60 Tailgate Protector, Neat piece of Cruiser History

[arcteryx]

I picked up an 81 FJ60 at the first of the year. Looking over it, it had more rust than I am used to but also had some positives. One of these was an OEM Pipe, Tail Gate Protector. I had never seen or heard of this before so I searched and only found one thread from 10 years ago, Anyone have these OEM bars bolted to the inside tailgate ?? but it did not have any pics. I checked with @orangefj45 and @beno to see if they had seen or heard of these before either, but both had not.

It appears they were made for 1-2 years and were optional. Their purpose was to prevent cargo from breaking the rear window. Toyota discontinued them shortly thereafter, assumingly because Americans like to sit on their tailgates and were hurting themselves getting in and out of the cargo area. It's one of those neat pieces of Land Cruiser history that combine rarity and quirkiness without much practicality.

Without further ado, here are some pics and part #'s. And no it's not for sale.

PIPE, TAIL GATE PROTECTOR 65761-90A00

BRACKET, TAIL GATE PROTECTOR PIPE 65766-90A00

 

[orangefj45]

Cruiser nerd trivia at its finest!!!!!

Georg @ Valley Hybrids

 

[Godwin]

I have one that I pulled from an '81 FJ60 parts rig and have tried to sell it a few times but no one has been interested in it. I think I have all the screws and end caps also. To install one of these bars in a later tailgate nutserts would need to be plugged into the gate.

Another pic.

 

[EasternYeti]

I have one that I pulled from an '81 FJ60 parts rig and have tried to sell it a few times but no one has been interested in it. I think I have all the screws and end caps also. To install one of these bars in a later tailgate nutserts would need to be plugged into the gate.

Another pic.

View attachment 1208341

Hahahahahah this would have been very handy when I had 5 33's rolling around the back seat for a week.

 

[Spock Dingledong]

I have one that I pulled from an '81 FJ60 parts rig and have tried to sell it a few times but no one has been interested in it. I think I have all the screws and end caps also. To install one of these bars in a later tailgate nutserts would need to be plugged into the gate.

Another pic.

View attachment 1208341

I'd buy it! I've always got something Bonking around back there.

 

[Output Shaft]

The same guy that came up with the idea for that thing also came up with the headlight washer idea..

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

I almost made a few of those and somehow got sidetracked on other projects..

J

 

[WHG423]

That's pretty neat, but I like most Americans utilize my tailgate for sitting quite often. Doesn't seem very practical for that.

 

[Skniper]

"Neat to have" item, not surprised it didn't take...looks to be more of a pain in the ass than anything.

Although, looks like a great tow strap point for a snowboard.

 

[jzilla]

My first Cruiser came with one of these. Was handy for holding onto while snowboarding behind the Landcruiser on logging roads! I am trying to sell it if anyone is interested

 

[devo]

Awesome thread!
I've had one of those in my garage for about 20 years and I have never seen anyone else that had one!

I always thought it to perfect when having a wall to wall load and agree it would get in the way when using the tailgate as work area. I never installed it. I never tried to sell it either.

I just looked at the other day and wondered what I should do with it?



devo

 

[Godwin]

I still have one also. Worthy as a museum piece if nothing else?

 

[gilamonster]

pretty cool item. I like the idea of it, but use the gate to much when camping to have it in there.

 

[4Cruisers]

My first Cruiser came with one of these. Was handy for holding onto while snowboarding behind the Landcruiser on logging roads! I am trying to sell it if anyone is interested

Back in high school (way before snowboards were even thought of) we'd drive up to the local reservoir during lunch every once in a while. One of my friends, Wayne, was hanging on the rear bumper and sliding behind over the packed snow/ice (on the soles of his shoes), with one of my other friends driving the car. Problem was we forgot to tell him before hitting the part of the gravel road where the snow/ice had already melted. Hey, a little road rash never hurt anyone, right?

Back in January 1971 we had a really long cold spell, down to 28 below zero in town one morning. We decided to see if the ice was thick enough on the reservoir to drive a car out on it - sure enough, and we all survived.

 

[Dynosoar]

That bar is perfect if you have the 10 passenger seating arrangement. three in front (Split bench), three in the middle, four in the back (two per jump seat, like in a 40 series) It gives the jump seat passenger something to hold on to.

Dyno

 

[Spike Strip]

I have one in the shed, too... Still in the package it came in

I'll prolly attach it one day, but that tailgate does make a nice bench/work surface/ cook surface, etc ...

 

[jzilla]

Come to think of it I am not sure it was snowboards, I now remember standing on shovels

 

[landcruiserjunky]

Those are pretty sweet.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Cool option if it could be made to fold down.

 

[Landpimp]

I think it was more Jdm spec that showed up on really early 60's that came into canada, not sure about USA, but I have pics from 81 with them on it.

I'd rather have the side window bars