"Tougher" Tailgate

[TrekboxX]

HDPE is probably the best general use plastic, imo. I don't love it, but it will work. I'd go w/the black textured stuff, commonly branded as King Starboard. Minimum 3/8" thick I would guess.

If you find a magic plastic that is lighter and as strong as good plywood I'd love to hear about it, but in my hundreds of hours (literally) of research I haven't found it.

Another option that I did is a 1/8" layer of black abs sheet with a thick rubber truck bed mat glued to it. If I did it again I'd use nutserts and machine screws or go with Richlite. The mat is too heavy for the stock clips and pops loose sometimes. But it is a durable surface and it's easy on the knees.

 

[TXLX100]

HDPE is probably the best general use plastic, imo. I don't love it, but it will work. I'd go w/the black textured stuff, commonly branded as King Starboard. Minimum 3/8" thick I would guess.

If you find a magic plastic that is lighter and as strong as good plywood I'd love to hear about it, but in my hundreds of hours (literally) of research I haven't found it.

Another option that I did is a 1/8" layer of black abs sheet with a thick rubber truck bed mat glued to it. If I did it again I'd use nutserts and machine screws or go with Richlite. The mat is too heavy for the stock clips and pops loose sometimes. But it is a durable surface and it's easy on the knees.

Thanks for the tip on the King Starboard. The first site I found, looks like I can get a rough cut piece shipped for around $100. I'll have to cut the "top" to fit the curve. I probably try a plastics place in town to see if they can do it all.

 

[TheForger]

I am also interest in replacing the carpet on my tailgate. I went to the site posted in @YetiRunner write up and ordered 2 samples of the Diamond Plate Roll Rubber Matting and Equine-Flex Horse Stall Mat. I'll pick the one I like the most and seems to be the most cushiony yet still waterproof and easy to clean. After doing the tailgate, if I like it enough I will replace the carpet in the cargo area as well.

 

[SmoothLC]

Let us know what you think once you got it installed @TheForger.

I'm still on the fence, but really like what @YetiRunner did - great write-up btw.

 

[rusty_tlc]

The material choice probably comes down to your usage. My tailgate often serves duty as a cooking surface, an easy to clean surface would be a huge step up from carpet. Heat resistant would be good too.

 

[El Cid]

I'm currently using a DeeZee truck mat...couldn't get the Truck Rug people to work with a LC.

That diamond product is a good improvement regardless...May end up going back to that..

 

[hoser]

Cork flooring could be a good choice for some people.

 

[TeCKis300]

Not to take this on another tangent as I think there's some pretty good ideas rolling on new tailgate cover options.

But there's no way I'd bring dirty/muddy/yucky stuff into the cabin area, let alone bloody carcasses. I would think external options might fit the bill better. Something like this for hunting/serious fishing -

 

[TXLX100]

HDPE is probably the best general use plastic, imo. I don't love it, but it will work. I'd go w/the black textured stuff, commonly branded as King Starboard. Minimum 3/8" thick I would guess.

If you find a magic plastic that is lighter and as strong as good plywood I'd love to hear about it, but in my hundreds of hours (literally) of research I haven't found it.

Another option that I did is a 1/8" layer of black abs sheet with a thick rubber truck bed mat glued to it. If I did it again I'd use nutserts and machine screws or go with Richlite. The mat is too heavy for the stock clips and pops loose sometimes. But it is a durable surface and it's easy on the knees.

I think I've decided on the King Starboard XL. It comes in 3/8" and Charcoal gray, Dolphin Gray, or Black, and the piece should weigh around 8 lbs. I like the Starboard AS (very textured), but only comes in 1/2"+ and will weigh around 14lbs (I think that is too much additional weight to the tailgate). Just need to find a place that has it.

 

[fireball]

It's good stuff. Beware sticker shock. I just bought a 1/4" sheet to do some door panels and it was $100. Retail is about double that.

 

[TXLX100]

It's good stuff. Beware sticker shock. I just bought a 1/4" sheet to do some door panels and it was $100. Retail is about double that.

Did you buy yours online or at a local place? I'm having a hard time finding a place that sells the starboard xl, 3/8" in the color I want. I'd like to just get a piece cut that is approximate and shape it, but I'll get a whole sheet if I have to.

 

[fireball]

I work at a high end custom cabinetry shop and we bought it through one of our local suppliers. We've used it before for outdoor kitchens and outdoor furniture. It's a good product.

Not sure if you can find it online or somewhere that will sell you a cut piece. I'd call around your local millwork and plywood distributors and see if you can find someone who has it.

 

[TheForger]

Got the samples in today. I am really liking this diamond plate rubber material. The equine mat seems to have more cushion but it is just too bulky and too thick for a simple job like this. I think I am going to stick with the diamond plate mat, it's cheaper too and you can buy it by custom lengths as opposed to individual mats that are already a predetermined dimension. It's easy to clean and, although not as thick as the equine mat, it is still very soft and I believe it wouldn't be too hard on the knees. Anyway, now for some pics - diamond plate on the left equine on the right...

And yes, the equine mat has those grooves that run down the back side of it and that is what causes it to be very cushiony and IMO too thick. It comes in at just around 5/8" while the diamond plate rubber is just 3mm.

 

[spressomon]

^ looking forward to your knee report. How's the smell/VOCs?

 

[rusty_tlc]

Not to take this on another tangent as I think there's some pretty good ideas rolling on new]

Looks like that would block the cargo area access.

 

[TXLX100]

Looks like that would block the cargo area access.

I have a smaller one, it's unobtrusive when it's not loaded. But yeah, if anything is on it, makes getting in the hatch tough. I mainly use mine to carry a big cooler when we hunt, or if we are really short on space for a trip.

 

[TrekboxX]

You'll find that you may need to attach the mat to a solid sheet first. The tailgate isn't solid, it's ribbed. If the mat has too much flex it may need some backing...