How much do you like/enjoy/use the tailgate? (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

I know I'm the outlier on this opinion, however I think the split gate is a horrible feature. Would much rather have a swing door (preferable) or a one-piece lift gate. The split gate makes reaching in for gear more difficult as well as reducing the covered area when the gate is up. In rainy areas, the short upper barely covers the lower and leaves the user out in the wet. And for those of us with hounds, roll-down rear glass (a la 4R) would be awesome. This is something you can't do with a two-piece gate. The 100 had the wing vents which gave the dog some fresh air. If I need a place to sit I can pull out a chair. If I need a table, a drop down from a swing door or bumper arm would work great.
 
Anyone find a way to disable the "Beep warning" when the lift gate is open. When I am cruising at the beach sometimes I like to have my sun roof open all of the windows down. The one time I drove with my lift gate up the Beeping drove my crazy! Not sure I can pull a fuse or what?
 
I know I'm the outlier on this opinion, however I think the split gate is a horrible feature. Would much rather have a swing door (preferable) or a one-piece lift gate. The split gate makes reaching in for gear more difficult as well as reducing the covered area when the gate is up. In rainy areas, the short upper barely covers the lower and leaves the user out in the wet. And for those of us with hounds, roll-down rear glass (a la 4R) would be awesome. This is something you can't do with a two-piece gate. The 100 had the wing vents which gave the dog some fresh air. If I need a place to sit I can pull out a chair. If I need a table, a drop down from a swing door or bumper arm would work great.
I hear you 100%. As much as I have "almost" been convinced that a tailgate kills - I just viewed GX 460 overland build and a quick one-hand unlatching of the tire carrier and open the barn door with the same hand and pretty much one action (the carrier is attached to the barn door). An LX with a tire carrier would be at least 3 things to open and if you have a split tire/gas carrier 4 actions to open the back completely. And yes as you said you need to pull out a more comfortable chair - instead of sitting on the tailgate with your legs dangling.
 
And the swing doors don't conflict with the 270 awnings like the hatch does.
 
And the swing doors don't conflict with the 270 awnings like the hatch does.

Not everyone will have a 270 awning, but everyone will have to walk around a swing-style rear door on a daily basis.

I really like the tailgate, but I've also had SUVs without them and appreciated the extra rain cover of the larger rear hatch. Never liked the swing-out doors.
 
And the swing doors don't conflict with the 270 awnings like the hatch does.
If the 105 series lift is close to an LX - I saw a video of a 105 with a Quickpich 270 Awning & it looked like it had 2" clearance.
Not everyone will have a 270 awning, but everyone will have to walk around a swing-style rear door on a daily basis.

I really like the tailgate, but I've also had SUVs without them and appreciated the extra rain cover of the larger rear hatch. Never liked the swing-out doors.
Well, I've got double Barn doors on the Transit - like those a bunch for the 14 months I've slept in it as an RV. My urban DD is a Hatchback - works for me. I guess you get used to what you got. Mostly...
 
Take a second to contemplate the numbers. The US Mexican border is the "most crossed border in the world" with 1M legal X / day. Not sure if there are that many $10k Kia cars available cuz you don't want them drivin $25K LCs! I just hope they all make it back alive.
Yeah, Land Cruisers dont stand out at all. As for cost of vehicle, i just got back from a month driving around Mexico (to the end of Baja, across via the ferry then to Puerto Vallarta and points south). As usual, Ford F150s, Raptors, and Suburbans are everywhere. Just because something costs money doesn’t mean you’ll get noticed. A Lexus will, as will a G Wagen or a Range Rover. Unfortunately you are just asking for trouble anywhere in Mexico or Central America driving one of those.
 
Yeah, Land Cruisers dont stand out at all. As for cost of vehicle, i just got back from a month driving around Mexico (to the end of Baja, across via the ferry then to Puerto Vallarta and points south). As usual, Ford F150s, Raptors, and Suburbans are everywhere. Just because something costs money doesn’t mean you’ll get noticed. A Lexus will, as will a G Wagen or a Range Rover. Unfortunately you are just asking for trouble anywhere in Mexico or Central America driving one of those.
Got it.
So what do you drive down there?
 
It’s not just the tailgate that’s awesome (it is), but it’s also that you get major upper hatch benefits that go along with it—

Tailgate—
Best thing about tailgate is that no matter how packed the rear may be, you always have an instant, flat, dry, lighted (with added lights), weather resistant (hatch above helps with rain) platform/work surface rrady for any of a million uses.

Hatch—
The hatch forms a “mini awning” when raised....giving you instant mini shelter from rain while you access cargo or prepare a meal, etc. Not only helps keep YOU dry while standing there, but keeps cargo dry—whereas barn door style allows rain to slant right onto contents without hatch “roof”. I often have bedding, pillows, or equipment back there where water would be a real bummer if it got in, and would make accessing rear items no fun at all in weather.

Shade—
If you just want to briefly sit or stand in shade to eat, etc... you just point your truck toward the sun...letting the hatch create a very usable shady spot behind the truck for a chair or two with an “instant table” tailgate. Again—a mini awning benefit with zero fuss.

There are a zillion more examples I could give, but my eyes are really bad at the moment, and 40 minutes to write/correct this post driving me nuts—so I will leave it at that...
Tailgate=huge win.
 
Last edited:
Got it.
So what do you drive down there?
Used to drive my 100. Now i drive my 200. Lately though, in interior Mexico, i wish it was armored. Tourist areas or beaches totally safe but anything in the mountains is becoming super sketch. Bad guys aren’t even subtle anymore.
 
It’s not just the tailgate that’s awesome (it is), but it’s also that you get major hatch benefits that go along with it—

Best thing about tailgate is that no matter how massively packed the rear may be, you always have an instant, flat, dry, lighted (with added lights), weather resistant (hatch above helps with rain) platform/work surface rrady for any of a million uses.

Hatch—
The hatch forms a “mini awning” when raised....giving you instant mini shelter from rain while you access cargo or prepare a meal, etc. Not only helps keep YOU dry while standing there, but keeps cargo dry—whereas barn door style allows rain to slant right onto contents without hatch “roof”. I often have bedding, pillows, or equipment back there where water would be a real bummer if it got in, and would make accessing rear items no fun at all in weather.

Shade—
If you just want to briefly sit or stand in shade to eat, etc... you just point your truck toward the sun...letting the hatch create a very usable shady spot behind the truck for a chair or two with an “instant table” tailgate. Again—a mini awning benefit with zero fuss.

There are a zillion more examples I could give, but my eyes are really bad at the moment, and 40 minutes to write/correct this post driving me nuts—so I will leave it at that...
Tailgate=huge win.
Thanks, Mark for your more than thorough explanations. Had a look at your Instagram page - on top of possessing some great photographic skills - Your build is so so damn clean! Kudos. The 3 stage cutting board shelves - brilliant. And the places the LC can go.
 
Last edited:
Used to drive my 100. Now i drive my 200. Lately though, in interior Mexico, i wish it was armored. Tourist areas or beaches totally safe but anything in the mountains is becoming super sketch. Bad guys aren’t even subtle anymore.
Oh - so the Toyota doesn't attract the same level of attention that the LX would. Thing is we don't have LC here. I may have to import a 15-year-old one and call that good. That's why I was leaning toward the LX was easier to purchase a newer one. THX again.
 
Oh - so the Toyota doesn't attract the same level of attention that the LX would. Thing is we don't have LC here. I may have to import a 15-year-old one and call that good. That's why I was leaning toward the LX was easier to purchase a newer one. THX again.
Yoy could also find a mid-90s Land Cruiser 70 series. I see them all the time in BC. Great rig, lots of payload, relatively inexpensive, highly reliable. They sold SUV, troopy, and pickup versions in Canada in the 80s and 90s.
 
Yoy could also find a mid-90s Land Cruiser 70 series. I see them all the time in BC. Great rig, lots of payload, relatively inexpensive, highly reliable. They sold SUV, troopy, and pickup versions in Canada in the 80s and 90s.
Currently, I'm home but will be flying back to the van in Phoenix in a couple of weeks. I'll look for a 100 when I'm there. ( less rust and all) I think they stopped sell LC in 1991/92 ish if you saw newer ones there they would have been imported from the states or Europe.
 
For years I drove a 4Runner LTD and loved it except for not having a tailgate. My first rig was a 1975 IH Scout II. I loved sitting on the tailgate, having lunch or a few beers with a friend. Yes, I really like my 200 series tailgate, same goes with my 60.
 
Absolutely love the tailgate, Multiple uses, daily. I think it’s one of the best features. That’s one of the only things I hated about my 4runners, it didn’t have the split gate.
 
Can’t do this with a GX or 4Runner. Lunch time out of the rain.

D77894F9-FC62-4C49-9EDB-D7574DB26977.jpeg
 
I love the tailgate, but I don't get this argument. I did this with my 4Runner and the coverage area is even bigger.
 
I love the tailgate, but I don't get this argument. I did this with my 4Runner and the coverage area is even bigger.
I don't believe there is any argument - just passionate folks answering a simple question.
 
I love the tailgate, but I don't get this argument. I did this with my 4Runner and the coverage area is even bigger.

No argument.
Just folks noting the benefits of a tailgate and functionality that would be lost without one.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom