Fix or Replace bent tailgate

So the previous owner was very successful in completing the DIY Tailgate Mod with [I'm assuming] a motorcycle or dirt bike.

I'm a recent college graduate on a really tight budget. I love doing my own repairs, maintenance, and upgrades, but this might be out of my field of expertise. I don't want to pay a body shop $700 to fix it when I can have it replaced and color matched for just under $450. Eventually, I'll replace it in a few years, but for the short term, does it look like I can fix it, will it be a cheap fix at an auto shop, or should I just buy a whole new one when I have the money.

The thing is, is I'm planning on buying a tonneau cover for this winter and would like it to seal along the tailgate.

 

These are toy trucks for sure. Sad what Toyota makes these days. I would replace and get color matched. Should be easy, no back up camera either.

 

For the short term, do you think I could really push on it and try to bend it back? Or will that make things worse, and I just need to replace it? I'm just trying to avoid buying both a tailgate and cover if I can get away with doing a cheap fix and getting a new tailgate next Spring.

 

IMO you could remove the tailgate cover and then try to bend it back to be the closest you can from before. I did bent mine with a quad but it wasn't bad as yours... I only bent it back but it is not like before... And my both hands left marks just over the tailgate latch... But I thinks that it is better than having it bent on the outside lol. For yoy it could do the trick for a while.

 

That's kinda what I was thinking. I just wasn't sure if this was "beyond temporary repair," or if I could Jerry-rig a solution til I have the money to replace/fix it the right way.

 

Junk yard.

Pick - a - pulls are getting more and more common these days. See if there are any in your area, and once a week go walk the yard until they have a blue Tacoma in the lot.

 

It will be very hard to get the tailgate back to the original specs.

I'm sending you a pm

 

I'm thinking a couple of 2x4s, a pulley and some rope could fix it temporarily. As easy as they bend, I bet it wouldn't take much force to pull it back. Attach the rope to the bolts holdint the handle on (probably would need to fab something with angle iron). Put a couple of pieces of 2x4 together in a 90% and put cross legs on the free ends to go across the tail gate on the ends. Attach the pulley where the 2x4s at the 90%, thread the rope through and pull down. I bet you and a buddy could pull hard enough to bring the tailgate back in close alignment.

This is much harder to describe than do.

 

I'd bet a guy could put on a @Mobtown Offroad tailgate skin and straighten it out pretty well. Add the tailgate cap to make it look completely straight and give it the strength it should have from the factory

 

Get a big guy to push on the center from the outside with the tailgate closed. Problem solved.

 

"Uh, hey bro. Would you, uh, push on my tailgate for me?"

That'll get you some weird looks. And maybe punched. Or laid?

 

My tailgate bent from a ATV and I removed the top and there was a hole under there so I stuck a ratchet strap in the hole and used my clamps on the deck rail system on the front of the bed and just ratcheted it back into place. It made it straight again but it's not like it was before. It was a free fix but not 100% fix

 

On a truck that was less than 2-3 year old I'd get it fixed. On an 05, I'd live with it. My daughter and son in-law borrowed my 07 3-4 years go to move. They forgot to raise the tailgate when backing a trailer and the trailer jack put a dent in the top of mine. It bothered me at first and if I could have found a used white tailgate that didn't need painting to match I'd have bought it. But used tailgates in any color are hard to find. I no longer even notice.

 

Lol I'm an engineer, and I can actually picture what you're describing. It's a great idea, but may be a little time consuming, and I'm fresh out of 2x4s.

This was the route I was originally thinking. I just wanted to be sure it wasn't going to ruin anything in the latching mechanisms.

I was afraid this would put too much strain on the bed rail, but it sounds like it worked for you, so I guess I'll try it!!!

Normally, I would just live with it, but I need the tonneau cover to seal at the tailgate.

 

How about pulling the gate off and setting it on some 4x4s with the crown up. Put a blanket on it to protect the paint and step on it where the high point is?? You could also put a 2x4 flat under the high spot to keep it from going too far?

 

Depends how gay you and him are feeling that day.

 

Relentless Fab's tailgate reinforcement fixed my bent tailgate!

 

Hahaha, this is why I was asking @RelentlessFab for the tailgate reinforcement for their next GB.

 

I did this to mine, and then straightened the supports inside. I still need to add new glue inside the tailgate for the supports. I definitely recommend the new metal nutserts they offer.
Granted it wasn't as bad as OPs.

 

New gate, then Mobtown skin/cap