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

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You could fit a 4*8 sheet sitting flat with both rear doors closed?

No. Rests on back of 2nd row and tailgate lid. Upper section (liftgate) has to stay open. That's why I mentioned the door open beep warning.

Still something pretty tough to do with a barndoor model.
 
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Tailgate is 100% favorite part of having a cruiser. It’s essential to our camp setup. We use it literally every day. I can’t imagine not having it.

My good friend has a GX and as others have pointed out it makes it a lot easier to reach in but here in the PNW he’s often standing in the rain....
100% is a pretty good endorsement. THX
 
No. Rests on back of 2nd row and tailgate lid. Upper section (liftgate) has to stay open. That's why I mentioned the door open beep warning.

Still something pretty tough to do with a barndoor model.
Got it THX
 
I found a 2011 LX 570 Ultra-premium 800 miles away with 104K miles on the clock, some light surface rust on bits of the undercarriage. Let the search begin...
 
The tailgate is also good for holding ramps so heavier objects can be wheeled or slid up into place. My generator came out of storage last year and needed transport.... 270lbs rolled right up and in, a one man operation.
 
Also for serious trips you can modify the tailgate with a door to put quite a bit of stuff inside. Technically you can do this with a swing-out door too but there are already products on the market for this in the 200 platform.
 
I never even considered a GX for thr simple reason of that rear door. Can’t understand why they still sell It with that.
I know that now - thanks to all the great responses. Somethings you just don't know. I have a built-out Transit van with the typical double barn doors - I have no problem with those "at all", and I've slept in it for over 14 months. If I could more easily get a Troopy I would get one. I gave up on getting one over here for a bag full of reasons - so as of now I'm getting a 200. When I travel to Australia or Africa - Troopy all the way.
 
I know that now - thanks to all the great responses. Somethings you just don't know. I have a built-out Transit van with the typical double barn doors - I have no problem with those "at all", and I've slept in it for over 14 months. If I could more easily get a Troopy I would get one. I gave up on getting one over here for a bag full of reasons - so as of now I'm getting a 200. When I travel to Australia or Africa - Troopy all the way.

Have you asked the same question in the 150 series Forum? I'd be curious what the responses are. We are a little biased around here.
 
I want to build an overlander to go to the bottom of South America. I am almost sold on the LX 570 but also have my eye on a GX 460. I have a lot of uncertainties with both but in this thread, I would like to know if you like the tailgate a bunch or if the swing out back door on the GX would be fine for day to day travel.

had a well built FJ prior to the LX. Hated the swing out door, absolutely love the tail gate. Use it every day for everything from food prep table, to just a nice place to sit. It’s a very nice overlanding feature. Being able to have a flat work space or lay out a snack spread on stop. The tail gate is by far my favorite rear door configuration.
 
Have you asked the same question in the 150 series Forum? I'd be curious what the responses are. We are a little biased around here.
I thought of doing both - being new here I wasn't sure if that was kosher. I also figured there was a better chance that folks in 200 upgraded/optimized from something else - therefore having more real-life experience with other platforms to compare to. ( that's me assuming the 200 is the pinnacle)
 
had a well built FJ prior to the LX. Hated the swing out door, absolutely love the tail gate. Use it every day for everything from food prep table, to just a nice place to sit. It’s a very nice overlanding feature. Being able to have a flat work space or lay out a snack spread on stop. The tail gate is by far my favorite rear door configuration.
I test drove a few FJs - loved the rig and I know it is a champ on the trails - but having spent so much time in Transit kind of jaded me for space. My travel plans for the 200 will be a bit different than the van and I know I can make it work.
 
Don’t have a 200 series yet. Former 100 series owner and current Gx470 owner. Loved the 100 tail gate for all the reasons listed. Hate the 470 for the reasons listed. I like to pull through to face out of parking places. The swing out door makes it difficult if a car is behind you. non flat bike racks are a pain to use. The bumper stays dirty and I end up brushing against it loading and unloading. These aren’t first world issues but I much prefer the split tail gate.
 
Have you asked the same question in the 150 series Forum? I'd be curious what the responses are. We are a little biased around here.
I thought of doing both - being new here I wasn't sure if that was kosher. I also figured there was a better chance that folks in 200 upgraded/optimized from something else - therefore having more real-life experience with other platforms to compare to. ( that's me assuming the 200 is the pinnacle)

I've owned three LC/LX's now (split gate tailgate), two GX's (barn door), two FJC's (barn door), and four 4Runners (traditional hatch). I outlined the pros and cons in my last post with my personal preference heavily favoring the split gate/tailgate of the LC/LX. IMHO the biggest draw back to the GX overall is the barn door. Like other's have noted, it is cumbersome and always in the way when you need to open it in a parking garage or parking lot. That said, there are ten times as many GX's and FJC's on the road so there are many people out there that have found a way to live it with or are simply indifferent. My other half is one of these people, she very rarely has a reason to open the cargo area of our vehicles, in her words, "it doesn't factor because I rarely ever open it."

I imagine most would favor the split gate/tail gate design as it is more user friendly but then again we are heavily biased in this forum lol.

@Terry B I cross posted this same thread in the 150-series subform for you so that you can get some feedback over there as well. I am interested to hear what the other camp has to say too.
 
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We like the tailgate in our 2016 a lot. I think it's my wife's favorite thing. She likes to sit on it and swing her legs while being protected from the weather by the open top. :)
 
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Its a signature feature, like the odd third row. I wouldn't have it any other way. I hated the way it dropped on my 15. Not what you'd expect from an $85K SUV. So i added the lexus damper and got even happier with it.

I have found it useful for the reasons already stated. I like the way it protects the rear bumper when loading and unloading. With a bungee cord or cargo net in place, I find I can open the tailgate, load stuff like propane tanks, and when I close the tailgate it pins stuff between the net and the tailgate. Keeps things from shifting. Also makes a good table for tailgating with a small group.

Worth mentioning: A friend just bought a $100K + BMW X7. It has a split tailgate like the LC. If it was a bad idea, they wouldn't have copied it.
 
I love the tailgate. It was one of the features (besides “looking badass”) that sold my wife on the truck.
Now as for using a LX to go to Tierra del Fuego - I would consider something else.
99.9% of that drive will be on improved surfaces. You’ll need to ship from Panama to SA. And you’ll need to drive or ship it home.
weset off to do this journey in a 4Runner which was a much better choice.
You want decent fuel mileage and you want to blend in. You also need to fit in a shipping container.
 
I use my tailgate constantly and it’s honestly one of my favorite LC features. I use it when I go hiking to sit and put on my boots, same for snowboarding. I use it when I’m hanging out on the beach, drinking a cold beer and watching the waves roll in. I use it when I’m camping for too many things to list, I use it as a workbench when I’m wrenching on something, the list goes on. After owning 2 LC’s, I can’t imagine not having one. The only reason I sold my last car? No tailgate.
 
I love the tailgate. It was one of the features (besides “looking badass”) that sold my wife on the truck.
Now as for using a LX to go to Tierra del Fuego - I would consider something else.
99.9% of that drive will be on improved surfaces. You’ll need to ship from Panama to SA. And you’ll need to drive or ship it home.
weset off to do this journey in a 4Runner which was a much better choice.
You want decent fuel mileage and you want to blend in. You also need to fit in a shipping container.
The trip should take a couple years (maybe more) in 3-month stints (fly back home or to the van ) - I'll probably drive the 200 back home. I get the roads are improved but I plan on going off the beaten path - otherwise, I would take my already well built 2017 Transit van. I don't want a RTT - I do want a comfortable enough platform to sleep inside (solo). I will spend more time in rented rooms cuz it's cheaper to do down there (50%) than I do in my van (90% boondocking for a total of 14 months so far). I don't want a bunch of stuff stapped on the outside - hence a bigger inside is more desirable. I looked at 4 runners, fj, gx and since I just did the van I have a good idea of what will fit and work for that kind of trip. I have thought of putting a Quad van 4*4 on the van but in the end, I think I would prefer travelling to SA in a bit more nimble rig.
 
99.9% of that drive will be on improved surfaces. You’ll need to ship from Panama to SA. And you’ll need to drive or ship it home.
The Darien Gap is the REAL DEAL... STAY ALIVE!!! STAY OUT!!!
 

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