Tailgate Options for 1980 fj40

[FJ62sasquatch]

WHat are my options for donor fj40 rear doors? I know I can get the stationary plate thing, but what year half barn doors or full ambulance doors will work? Will they all work? I like the idea of full ambulance doors with a hard top... But I think I'll be loosing my front doors... Or getting tube doors... Basically Which year rear door options can I use? And FYI this section in the FAQ is empty.

 

[Fast Eddy]

The [strike]top[/strike] bottom corners are a little different in '78 and earlier. Those pieces have to match the doors.

Barn doors are the height of the tailgate blank, but they have two hinges that don't line up with the holes in the tub. Someone sells a bolt-in tailgate that looks like barn doors. Maybe Pilgrim?

I'm punting the hard top and going to a tailgate for cooking while camping. I think... I have two sets of barn doors to use as donor material for the future tailgate project.

 

[Splangy]

The top corners are a little different in '78 and earlier. Those pieces have to match the doors.

Barn doors are the height of the tailgate blank, but they have two hinges that don't line up with the holes in the tub. Someone sells a bolt-in tailgate that looks like barn doors. Maybe Pilgrim?

I'm punting the hard top and going to a tailgate for cooking while camping. I think... I have two sets of barn doors to use as donor material for the future tailgate project.

The lower outside corners are different on the '78 and earlier amby doors. They're rounded on the 1979 and newer doors (and tubs).

I made a factory looking bolt on tailgate out of two barn doors. I welded the two doors together, filled in the old hinge holes, and then welded on a pair of amby door hinges to fit my late-model tub. You can see a picture of it in me resto thread.

 

[FJsnoozer]

Correct, the lower corner is rounded on the door, so you either need 79+ ambi doors, or you will have to modify whatever you buy.

Go a tail gate, here are all of your options.

Aqualu makes 4 tailgates, two with storage and two without. They offer them in diamond plate as well as flat. They may look pricey, but they come with all of the hardware that you need.


Real steel cruiser parts makes two doors. One fixed that looks like stock. For 295 I think. And a favorite tailgate replacement for I think 525. You will need to source all o your hinges and latches with this tailgate. If you decide to buy this, you might consider marine grade stainless hinges and latches, and you will spend far far less. I can give you a link, or you can look in the dr slug thread.






You can buy barn doors. And modify the corners slightly. They will have a gap if you mount them in factory locations. I just verified that the barn door hinge will mount where the ambulance door hinge is. My plan was to modify the door and run one ambi hinge and one barn door hinge on the bottom.

Weiss design makes a cool fiberglass tailgate that says Toyota on it. I really wanted this at first. It is not very expensive at all, after customs charges from Germany, it was going to be 3 hundred plus shipped. You will have to source your own hardware for this. Again, I recommend the boat stainless stuff. It's a high quality piece. Germany has very strict requirements on all of its manufactured parts.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/243444-toyota-embossed-tailgates-sale.html
See the picture of the red truck!

Sor and Weiss design sell fiberglass barn doors. I have decided to use these on mine and have bought a set. I am going to run them flipped so I can open the one barn door side while the spare tire is closed. These were 245 plus shipping. You will new all of your mounting hardware for these Toyota still sells the center latch, but does not sell the catch. I was quoted 34 dollars at my employee rates.











Several people have build a tailgate out o factory barn doors I have a basket case set I will let go for super cheap, of you want to weld these up and make a tailgate. You will find several threads on this.


Ccot sells a fixed tailgate. It's 100+



As you can see, I stewed over these options for quite some time.

 

[Blueegg]

Thank you FJsnoozer for this excellent post on the tailgate options. Stewing this over for a couple of years without conclusion.

 

[FJ62sasquatch]

So to be stock... I'm going to have to get ambulance doors.... So More specifically, I need 79+ ambulance doors right? I think I may have an earlier hard top... It had a hatch when I got it... How can I identify my hard top year?

Pre '74 was a 3 door system.... And '75+ was a 2 door system... Is that correct?

 

[FJsnoozer]

NP.

Also note that barn doors will need to be recessed into the door opening, which will either require modification to the stock door hinge bolt hole location and or modification to the factory hinges. This is another reason I went SOR fiberglass. I can drill holes exactly where I need them. They may also be light enough that I only need the ambi hinge. I will test it and make a build thread.

 

[FJsnoozer]

So to be stock... I'm going to have to get ambulance doors.... So More specifically, I need 79+ ambulance doors right? I think I may have an earlier hard top... It had a hatch when I got it... How can I identify my hard top year?

Bingo. Do you have flip vent windows or one piece side windows?

That Weiss Toyota tailgate also has the rounded corners you need.

 

[FJ62sasquatch]

I have one piece windows they don't flip out anywhere.... I assume you mean on the hard top... But the front doors don't have the flip out either

 

[FJsnoozer]

You have a pre 76 then. The easier thing would be to do a tailgate or barn door option.

 

[FJ62sasquatch]

Yea..... I already have the block off plate... It's not any good I hate it... That tailgate+storage option is nice... Pricey though... It just means more holes in my tub when you bottom line it....

 

[spotcruiser]

I have a new Aqualu diamond plate storage tailgate for sale. It does not require fitting to the round corners of a later tub. PM me if you're interested.