Volume of tailgate storage for a Series 80?

[John E Davies]

I'm really interested in a tailgate hatch for my LX450. I haven't seen the specs anywhere - what is the estimated usable storage volume of the tailgate, crammed full of soft stuff?

I use 24 gallon RubberMaid ActionPacker boxes, and I am trying to visualize how much the tailgate would reduce the load in these boxes.....

If no one has done this, could a kindhearted soul do a toilet paper stuff test and tell me how many fit? Then the volume would be easy to calculate.....

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[SHREDwagon]

Hey John -

The tailgate indents around the license plate taking quite a bit of volume away. But still definitely worth it. I bought a Wagongear to reinforce the tailgate, so the storage was a bonus.

I store an axe, ratchet straps, grease gun, foldable solar panel, extension cord, spare belts & parts with still quite a bit of room left over. It'll get heavy though.

Just thinking in terms backpack type volume filled with soft items like sleeping bags etc - I'd say 60, or so Litres. But it's long and thin in the center.... Send Kevin an email? He's really helpful.

 

[John E Davies]

Just thinking in terms backpack type volume filled with soft items like sleeping bags etc - I'd say 60, or so Litres.

Thanks for the comments.

I hope it's more than 60 liters - that is 16 US gallons, about 2/3 of one of my ActionPacker boxes. I would install the lid for storage only - my gate is in fine condition. I was hoping to completely eliminate one box.

I already have good storage solutions for oddball shaped things like my axe and emergency cb antenna.....

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[kevinmrowland]

You know, that's a really good question John, I'm not sure what a good answer would be.

I think there is almost twice as much room in the 80 gates as there is in the 60 gates (and then half again as much in the 100s on top of that). I like the TP roll idea but I don't have an 80 gate here to do that with.

My typical sales pitch is: "way too much money to spend on a little bit more storage space", so it is definitely that, the space is not huge and it is odd sized, small, light and long thing fit best.

My favorite things to put in the gate are the awkward stuff that doesn't really fit elsewhere. (axe, saw, tennis balls and frisbee for the dog, air hose, some work gloves to have handy, tie down straps since then they are right in the cargo area, easily accessible to get to right away. What you fit in there is really going to depend on how well you pack as well.

Whatever you put in there, keep the weight in mind though since you have to pick it all up every time you close the tailgate.


I'll see if I can get a more accurate measurement of how much actual space there is in there next time one of my friends with an 80 stops by.


KR

 

[kevinmrowland]

Here are a couple of pics I could find on my computer of 80 lids with some things in them, might help to start to give a better idea.

 

[NLXTACY]

You can fit a lot but it all depends how you organize.

Here is my setup: I've packed most of the stuff into small ripcord bags or canvas bags to contain everything. The shotgun has since been moved out of the tailgate.

Extreme tire repair kit, shovel, axe, air hose and all connectors, wheel chocks, spare hoses and belts, my $600 jumper cables, interior hammock , bailing wire spool, torque wrench, air deflator, prybar, chain w/ grade 8 bolts and nuts and bungy cords. It's stuffed to the brim.

 

[kevinmrowland]

Yeah, that's a nice pack job.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a majority of the storage space is where you can't see it; stuffed in the edges past where the door opening is.

 

[NLXTACY]

Another another thing to keep in mind is that the tailgate gets HEAVY. My wife complains...a lot about how heavy it is and she now doesn't even open it anymore ;P

 

[kevinmrowland]

well...

Whatever you put in there, keep the weight in mind though since you have to pick it all up every time you close the tailgate.


KR

 

[jhunhapi]

Im just wondering where did you guys found those lids?? Its a great mod. I was thinking before putting a metal sheet but when I saw this will do this instead. Very usefull of the space.

 

[gtfour43]

Im just wondering where did you guys found those lids?? Its a great mod. I was thinking before putting a metal sheet but when I saw this will do this instead. Very usefull of the space.

^ Kevin makes those lids. Click the link in his sig

 

[kevinmrowland]

Thanks for coverin me while I'm away from the computer gtfour43.

Check here for the lids:
http://wagongear.com/shop/80-series-tailgate-lid/

Still a couple more weeks until I'm back in front of the welding table and making more though, got to finish up work over here in MT.