Tailgate Storage Mod

We must be in some sort of sweet spot then. One dismantler has something like 22 1st gens. Tailgates go quickly apparently. Spoke to one on the phone. I asked how often they get 01-04 Tacomas and he said "pretty often actually." Maybe our proximity to the mountains has something to do with it. I don't know. I contacted a private party parting out his truck and he still had his tailgate. Admittedly, I got lucky on that.

 

Nice find.

 

Yes. I'd like to see how they're constructed and what material is used. Definitely need a flush mount latch.

 

Holy cow. Tree fall on it? Definitely looks like something got dropped on it. The radiator is deformed but the bumper is straight. Maybe a crane-related accident?

 

There's some Tailgate storage builds for an FJ on IH8MUD that would be good to reference. I could search for them later, when not on my phone...

 

The amount of carnage inside that cab looks like something else happened. It's like something fell on it while something T-Boned it. I'm not sure if it was this truck or not but the instrument cluster was covered in blood.

 

I'll have to poke around. Thanks.

 

Found this option. Probably to big for the first gens, but 2nd and 3rd might have a chance.
https://m.summitracing.com/parts/de...rese1-_-lund&gclid=CObYutPJw9ICFUOXfgod0gUF7g

 

Maybe not for the tailgate, but mounted at the back on a roof rack might work. I like the dimensions. Only 6.5" high. Bookmarking that one.

 

Found this site called wagongear.com and for series 60 LC might fit (I am not sure as I haven't measured the width of the 1st gen tailgate.
series 60 here

 

Yeah, that's the one I remember now from the Land Cruiser website. Those are a great quality product. But they are also on the inside of the cabin. On the Taco, unless you run with a canopy or something, it might need to be different material and some sealing out the elements type of mods. I was thinking a decent gauge aluminum would be nice and also help reinforce the tailgate as well.

 

I found that site too. I think that's the product in post #1. Watched some videos. He essentially made a lid for the tailgate. I think I'm going to try something similar, possibly raised a bit for some extra volume.

 

That's just it, most of it IS contained. I have a few ratchet straps just thrown on the rear floor just out of laziness, but my recovery gear is usually packaged up in a canvas bag behind the rear passenger seat. I have an amp under my driver seat, but there's just as much room under there (height wise) as a compartment inside the tailgate (as I see it anyway).

You could make a nice little drawer under each of the front seats to store stuff... That would be less fabrication than cutting up a tailgate.

Plus, the tailgate isn't water proof, so whatever mods you do, you'd need to waterproof it unless you don't mind the things you're storing getting wet. Also make sure you don't have an area that collects water inside the tailgate, where it will rust and/or mold.

But really, all this being said, my "real" solution for the storage issues in my double cab is getting a 2014ish 4Runner. No fabrication needed!

 

Ran across this as a model for a possible solution. I think this if for Jeeps.



The tailgate does have drain holes, but you're right; you'd have to put things you want to protect from moisture in something.

My first thought was a fully self-contained unit that would drop in the cavity. That would protect the contents. Basically, the Wagongear lid with a plastic or fiberglass container attached to the bottom.

Lots of good discussion. We'll see how this goes. It may be a fool's errand, but I like the challenge.

 

Another issue that would need addressing is security. Not as critical with a vehicle like a Land Cruiser or 4Runner for obvious reasons. It'd have to be as secure as any other truck bed tool box, even if you have a locking tailgate and cap.

 

Like that under seat storage. Where'd you find that?

 

Just ran across this, but if somehow the latch to this simply couldn't be engaged without the tailgate being down, that would make security rather easy with all of the available locking tailgates.

 

Basically with a flush mount hinge, and flush mount locks you could do this without really cutting a thing. You could even reuse the same metal panel that's there already or use a 7-10guage stainless sheet and cut the pattern. All depending on looks really. I'd use this all day for my surf gear (wax,leashes,fins,sunblock, ect). Just one less thing to put into the cab that doesn't need to be. With this being semi hidden and I have a topper I really don't see theft as a problem.

 

I like that. Adds some complexity to the solution, but it's a good idea.

 

Could be something as simple as a swinging bar with the hinge towards the top of the tailgate.. Bar swings down and gets trapped between bed and tailgate (I imagine one or the other would need a notch for this to slide into at this point).