Tailgate recommendations

I'm looking to buy a new tailgate for my 03 taco forerunner. I've noticed that most of the brand's out there are made of steel but a lot if the reviews say that most of them don't hold up or are very flimsy when it comes to holding stuff in your bed, I've looked at used ones and people are asking 300-700 for a used one and that just ain't worth an investment in my mind. I do a lot of home projects so I haul wood, some gravel, I just need a sturdy oe tailgate. Thank you.

 

I don't know where to get a replacement tailgate, but I have seen on here a tailgate reinforcement piece. If you're interested I'll do some forum-spelunking and find it.

 

Here you go: https://www.relentlessfabrication.c...products/96-04-tacoma-tail-gate-reinforcement $204 including powder coating

I have this product and love it, went with the aluminum version plenty strong for my application. Different angles below

1. Tailgating with some buds, flat surface and plenty strong to jump and down for a Texans touchdown!
2. Second pic shows how the top of it "folds over" protecting the top of your tailgate. this is what sold me on mine.
3. Folded down to show smoothness of the aluminum plate while helping another budding during Harvey.

This was the second mod I did on my truck and love it. Easy install and worth the money.

 

Very nice I like the reinforcement idea. My old tailgate is dented in pretty bad, so I was also considering having it fixed as well, any other recommendations would be awesome

 

That's a new animal. Please show.

 

Lol auto correct sorry prerunner

 

That reinforcement pad will it take up any room in my bed?

 

If you're referring to the "reinforcement plate" not at all. It's just a thin plate that you drill into your existing tailgate. Saved my ass a few times hauling furniture....er....I mean crawling around Moab. LOL.

 

Haha ok cool, well I'm actually a welder and I do believe I can fabricate one of those plates, great idea too thank you.

 

Any good brand's out there that make a decent tailgate, I looked at replacement but they're all Chinese junk