Tailgate Storage Mod

Bestop makes it. It looks fairly simple. Someone with some decent sheet metal skills could probably make one.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/14114_0001_07.htm

 

Speaking of security. Nothing stealthy about this solution.

 

New type of deck plate mod? These rectangle marine deck plates wouldn't be too hard to do either for smaller cut outs. Waterproof as well

 

from West Marine, local to me - Inspection plates

 

There's a West Marine about 5 miles from my work. I may have to stop in there on my way home. They'll have latches too.

 

Nice find. Ran across a few marine outfitters looking at latches. The Wagongear unit is basically the same concept as these inspection hatches, just bigger.

 

A sacrifice to the mod god. Approximate outside dimensions of the box: 52.5" x 15.75"




Approximate max depth




Access panel removed. These supports are attached with some sort of soft, silicone-like substance. It's a bit springy.




Close-up




The spot welds. The internal support spans about 9", which is less than an inch passed the welds in this photo..




A look inside toward the bottom left.



One of three spot welds.
More of the silicone-like substance.

 

You're gonna love that store. At least I do, lol. I love using marine application stuff on automobiles. Most marine grade stuff is heavy duty and waterproof. Love it.

 

Been doing more research trying to find out what issues people have with this mod. The typical complaint is things in the tailgate aren't protected from moisture because the typical mod is just putting a lid on a container that's not weather proof. I believe the access panel is the usual suspect for water getting in since it's just screwed down, metal to metal, without any kind of seal around it.

Another complaint is any hard objects, like tools, make a bit of racket if not wrapped in something soft to deaden the noise.

I ran a cross this interesting item on a marine web site. My thought is you could fashion a bag that serves as a liner for the inside of the tailgate. The material could be something fairly durable like 1000 denier all-weather Cordura.

Using a bag instead of a rigid container that fits inside the tailgate has a few advantages:

• takes up less space than a rigid container
• flexible
• provides some level of sound deadening
• inexpensive to make

The flexibility would allow you to have a weatherproof container in the tailgate and not interfere with the handle operation. You could also sew in pockets or other types of cargo management features.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

Now you're thinking outside the box! ...pun intended...

All kidding aside, I like the idea but how it is implemented will make a big difference.

 

Still working that out. I think it would look like the Wagongear lid but with shallow "sock" attached to it. Something like that.

 

This is pretty much how it would be constructed.

 

Another LC product.

 

Found a unit that was described as gun storage. It actually just attaches to the tailgate without cutting anything. It's pretty tall, but something similar could easily be used to add some volume to the storage space. Even an inch would make a big difference.



Combine that with something like this maybe?


I think the Wagongear unit is pretty nice. But to hear the people talk about it on other forums, you'd think the guy was an engineering genius. Essentially what he did was model his product after an existing marine product. Can't hate him for it.

 

I have been brain storming this off and on for the past 2 years when I saw storage in a land cruiser tail gate. I am exited to have run across this thread. I have some ideas, I just need to find a cheap tailgate and cut into it before I have the confidence to apply it to my factory tailgate.

 

http://www.carparts.com/details/Toy...XrfZfOISmDGXwnO3DxVjQBoCpvjw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Unless you can find a cheap used one

 

I think finding the "cheap" tailgate is the hard part. That's why I've been waiting to cut into it. I think I've determined where to cut for the largest opening. They tailgate design doesn't leave many options.

 

This is probably the cheapest way to go. That's probably the route I'll go if I need to do it again, which is highly likely. Technically, you don't need the handle and everything to make the lid. You just need to be mindful of the space they occupy and design accordingly.

 

Are you concerned at all about structural rigidity, i.e. flexing or failure while loading (an atv or dirtbike, or even just standing on it)?

I was always a little hesitant while loading my atv in my 1988 and 1992 pickup and my 1996 Tacoma. I'd be real skeptical if I had cut any of those tailgates structure away from it - just my opinion.

Also, I think CertIFit carries cheap tailgates.

Finally, what about one of those marine lids into the floor of your bed? There are many decent size voids between the frame rails and gas tank.

 

If anyone modding their tailgate ends up with an tailgate access panel laying around, I could use it ;-)