Tailgate Rehab

So here is the situation. My tailgate was stolen a few months back, I just recently FINALLY found a replacement. I bought only the shell in the same color as my truck, and now I am needing to finish the assembly of the rest of the parts, which I have not yet purchased.

This leads into my questions.. Any suggestions for my assembly that will be cost efficient? I have seen several rebuild kits containing the hardware: Rear tailgate handle hinge latch lock rod striker cable, etc., I am under the impression that I will also need the inner panel and top moulding. (Please also let me know if I am missing any important pieces)

I can get all of these pieces online for around 350$+ total, but I am wanting to be more resourceful after what I spent to get a tacoma shell. I have looked into junkyards in my area for a tacoma on the lot that I could take the hardware from--but no luck there. I have also scoured facebook marketplace and unsurprisingly it is slim pickings in the tailgate department. I am curious about interchangeable parts from other make/models? Since I have the actual Toyota shell, the brand of the hardware is not important as long as it does the job and I have been seeing hardware for other trucks at like half the price.

Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions, really open to anything at this point and have exhausted my own ideas. Might need to just buck up and buy standard tacoma parts online.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World. Search on https://www.car-part.com/ and you might be able to find an entire assembly local to you. Piecing together an entire tailgate from scratch sounds like no fun.

 

Many of us have upgraded the corrugated inside plastic panel from our tailgates to the flat options (Mountain Hatch, Snail Armor, amo town, et al).

post up in your regional forum asking if anyone is giving away their OEM one.

 

Why don't you go to a junk yard and buy a dented tailgate for practically nothing and swap the parts you need?

 

Have you looked at some of the online Toyota Junkyards. I had good luck one with the one i used years ago...I just emailed the Manufacture part numbers, year of the Tacoma, and photos of exactly what I needed and found them confirmed with photos and they were cheap, but you will probably take a hit with the high shipping costs these days.

I would also spend your evenings looking at the different new Toyota Parts dealers online...there are vast differences in their pricing.

There should also be a thread for your state and/or local city in Tacomaworld...post a wanted ads there.

Also, check Ebay...I just took a peek and tons of Tacoma tailgate parts.

There is always a better deal and pricing if you take the time to look.

Good Luck.

 

I should have also added, I have tried all of the junk yards in my area with no luck on even finding a tacoma in the yard. this was one of my first thoughts

 

Call some local body shops to see if they have a discard? wi_taco mentioned https://www.car-part.com/. I've used them and they're a great source.

 

If OP is in GA, he can have mine for free.