Tailgate/rear dumb question (1 Viewer)

[firefly450]

So, on the 'tailgate', what is under the carpeted area, where there are 4 fasteners? Is it storage, or access for something else?
Also, with the third row seats up, does anyone know the width of the space in the back? Would it be able to carry sheets of
4 x 8 plywood or sheetrock?
Forgive my ignorance, I am new to the forums, and trying to learn as I search to find my Land Cruiser purchase. Thanks!

 

[Willie G]

Cargo area dimensions are in this thread: Cargo area

One of the tailgate compartments has your tool kit for tire changes, etc. The other is empty (on mine) but can be filled by storage bags from several vendors on this site.

 

[Haggis]

Best thing I've done was remove those jump seats, much more room.

 

[doru]

With the seat up I think you mean in stored position. In that position there is less width. If you want to maximize width you keep them down but folded.

 

[doru]

... the problem is that you cannot fit a plywood sheet of 8' length even if there are no 3rd or 2nd row seats.

 

[firefly450]

With the seat up I think you mean in stored position. In that position there is less width. If you want to maximize width you keep them down but folded.

Ahhh, that makes sense! Do they fold down fairly well? I know it is not a stow n go Pacifica, lol, but would that allow trips to
Home Depot to get plywood? Thanks!

 

[firefly450]

Sorry, I guess I was typing as you responded. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[firefly450]

Best thing I've done was remove those jump seats, much more room.

Are they easily removed? I would like to use one of them as a seat, but not necessarily both of them.

 

[doru]

Sorry, I guess I was typing as you responded. Thanks for the clarification.

I guess you can do plywood if you have it hanging out of the tailgate. I haven't tried it to see if the truck will annoy you with warnings cause the tail is open.
Anyway, you'll have to cushion the edges, so it does not damage the nice interior.
The 3rd row seats do fold nicely (not in the floor), and they are at the same level as the 2nd row folded seats making a nice platform that some of us cover all with a matters for sleep.

They are easier to remove than on the LX (LX has power folding). And yes, you can remove only one. Some of us did that to have a drawer/fridge on the missing seat space.

 

[KLF]

Ahhh, that makes sense! Do they fold down fairly well? I know it is not a stow n go Pacifica, lol, but would that allow trips to
Home Depot to get plywood? Thanks!

Yes you can carry 4x8 sheet materials inside, with the 2nd and 3rd row seats folded down. I have done it many times, I have even carried 16' long pieces of lumber a few times. The issue is that you can't shut the upper tailgate, it will stick out beyond the lower one by about 6-8”. I have a piece of 2" XPS rigid foam with a groove cut in it that I set over the lip of the lower tailgate to protect it, they I use a tie rope around the wiper shaft down to the trailer hitch to hold the upper gate down, with padding. I wired a switch on my upper tailgate that bypasses the latch switch so I don't get the annoying warning on the dash

 

[Haggis]

Are they easily removed? I would like to use one of them as a seat, but not necessarily both of them.

Super easy, took me 15 minutes. There was a thread explaining how to do it. It's just the wife and I now so we have no need for them, took them out of my 80 series too.

 

[nor_cal_cyclist]

For a more utilitarian approach, I removed my 3rd row seats and the nice carpeted panel on the tailgate. Created more storage space by placing a metal plate with a hinged door in place of the carpeted panel.. Overall, quality on the metal plate isn't as good as it should be, but I'm sure it generated a substantial profit for the fabricator using a CNC setup - and it's nice to have the storage.