DIY Tailgate Inner Panel Cover

Playing around with some left over flooring I picked up from a neighbor.

 

@Cool_Calm_B

vinyl plank?

 

Yup, just cut it to size. I ended up changing it to a wood laminate this weekend tho.

 

Well, not DIY but I received my Trailgate Panel from https://aloffroadusa.com/
Perfect fit, nice crinkle powder coated aluminum (I used to manage a powder coating company so I have pretty high standards). Feels about the same weight as the stock panel. Shipped early and couldn't be happier with it

 

I love it when someone that knows quality work.

 

Just DIY’d the shit out of the panel this morning. Only about 2 hrs start to install. And a lot of that was second guessing myself on minor details.
Found a shop that had some 1/8th aluminum plate laying around for $85. Had them rough cut, then made the final cuts and drilled holes myself. A lot easier than i thought it would be. I’ll prep then paint on my next set of days off with good weather. Overall, EXTREMELY happy how it turned out. The 1/8th thickness allows the gate to close completely without binding on the lip of the bed. 10/10 would do this again.

 

Very nice! I have a sheet of ABS that I'm going to use. Was it any more complicated than tracing the perimeter and holes? What were those minor details you had to work out?

 

Well, if you simply trace around the outside of the material to be cut, when installed, it will be slightly proud around the inside of the gate which would interfere more with the binding, bed issue. What i ended up doing was cutting the whole thing smaller to fit inside the existing panel. Then, cut short on the top end to sit flush against the bottom end. Drill holes LAST. Better fit, IMO.

 

Use old fashion CAD 1.0, cardboard aided design, or just pull the factory piece off and use it as a template. Just make sure it will fit with the tailgate closed.

 

Ive had no luck using the facebook link given. Do you have this guys number? Really interested in doin this to save $$.

 

From what I could gather he stopped selling them. Even his eBay page has been taken down.

Edit: whoops nevermind

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3rd-Gen-Toyota-Tacoma-TailGate-Insert/143920980296

 

The organization in your truck bed is very satisfying.

 

Thanks man! I will check it out!

 

Revisiting this thread since I recently got an RTT and am now using my tailgate more for sitting, climbing in the bed, cooking, etc. Options for tailgates are:

Plastic (lighter, cutting board surface, potential warping)

1. Mountain Hatch ($250)
2. Hooke Road ($150)
3. Trail Gear Offroad ($200)
4. Facebook/eBay Guy ($120)
5. DIY ($~60-90)

Aluminum (stronger, no warping, heavier)

1. Mobtown ($120 with deal)
2. Trailgate Panel ALOffroad ($200)
3. Relentless Fabrication ($210)
4. DIY (~$85)

Anything I'm missing?

 

Here's my DIY panel that took about an hour, for what it's worth. $65, just had to borrow someone's jigsaw as one not in my tool collection yet.

 

Snail Armor $200

 

A quick note about our panel- ours is designed with the top cap and inner panel all joined together- it's the only one that not only makes the inner portion of the tailgate flat as a work surface but also adds strength to the tailgate for loading heavy things like Motorcycles, ATVs, yard equipment, construction tools etc.

 

I think MobTown went out of business. I tried looking them up and then found them in the TW forum with a message that they sold the business.

 

I copied the tailgate skin that @zuknewbie made.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-tailgate-plate.737662/#post-26259568

 

Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but a sheet of rubber (like the Toyota bed mat) laid out on top of the OEM tailgate panel works in a pinch.

A buddy of mine came up with this idea for hunting trips for cutting up elk & deer on his tailgate. Idea being you wouldn't cut the tailgate with your knife and you dont need to haul around a big ass cutting board or get blood, hair and other shit in the hinges. Just rinse it off and roll it up when you're done.

Obviously you wouldn't need to deal w/ the bloody clean up part of it if you're just trying to use it as a cook top or as a means to get into your RTT, but you get the point. Benefit being you can use it for other stuff too, like a kneeling pad or mat to lay on if you need to work on your vehicle in the mud. Might even be able to use it for traction purposes too. $0.02 of opinion