Air Down Gear Up 100 Series tail gate cover?

[Air Down Gear Up]

Hello!

We have a 'personal' need on our fleet 100 for a new tailgate cover, so we're trying to gauge interest in productizing a solution.

For a brief high level design overview: Our plan would be to utilize 1/4 Richlite (used extensively in our drawer/kitchen systems) with threaded fasteners into existing OEM holes. We would use an expanding style insert and machine screws. This would make the cover heat resistant (350 degrees F), double as a cutting board, easily installed and removable for cleaning, etc. We would/could integrate some simple features such as cup-holders, juice grooves, or anything that people might find useful. No plans for any under-cover storage, this would be a simple cover.

I've included a few pictures of our cutting board and slide out table, the cover have similiar aesthetics. We would expect this sell at $500 or less.

 

[Deflagrate]

To me, replacing the tail gate cover, but not having storage feels like a waste.

 

[offoradjunkie]

I am interested. Tired of seeing my stained and dirty carpet tailgate cover

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

To me, replacing the tail gate cover, but not having storage feels like a waste.

Noted! We were leaning towards something that is no modification to the vehicle and quick/simple, but we are definitely seeking feedback at this stage.

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

I am interested. Tired of seeing my stained and dirty carpet tailgate cover

Same here! haha. Can't stand looking at it anymore.

 

[offoradjunkie]

Can you tell me how it would be different from something like the Mountain Hatch tailgate cover?

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

Can you tell me how it would be different from something like the Mountain Hatch tailgate cover?

A few thoughts come to mind:

• Material: We will be using Richlite, which is an incredibly durable cut and heat resistant material. This is the same material used in 'epicurean' cutting boards. You can also place hot items on this material.
• Thickness: This cover would be 1/4" thick, so about the same as OEM
• Removable: We'll use threaded fasteners, so this can come on/off if desired

 

[offoradjunkie]

Do you happen to know pricing yet? I believe you can get a mountain hatch for $199.

 

[Air Down Gear Up]

Do you happen to know pricing yet? I believe you can get a mountain hatch for $199.

We are estimating this will be right about $500.

 

[VR6GURU]

Well mine was literally falling apart so I just ordered one from Mountain Hatch. If your would have been offered I would have considered it. I cant imagine I'm the only one that had a hatch cover that was falling apart.

 

[offoradjunkie]

pretty steep for my needs

 

[TLCOVERLAND]

We are estimating this will be right about $500.

At $500 you are out pricing yourself

 

[hoser]

How does it differ from the Trekkbox tailgate richlite cover?

Tailgate cover group buy — TrekboxX Expedition Systems

www.trekboxx.com

 

[mrkdwrds]

My long-term plans include one of your drawer systems; gotta do the baseline maintenance first though which has been a lot bigger undertaking than I envisioned.

I remember seeing around here a while ago that you might do a tailgate cover and my inner OCD loves the idea of a hatch that matches the drawers so I’ve held off on buying a different tailgate cover for now. I’m also partial to a no-storage system. However, $500 would be expensive enough that I’d look elsewhere and just deal with a slight future mismatch. The price would need to be fairly competitive with other market options IMO.

I do think this could be a good ADGU “anchor” product: once someone installs a hatch, sees the quality of the material/hardware, and they want drawers down the road it makes sense to have things match…

Edit - looks like Trekboxx is $285 and has some pretty exposed / sharp hardware. If you could do something a little nicer (countersunk or rounded metric hex heads maybe) I’d probably pay a bit more, but not almost double.

Edit 2: I’ve been corrected that the hardware is indeed flush on the TrekBoxx unless a padded cover is installed.

 

[suprarx7nut]

At $500 you are out pricing yourself

Our goal is to offer the best product. It may come in a touch below that, but we know the "all-in" costs for something like this are right around that figure.

How does it differ from the Trekkbox tailgate richlite cover?

Tailgate cover group buy — TrekboxX Expedition Systems

www.trekboxx.com

My long-term plans include one of your drawer systems; gotta do the baseline maintenance first though which has been a lot bigger undertaking than I envisioned.

I remember seeing around here a while ago that you might do a tailgate cover and my inner OCD loves the idea of a hatch that matches the drawers so I’ve held off on buying a different tailgate cover for now. I’m also partial to a no-storage system. However, $500 would be expensive enough that I’d look elsewhere and just deal with a slight future mismatch. The price would need to be fairly competitive with other market options IMO.

I do think this could be a good ADGU “anchor” product: once someone installs a hatch, sees the quality of the material/hardware, and they want drawers down the road it makes sense to have things match…

Edit - looks like Trekboxx is $285 and has some pretty exposed / sharp hardware. If you could do something a little nicer (countersunk or rounded metric hex heads maybe) I’d probably pay a bit more, but not almost double.

They make a nice option, certainly. It's not quite what I want, though.

We'll design up something and see what you folks think. I suspect you'll like it quite a bit.

 

[Trapper50cal]

$150 to $200 seems like the appropriate range for something that doesn't provide storage beneath it in the equation - is what my opinion leads me to relay.
$500 is pretty steep for what amounts to a custom cut/sized cutting board.

But I understand you're in the preliminary stages of R&D. And I understand the "niche market" requirements of a limited demand ROI reality.

Edit: I will say though that there are probably a lot of Land Cruiser owners that might not even blink at that price point out there.

 

[VR6GURU]

Well my mountain hatch cover came in. It was something like $250 with tax and shipping.

 

[RKRUGER]

Interesting. Did you customize your Moutain Hatch or are they now coming standard w the cell phone slot? Mine has two cup holders

 

[Land Shark]

My humble opinion is that it needs to be in the same/close price point as others.