So both materials have benefits, and actually I would rock either one. In the end I think aluminum will be less care in the long run as you can touch up the paint when you feel like it as it is not going to rust, and you never need to worry about the inside face.

 

Okay, I did the math of comparing the weight of the 0.100" Aluminum to the 14G Steel. These are the materials we can choose from for this Group Buy.

6061 Aluminum (other alloys are very close in weight) = 1.41 lbs./square foot,
14G hot rolled Steel = 3.13 lbs/square foot

I estimate 8 square feet of material so we are talkng 25 pounds for the steel reinforcement plate or 11.3 pounds for the aluminum reinforcement plate.

If weight at the extreme rear of the truck is important to you - You now have this data.

 

You're actually very close! I've found 24lbs steel, and 13lbs aluminum when I weighed them for shipping purposes.
I think that may have been a diamondplate aluminum cover, so the tread pattern added a bit of weight I guess.

 

BTW if you are worried about scrapping paint off when loading you can reuse the plastic on your tailgate. That way you only have the bent lip that goes over the top of your tailgate exposed.

I wanted to get the stock look. so this was the way I went. I do have photos earlier in this thread.

Also the weight when opening and closing the tailgate is not a big deal. it feels like an old steel truck tailgate "sturdy" is what my dad called it.

 

Swordknives, love that little "bouncy" girl in your signature line!

 

I read the install description on your website, does it really require pounding to make the metal shape over the tailgate? Why not make it flush and re-use plastic cover?

 

That is entirely up to the buyer, it is not necessary if the gaps at the edge of the tailgate between the cover are acceptable to them. You can see in swordknives pics posted the curvature of the tailgate and how the cover sits close to the tailgate in the center, and then gap increases near the ends of the tailgate.
The main plastic cover of the tail gate can be re-installed if desired, however the one that clips onto the top of the tailgate cannot be reinstalled

 

I see. When will this group buy end?

 

I'm thinking we'll end it Friday next week, then order material Monday, cut, bend ship. Should all be shipped by the end of the month that way.

 

The gap is small and not very noticeable if you are in a hurry like me to get it on. However I was debating doing the bending now, it only takes a few min to unscrew the bolts on and off.



Desert Drifter
I totally stole it from the funny GIF thread.. I liked it too. good thing my wife does not know, she would not approve.

 

Rats, this doesn't look to be compatible with my Roll'n'Lock tailgate/tonneau.

 

Did not see it mentioned. What alloy of aluminum and heat treat if any ae you using for the aluminum. 6061, 6061T6, or 5052?

Is diamond plate 6061T6 a choice in the style shown on your webpage?

Thanks
PK

 

The aluminum is 5052. I asked Eric in a pm a while ago. hpe that helps

 

I think we'll call this a 20% discount with the number we're at, hows that sound everyone?
I can start sending out PMs with the discount code if some of you would like to begin the order process.

I've currently got enough material for 7 aluminum covers, and a couple steel covers but steel is easy to pick up in town.

 

Sounds good to me Eric. PM me and I will submit payment or however you ar working this. let's see $169 less 20% comes to about $125.20 plus shipping....

 

Yeah, same here. Looking forward to this. Send the code and I'll get the order/payment in. Thanks