How do you remove the plastic tailgate cap?

I just got my aluminum tailgate reinforcement panel from Relentless Fabrication (going to be hauling motorcycles) and I started to pull it apart this evening but I got stuck on the cap. It feels like there are plastic tabs holding it in there. It was getting dark and I didn't have a mirror to look inside to see what I was dealing with. Does it just pop off with some force? Or do I need to compress something on the inside with some long needle nose pliers? I'll get back to it tomorrow afternoon. Just looking for some quick advice before hand.

Thanks

 

its held on with clips. it takes a bit of force.

edit* and the bolts along the top edge of the cover need to be removed.

 

Undo the bolts/screws on the tailgate, then use a bit of force to remove. Given that you have a 2014, the clips must not have broken off yet.

 

I was hesitant to yank it too hard (insert joke here) since it isn't broken yet and I may hold on to it. Kind of felt like there was some 3m tape holding it down but I could feel plastic tabs with my finger tips; just couldn't see inside.

 

Definitely hold onto the factory cap. When the time comes for you to trade your Taco in on a new one, you'll want to keep the Relentless piece for your new truck.

 

Ok. For the sake of future Tacoma owners who come here and search for the same thing. I came up with a way to get the cap off without breaking anything. There isn't enough room in there to get a pliers on each plastic tab to squeeze both sides at the same time. I discovered that if I used my large, bent needle-nose pliers


I could pry on the underside of each tab by using the bend for leverage, while pulling gently on the cap with my other hand


Then work the top of the tab after the bottom part pops through


There are 10 total tabs to undo. If you work from one end to the other, you should be able to pull it free with little effort and no breakage.