Tailgate Party

[TeCKis300]

This thread is dedicated to the legendary Land Cruiser tailgate. A heritage feature that's been core to the 60, 80, 100, and 200 series.

Any vehicle can go off-road. The LC does it in style earning the title of undisputed overlanding king for many reasons, and I'd argue the tailgate is part of why it earns that distinction.

This thread is inspired by a discussion where the merits of the tailgate were called into question. Let's share pics on how to tailgate, and perhaps even show mother Toyota what they missed and got wrong about 300-series.

 

[dudemancool1904]

love grabbing breakfast burritos and coffee and heading to the foot of marine st, park backwards, pop the, enjoy breakfast at the beach. Terrible photo great view.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Excellent Idea!

I use mine to cook and to climb out of truck after sleeping, and to climb in before bed. Couldn’t imagine not having it

It’s also at almost the perfect height to use as a table with a camp chair.

I make sure to point this out repeatedly to my good friend with his 4R

 

[texag06ish]

Loading/unloading zone. Practice night dinner table. Basketball/football tournament day prep table. Place to sit while the kids play in cul de sac. My son and I eat on the tailgate multiple times a week.

It really is super useful

 

[Artie]

Ours is clutch for lots of reasons.

Lunch at the track.

Showers.

Snacks.

Shats.

Other things that start with “S”…

10/10 vehicle option.

 

[Killacaviar]

I have wiped many many asses on mine... The carpeted changing table that follows you into the backcountry!

 

[Boston Mangler]

I have wiped many many asses on mine...

Your kids? Or?

 

[kcjaz]

The tailgate is right up there with the wheel. It’s the U in SUV. It’s the one horizontal surface that I can count on to be there and not full of crap when I need it. Awesome at the beach.

Pretty good kite flying platform too.

 

[sedole]

The tailgate is hands down my favorite feature of the cruisers.
Clutch diaper changing table. Beach days. Ski in ski out at the mountain. It’s just great at it all.

 

[gaijin]

It’s the one horizontal surface that I can count on to be there and not full of crap when I need it.

Exactly this!

 

[TeCKis300]

For sure. Trucks have tailgates but you can always count on them to be filthy with any off-roading.

These pics rock. Keep them coming.

 

[Oakleyguy]

perhaps even show mother Toyota what they missed and got wrong about 300-series.

HANDS DOWN AGREE. I LOATHE THE LOSS OF THE TAILGATE.

So much so, that I'm considering buying a spare hatch and attempting major surgery to convert it into a tailgate using the 200's hardware.

 

[vwynn]

100% one of the best things as its a secondary table without needing to bring 2 tables. We use it at camp to eat our meals on as our other camping table holds our cooking gear.

If not eating, its sitting

If not sitting, its a table for gear or prep

Its a shame the LX700s dont have it but it makes me appreciate the 200s even more.

 

[KLF]

I *hate* one-piece liftgates. I can't imagine not having a 2-piece tailgate now.

Camping at a state park somewhere in Alabama

Where else are the dogs gonna sit when you're hanging out?

 

[bicycleagent003]

80 Series style here, same idea. It's a legendary feature that I cannot imagine giving up. That's a major knock on the GX platform and the new LC and GX550, IMHO.

 

[tbisaacs]

100% why I jumped from my 2008 to a 2021 and not an LX600/700. I can't give up thing that I used the most. Like others I've served lunch, tied snow boots, put bandaids on scraped knees and on and on. So many good memories.

Last LCDC overlooking kite lake with @kcjaz and crew

 

[doru]

One of the initial reasons I got a 200 and not the GX.
More reasons to have one...
Loading heavy stuff, not having to clear the bumper to reach the trunk floor. Just place the load on the tailgate and slide it in.
Not having to dirty my pants on the bumper when seating in the trunk.
A place to knee to reach stuff deep or high in the trunk w/o a ladder.
Being able to open the upper tailgate in the garage without hitting the door. W/o the split it would be too long.
For the upper part - not being rained/snowed in while the tailgate is open like with GX.

 

[Wes Gardner]

You get the best coffee on the tailgate. This is known.

 

[TeCKis300]

Nothing beats a good cup of joe, the morning crisp air, and an inviting tailgate. The best seat in the house as a mobile porch with all the possibilities the world has to offer.

HANDS DOWN AGREE. I LOATHE THE LOSS OF THE TAILGATE.

So much so, that I'm considering buying a spare hatch and attempting major surgery to convert it into a tailgate using the 200's hardware.

Disappoints me to no end that Toyota doesn't know their audience. The 300-series finally offers triple lockers but lose a signature feature? Land Rover gets it that even with a lift up hatch, they still provisioned for a fold down seat. Maybe something you can riff off of.

 

[Oakleyguy]

Nothing beats a good cup of joe, the morning crisp air, and an inviting tailgate. The best seat in the house as a mobile porch with all the possibilities the world has to offer.

Disappoints me to no end that Toyota doesn't know their audience. The 300-series finally offers triple lockers but lose a signature feature? Land Rover gets it that even with a lift up hatch, they still provisioned for a fold down seat. Maybe something you can riff off of.

What frustrates me most is that In talking with some people at CruiseMoab that got to spend time with the engineering team, the 250/300 made it all the way to a sheet metal prototype with a split gate. The product planning/marketing pipeline all pointed to keep the split gate as well, but then it was axed for a 19# weight savings.

*THUMBS DOWN*