Reinforced Steel Tailgate Skin by Mobtown Offroad

Yup

 

This is the one I want too. Thanks.
You got the upgraded hardware too, I see.

 

just got a tailgate reinforcement second hand off facebook and i really like it. i decided to put my stock plastic cover on top as well. it's a little tight, but it feels secure. one thing i noticed is how bad the stock plastic "nuts" are in the fasteners. i'm looking at the hardware kit. i've never used a "rivet nut" before and i'm confused about the grade 8 "installation bolt and nut" are for. can anyone give me a behind the scenes view, or explain the kit? i know it should be fairly simple to install

 

I just put on my skin and tailgate cap that I bought for the black friday sale. I bought the hardware kit but my plastic inserts were still in really good condition and I liked the look of the original black torx fasteners so I put them back in. I enjoyed my drive over to the eastern shore to pick them up. Mobtowns neighborhood looks like a scene out of the walking dead.

 

@Mobtown Offroad The inserts show back ordered on website? Are you building these now per order or do you have a due date? Thanks

 

The stamped rib plate is in stock, the non stamped rib will be in stock in a couple days. Had to have them run again through powder coat, they have debris in them. The caps we have a few in stock. I need to update inventory on website.

 

@Mobtown Offroad any sales coming up?

 

looks interesting

on a somewhat related note, anyone know how much weight the tailgate can hold when latched?

 

Will the aluminum ones be available for the 3rd gen again? My plastic has taken a beating.

 

Do these fit with the @KB Voodoo tailgate caps? I don't see why it wouldn't, but figured I would ask.

 

Yes, they do.

 

Installed my @Mobtown Offroad tailgate reinforcement plate and love it! Great quality and product. Fit perfectly. And for less than half of the price of the plastic options on the market. I'm happy with the purchase for sure. Also added a hi-lift slider adapter.

 

Going to get me one of these, the stock corrugations are a PITA on the knees every time I need to crawl into camper shell to get stuff out.

 

Mines on order! Look forward to installing when I add the electric lock for tailgate.

 

Mine arrived yesterday, only 10 days to ship all way out to CA after placing order. Box a little dented but contents undamaged. You can guess what I’ll be doing this weekend

 

Got mine installed today. Took about 90 minutes to get RivNuts and cover installed



I went with Black Oxide Stainless Steel HW from McMaster-Carr. Cost a bit more then the MobTown HW kit but I was planning to use extra HW on my Prinsu Rack. Part numbers are:



In hindsight, I should have gotten larger 1" washers instead of the 0.75 washers. The 0.75 washers are great for the bottom holes but not large enough to cover the larger holes on the plastic top piece that I reused so picture is showing some 1" SS fender washers on the top edge.

For installing Riv Nuts, I used 3/8" drill bit instead of the recommended 25/64th, purposely undersized a tiny bit to get a snug fit, and then touch up primer paint on the holes to keep corrosion down where drill bit cut paint away. I used a 1" hole cut into a piece of thin cardboard to keep spray pattern tight.



Since holes were undersized i tapped the RivNuts in using extra long screw to hold RivNut straight and keep fingers clear of the hammerhead. One light blow was usually enough to seat the RivNut.



Swaging the RivNuts was easy. Took some trial and error but discovered this method worked best. First I drilled a 1/4" hole in a piece of scrap metal and inserted a 1/4-20 - 2" fully threaded grade 8 bolt with a nut preassembled on it through the hole in the aluminum bar and threaded the bolt into the RivNut until I could feel threads on the bolts protruding out bottom of RivNut. I then clamped the metal bar in place to help keep the RivNut from turning and put a drop or two of oil on the bolt threads to reduce friction before hand tightened the nut down onto the bar. The T-Handled socket wrench in picture was used to keep things straight and to push down on the RivNut for first turn or two with the wrench until the RivNut started to get a grip on it's own. I tightened the 1/4-20 nut with a 7/16" wrench about 4-1/2 turns until RivNut was tight. Do not turn the upper T-Handle wrench, instead tighten the nut in standard CW direction while holding the bolt with T-Handle up straight and still. Tightening the nut will pull the bolt up and compress the RivNut as the bolt is pulled up. Once done, loosen the nut and unscrew the 2" bolt and move on to next one.



Once done, your RivNut should look like this

 

@Mobtown Offroad Any timeline on when the ribbed, steel tailgate plates will be back in stock? Thanks.

 

2 weeks. We are trying to push them through powder coat now.

 

Awesome. I finally ordered one this past weekend. I'm waiting for it before I install the Pop-N-Lock and backup camera.