WagonGear 100 series tailgate lid install

[kevinmrowland]

Nicely done Yeti!
You pulled that off no problem, and I hadn't even realized the lid had made it out to you at the time!
We are hooked back up to the world of the internets now and getting caught up, setting up shop out here in Oregon is taking it's toll but I should have things running again soon.

Good job......need to make it a 2 beer job instead of 6pack to keep from the errant cutting wheel marks.

Too freakin funny about the cut-off wheel, I am not ashamed to admit that I laughed out loud when I first skimmed through your post.

Looks great!!! I want one.

I would stick to lighter things, Im sure a heavy recovery shackle will put a nasty ding in the sheet metal if you went over a speed bump too fast.

You're on the right track here, the gates can hold a lot of stuff, but anything you put in there, you then have to pick up every time you close the gate. The light stuff is a good choice.

One of the first things I did when I got my 100, was to check to see how much space was in that gate behind the beauty board. Lots!

I see that you dynomatted which would help, but are you concerned about anything rolling around in there denting the exterior sheet metal?

The matting really cleans up the space in there, the silver stuff makes it easy to find things in the dark recesses as well. It should help with dent prevention, but it really hasn't been an issue, I've had a lot of folks concerned about sheet metal damage but so far I've not heard of anything resulting from it. Utility over beauty though....

how much weight can the stock tailgate hold? I honestly thought they were fairly flimsy.

Got to disagree here, the 100 gates are the most beautifully engineered tailgates I have ever seen, they fixed ALL the issues with older generation lids, the engineering in there is just spot on, pretty sure you could park another truck on there, and they did all that while still keeping the whole thing lighter than any other series. Definitely not flimsy.
In the older 60s and 80s the gates cave in all the time, my original lids are designed to pull those cave-ins back into shape. The frames add enough strength to the gates to fix that and prevent it from happening again.
I've used the same design on the 100 series so you would still be able to do any normal tailgate activity and then some with these installed, sit, stand, jump to your hearts content and have your friends and family join you!


How is the edge trim holding up for you Rich? Does it make good contact all the way around and stay in place?
How about the set plate, any rattles while driving?

KR

 

[yota2188]

Sounds awesome....if there's a waiting list going, count me in

 

[4xfordbronc]

Any updates on this?

 

[Jrob80]

Any updates on this?

What kind of updates are you looking for??? You can find all kinds of info about the 100 lids in the Vendors Market: WagonGear

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

I got one of Kevin's Beta lids, I'll be in stalling it over the next few weeks, I'll add to this thread if I run across anything different tan DY

 

[Squirrel]

Does the set plate interfere with stainless latches?

 

[kevinmrowland]

Copied from the thread in my forum:

The stainless latches don't have an abrupt edge like those plastic ones did, pretty much anything will ramp over them, and the bolts do that actually interfere with the plate at all, it is the edge of the frame and the edge of the lid that can catch.
In the production versions I have also switched the five bolts on the leading edge to carriage bolts so they are even lower profile.

KR

 

[Bull Moose]

I was thinking about this problem last night... KEVIN, could you build in an extension of the base steel plate of your device, which would be hinged, that would REPLACE the current piece that covers the open area?

 

[kevinmrowland]

Something along those lines is the end goal.
I like the set plates but they are not really up to Toyota standards, the more heavily used 100's I've sen are really starting to show some serious damage on the plates. I want to make a whole replacement heavy duty set plate that will of course work well with the tailgate lid, or without.

I also feel it's important that the tailgate lids work well with the OE set plate. There really isn't much of an issue with it the way things sit now, a quick trim of the honeycomb on the underside lets it ramp smoothly depending on the condition that the set plate is in.

 

[BMWSTOY]

I can seem to locate the price and effort to install. I am a do it yourself person but cutting into perfectly good tailgate gives me the willies. Someone help here , I think this is exactly what I need to get rid of my emergency box of stuff! Thanks pioneers!

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

I can seem to locate the price and effort to install. I am a do it yourself person but cutting into perfectly good tailgate gives me the willies. Someone help here , I think this is exactly what I need to get rid of my emergency box of stuff! Thanks pioneers!

This thread covers what you need to do for install pretty good. This lid is still in the "beta" mode and what the few of us learn from these first DIY, no template or instructions installs will add to what Wagon Gear will incorporate into design and instructions. Not a finished product yet, so be patient for price and more detailed install instructions.

I hear you about cutting into a perfectly good tailgate, this is my second lid from Kevin, I also installed one on my 80 that I used to have. Tons of fun carving a huge hole with the reciprocating saw and cutting wheel

 

[Jrob80]

I can seem to locate the price and effort to install. I am a do it yourself person but cutting into perfectly good tailgate gives me the willies. Someone help here , I think this is exactly what I need to get rid of my emergency box of stuff! Thanks pioneers!

I hear you about cutting into a perfectly good tailgate, this is my second lid from Kevin, I also installed one on my 80 that I used to have. Tons of fun carving a huge hole with the reciprocating saw and cutting wheel

I have one on my 80 and love it, would like to have one for the LX but I keep dumping money in my 80.

Here is a video of putting one in an 80...

 

[BMWSTOY]

Very nice video, also nice write up on page 1. I think I had Network error issues on Wednesday, did not see much... thanks.
I think some type of fleece colored bags to hold tools and such would work out nicely, protect those lines and allow padding for the sound. That or more pool noodle! love that idea.