Diet Taco... trying to keep things light

I'm digging this build. Thanks for taking the time to make such detailed posts.

 

Nay, it lack teeth.

 

Hey @DVexile could you post more pictures of the awning and how you attached it please?

 

Sure thing, by the end of the weekend probably!

EDIT: Well that didn't happen yet, weather didn't cooperate and I've had to work on the better weather days. It will get done eventually though! Promise!

 

very nice

 

I was trying to remember why I had to slide it on from the side, too, and I just remembered: at some point, Toyota added two panhead screws at the top corners of the tailgate. These protrude straight up just enough to take up the fraction of an inch that you need to "pop it over the lip" from the top. Mine's a 2015, perhaps they started this in 2012. Perhaps this was their attempt at "strengthening the weak tailgate." LOL. It does nothing. Eric at Relentless acknowledged this too in another thread.

I know I have a pic somewhere, I'll look for it. I was going batshit crazy over this until I figured it out. You can remove the two screws with no ill effect, especially because the new tailgate plate is being added.

 

nice post, love watching. nice rig,love the flippac.

 

Like it.
More pics please.

 

OK, here:

Clearance pre-screw-in-top-of-tailgate-Toyoya modification in later 2nd gen:



Clearance (or lack thereof) created by new screws added to later 2nd gens:


Another view from top during intstall/during WTF phase. I added soem D-profile EPDM to help keep water from intruding into the hole. If I had time to go find some perfect countersunk screws to insert, I would have, but even they would not have seated down flush in the existing holes.

Another factor I believe for smooth lineup and fit is excessive flashing on the plastic trim nuts used to secure the tailgate screws. I trimmed all mine flush to ease fitment:

 

Sub'd for the weight versus benefit approach. I'm on the same wavelength. I have skids, but went with aluminum to save weight knowing that I'll never rock crawl. I'm also looking at a Pronghorn bumper because they are aluminum, but also because their modular design allows you to easily remove sections that aren't necessary for everyday use, including a winch.

 

Holy crap, never heard of them, cool idea. Not the prettiest things, but still, very interesting.

And very expensive

http://pronghorngear.com/mfes-tacoma/

 

While I had the fiberglass panel off, I checked those screws, and found that they are required for the assembly. (You don't really think Toyota would put them in there for no reason, I hope). I too was going to use flathead screws if needed, but they weren't, as the weatherstrip used as spacers held the reinforcement up just high enough to clear the screws. Together with the weatherstrip on the face of the tailgate, the panel fits nicely in place with no rattles, and the shoulderless screws lock it down. BTW, I did't use the weatherstrip Eric sent, but found similar at OSH, to go the full length of the top, and all but the middle 8" of the face, as there wouldn't have been enough room at that point due to the curve of the gate.

 

@scocar - Thanks for figuring out the Relentless cover mystery! I did mine in a hurry (everything seems to be a hurry these days since we had a kid) and I just remember thinking, "nope, this ain't flipping or rotating on" but no recollection of the specific interference issue. I had read the install thread and so I knew some people were sliding it on so I just immediately changed plans and did that instead without taking any photos or notes. Thanks for making me feel less inept and wimpy now! BTW, was just checking out your build thread this morning - daughter woke up and interrupted before I could finish.

@PaulK - Thanks for the pointer to the Pronghorn bumpers. Never seen those before! Subject of later post some day will be what the heck to do about bumpers. I'm very undecided at the moment. Pretty sure anything I will do will be aluminum and that I won't do a swing out on the rear nor a winch on the front. I might even stay stock bumper for the front. Well, one battle at a time and I've got a few more battles to fight before I worry about bumpers! I'm going Al on the skids as well, just got into the very end of the RCI GB. Those should be on the way in the next week. Was happy RCI makes every skid in Al if you desire.

Just did the color match grill swap. Wow, talk about the easiest mod in the world. Trying to keep the mods in chronological order so I've got some more catching up to do before I write that one up with pictures. Cloudy and sprinkles today and I was single parenting today until it was nearly dark, so no photo updates for the previous posts just yet. Hope to bang some out tomorrow - forecast is sunny and wife will be back in town making up for my full day kiddie shift today!

Thanks again for all the complements and all the great extra information.

 

Every post he makes.. I fall hard, again.

 

You're welcome. And yes, the damn hurry! We have a 5 month old. Sometimes it's a miracle if my wife and I both bathe on the same day and eat dinner at the same time together.

LOL, after coming from a 1st gen to a 2nd gen, there's all sorts of things Toyota seemed to do without using any clear reason(ing).

Have you ever had a chance to compare an early gate without those screws to a later gate? Have you seen any structural differences between the two? It still looked and felt completely solid inside and out (at least the outer structure did; the skin and "supports" are flimsy as hell). I took a look at how it went together, and had no concerns in the end. I also had almost zero time to get this done. Plus the RTGRP has has added more structural integrity to the entire tailgate. So I'm not really concerned. If my tailgate bends or explodes or I am hit from behind and the tailgate is determined to be my cause of death, I'll let you know. But I strongly doubt any of that will happen.

 

No. all I know is what I saw inside my 2015 tailgate. Had to use my iPhone to see it, but it is a structural member, anyway. ...And yes, I was shocked to see how flimsy the gate was! And I had sat my fat ass on the damn thing! Now, I can roll a refrigerator up ramps on it without a second thought.

 

I didn't get any weatherstrip with it from Relentless. Hmmm. Oh well. Did you put he fiberglass back on? I wasn't going too, but decided it was better for a variety of reasons, mainly centered on keeping the screw heads from interfering with or damaging things as I slide them in and out of the bed.

 

Hmmm, look at Eric's install thread, he uses short pieces of weatherstrip as cushion. Wasn't enough in my opinion, so I got a full roll at the hardware.
No fiberglass panel, and no interference if you get the additional stock screws without shoulders as used on the sides & bottom. I had put in an electric Pop&Lock before I got the Relentless, so I was ready to rock & roll! Hey, just remembered.... @DCSBFTMFW got the screws for both if us at his dealership. We put on his Relentless in a restaurant parking lot. His gate used the second half of the weatherstrip roll!

 

Yup. And then 2 weeks later I used the old screws and remounted the fiberglass piece.

But hey.

 

I've got mine in brand new condition, along with the gate cap. Outback Steak Dinner if you get me a buyer.