Tailgate Insert Ideas

Has anyone made their own insert for the inside of the tailgate? I’m kneeling in and out of the bed a lot as I have a cap and the factory tailgate insert kills my knees. The Billie Bars insert is ridiculously priced, has anyone made their own or found a cheaper alternative?

 

I’ve got a mountain hatch. If your looking for a cheap solution, just use some plywood. Original hatch can be used as a template. It’s not a structural feature.

 

Search through the threads for HDPE plastic. There have been some that have made them from the plastic and used a router to shape it. If you get it thick enough, you can even put your own cup holders in. I think was a few of these in the "What Have You Done to You 3rd Gen Today" thread.

 

Another alternative is heavy equipment mud flap material, its dense but soft to kneel on.

 

https://snailarmor.com/products/snailarmor-tacoma-tailgate-flat-panel

It's $200 but there's a nice discount code floating around Youtube. There's a channel out there that reviewed it and the code is mentioned in the video. I love mine.

 

Pak Rax panel $159 + $30 shipping

https://pakrax.com/collections/toyota-tacoma/products/pakrax-05-current-tacoma-tailgate-panel

 

If you want an ultra cheap way to save you knees, a 5 dollar Harbor Freight anti-fatigue mat, cut to size and attached with velcro works great.

 

I used a jigsaw, drill, $60 of HDPE, and an afternoon to make a flat replacement. Note that plastic like this will warp with heat. If you need a very flat surface in the sun then you probably have to go with aluminum.

 

I went with Trailgate. Small family owned business in Texas. Good product and is metal and not composite.

 

How stiff is this mat? If you extended the mat down a bit and simply let it slide as you closed the gate could you have a gap filler as well as a knee saver?

 

Good idea! It's very flexible and lightweight so should would work as a gap filler to keep dust and small debris out.

 

this isn’t a bad idea at all!

 

I got a Hooke Road tailgate cover on Amazon. It was only $149.00. Really good quality, fit perfectly.

 

I really like that. Wish we had Harbor Freight in Canada. I try to go to one if I'm in the US and have rental car.

 

I've got one from Gar-Fab. Made in Canada. Works great.

https://gar-fab.ca/products/tailgate-panel-tacoma

 

Hooke road for the win

 

I have this one and like it, however its not inexpensive. Also the bends in the top reinforce the strength of the tailgate which is an added bonus.

https://www.relentlessfabrication.c...61208004&pr_ref_pid=1752923716&pr_seq=uniform

 

I keep one of those foam kneeling pads used for gardening in my truck. I'm old.

 

I used an old floor mat for awhile but I invested in a permanent solution which works for me and is worth it for $40k + truck.