Skinning the inside of a pickup tailgate

[javelinadave]

Ok, I have spent an hour plus searching thru old threads looking for the post someone made of their tailgate interior skin. I’m curious what thickness of aluminum they used. Anybody care to help a brother out?

Thanks!
Dave

 

[DrRock]

Hey Dave, I made mine from 16 ga ( .0598", 1.518mm) 304 Stainless steel. If you go with Aluminum, I would go with 8ga Al .1285". Bear in mind you might get some interference in the bottom corners with a thicker material near the hinge as there is a sheet metal feature on the bed that is present. I've attached my 2D drawing for reference, drawing is not complete as I pull data for mfg from the 3D model. If you are interested in a stainless one, I can have my shop make one and drop ship it to you. You would just need M6 screws and 30 rivnuts to complete the install. Price is $160 plus shipping.

Cheers, James

 

[LDowney]

Ok, I have spent an hour plus searching thru old threads looking for the post someone made of their tailgate interior skin. I’m curious what thickness of aluminum they used. Anybody care to help a brother out?

Thanks!
Dave

Hey Dave, I made mine from 16 ga ( .0598", 1.518mm) 304 Stainless steel. If you go with Aluminum, I would go with 8ga Al .1285". Bear in mind you might get some interference in the bottom corners near the hinge as there is a sheet metal feature on the bed that is present. I've attached my 2D drawing for reference, drawing is not complete as I pull data for mfg from the 3D model. If you are interested in a stainless one, I can have my shop make one and drop ship it to you. You would just need M6 screws and 30 rivnuts to complete the install. Price is $160 plus shipping.

Cheers, James

View attachment 4070689

You probably have a great Cruiser and want to keep it in this condition.
Since it is an exterior use ( and getting wet even in the desert), an additional consideration for your review.
Keep in mind that use of aluminum could result in dissimilar metal corrosion (i.e., galvanic corrosion). If aluminum is used, it should be passivated and separated from contact with the steel (even the fasteners).

 

[javelinadave]

You probably have a great Cruiser and want to keep it in this condition.
Since it is an exterior use ( and getting wet even in the desert), an additional consideration for your review.
Keep in mind that use of aluminum could result in dissimilar metal corrosion (i.e., galvanic corrosion). If aluminum is used, it should be passivated and separated from contact with the steel (even the fasteners).

Agreed. Stainless is the new plan.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

You probably have a great Cruiser and want to keep it in this condition.
Since it is an exterior use ( and getting wet even in the desert), an additional consideration for your review.
Keep in mind that use of aluminum could result in dissimilar metal corrosion (i.e., galvanic corrosion). If aluminum is used, it should be passivated and separated from contact with the steel (even the fasteners).

Words I had to Google …..
1) Galvanic Corrosion
2) Passivated

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Words I had to Google …..
1) Galvanic Corrosion
2) Passivated

and are you now pacified?

 

[LDowney]

Words I had to Google …..
1) Galvanic Corrosion
2) Passivated

I never claim to be a good communicator. Luckily google is available to provide aid in correcting for my short comings.

 

[BigGretch94]

I would love to get a “bridge” like this for the gap between trunk and tailgate. Does anyone know where to get these??

 

[John Young]

I am a bit confused. We are talking about a pickup, correct?

Why not just buy a complete replacment tailgate (which is what I did on Speedy)? It was not expensive.

HZJ79L-TJMRSV	JTFLB71J518001372
Category	Part Name	OEM Part Number	Qty	NOTES	Description
Main Sheet Metal & Fittings	Gate Assy, Rear Body Tail	65700-90K03	1		The bare metal tailgate panel (arrives in black e-coat/primer).
Main Sheet Metal & Fittings	Hook, Rope	66311-90K00	3	From what I can see the tailgate comes with these already attached, but perhaps check?	The external metal tie-down hooks bolted directly to the outside of the tailgate.
Main Sheet Metal & Fittings	Mark, Tailgate (Decal)	75459-60031-A1	1		"TOYOTA" lettering decal (A1 = Light Grey/Silver, A2 = Dark Grey).
Latches & Strikers	Latch Assy, Tail Gate	66170-95402	2	Same comment as for the Hook, Rope above	The locking mechanism bolted to the left and right upper sides of the tailgate.
Latches & Strikers	Bolt, Tail Gate Male	66121-95012	2		This is the pin that serves as the hinge
Latches & Strikers	Screw, Pan Head (For Latch)	90150-50005	4	Same comment as for the Hook, Rope above	Heavy-duty screws used to mount the latch assemblies to the tailgate shell.
Hinges & Mounting Hardware	Bolt, Flange (For Hinges)	91551-80516	4		Standard M8 flange bolts to secure the hinges to the bed frame and the gate.
Support Chains & Buffers	Chain Assy, Tail Gate	66280-95403	2	Toyota occasionally supersedes with 66280-37010; but I think I already bought a set	The complete metal stay chain assembly with protective sheathing.
Support Chains & Buffers	Cushion, Tail Gate Side	66324-60010	2		The rubber bump-stops/buffers that mount between the tailgate and the bedside.
	Screw	90150-50005	2		Screw to hold the cushions on
Support Chains & Buffers	Bolt, w/ Washer (For Chains)	90119-08A78	2		The specific bolts used to anchor the base of the chain assemblies.

 

[DrRock]

The factory tailgate has no cover on the inside allowing any load in the bed to bang into the gate under acceleration. Skinning it also provides a nice place to sit and a nice flat surface to prep food etc

 

[Gun Runner 5]

The factory tailgate has no cover on the inside allowing any load in the bed to bang into the gate under acceleration. Skinning it also provides a nice place to sit and a nice flat surface to prep food etc

View attachment 4197325

You can also sit on the factory (unmodified) tailgate and after your legs go numb, it’s quite comfortable.

 

[wardharris]

The inside of mine is getting a sheet of HDPE

 

[John Young]

The factory tailgate has no cover on the inside allowing any load in the bed to bang into the gate under acceleration. Skinning it also provides a nice place to sit and a nice flat surface to prep food etc

View attachment 4197325

That is very, very fancy!

But how do you stop water from ingressing in the various fancy boxes that you access from above?

 

[DrRock]

That is very, very fancy!

But how do you stop water from ingressing in the various fancy boxes that you access from above?

The top access boxes in the drawer system are not weathertight by design to store things that can take a little moisture. The two main pullout drawers are weathertight. They are also synthetic carpet lined to stop things from moving around so much. We keep the tents, camp gear, food etc in there. This really helps with the storage topic on these trucks, plus the top is rated for 2000lbs load. They are lockable too.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

My 75 came with a bed liner which has a plastic skin over the tailgate, FWIW. It's made in New Zealand but obviously for the Middle East market. It does a pretty good job protecting the bed but boy is it slick. Any cargo left untied will quickly slide in any and all directions. The truck came from Riyadh so I assume it's something that can be had. I never saw another one while living there but it also wasn't something I was actively looking for.