I have a weird tailgate question...

I have a 2021 TRD Off Road in Super White.
My tailgate was stolen back in Feb/March, honestly I've lost track.
Anyway, my insurance company told me I had to use a body shop off their "preferred list" (which later turned out to not be true, come to find out later I could have used the dealer). When I received my truck back the first time from their body shop it looked great on the outside, however, when you open the tailgate the inside of the gate was a much brighter white then the outside of the tailgate or truck. I returned truck to the body shop and they repeated the process, I got the truck back and once again it was two different whites.
I'm heading to the dealer tomorrow to get a quote from them.
My question is, does anyone know if its normal for the inside of the tailgate to be a different shade then the actually color of the truck? Anyone out there with a white Tacoma that can check? If I open my tailgate and you are looking down at the gate and bumper you can see a drastic difference in the two whites. I hope this makes sense and thanks in advance!

 

Did they give you a USED tailgate?

 

I am guessing the body shop used a unpainted tailgate and painted it to match the actual color of the truck. Or, maybe they used a color matched one and it wasn't quite right so they matched the paint?

 

Yes, they bought a used one (prob off the guy that stole mine), I believe it was dark green, then they re-conditioned it.

 

Sounds like it, and they only repainted the outer half.
It doesn’t look bad really, may look worse in person. Nearly new truck, I don’t blame you, it’s not like this is a 10 yo truck with 120k miles.
You could contact your insurance, they paid for this job and may not be happy IF it was shorted.

 

If you have a fender replaced, they are going to have to paint it. If you take the fender off the color on the inside will probably not match the outside. But, I get it, it's a tailgate and it should all match.

 

I went back to insurance company and showed them, they authorized me to now get a quote from the dealer.
What's weird is that if the gate they purchased was dark green, why would they paint it two different whites? Primer maybe then they just hit the outside of the gate with the correct color?
I still can't figure it out.
thank you guys!

 

Did you ask the body shop for their exclamation? I would have started there I guess. I never made Detective but I did solve a few mysteries that way.

 

Paint never matches 100 percent, but should be 90-95% with a good shop. Find someone to spray out a few panels before painting the tailgate. You want someone who will take the time needed and not rush it. Most bodyshops are garbage. You can file a complaint against your insurance company and insurance agent for the "preferred shop" nonsense.

You'd need to Google to find out which government entity to file it with in your state.

 

I did ask the body shop what the heck happened, their answer was "we don't understand what you are looking for?"
I replied, "I am looking for the tailgate to be the same color as the truck, on the inside and outside of the gate"
they replied, "so you want it glossy?"
I kid you not, you can't make this stuff up. When they asked me if they could "make things right" for the 3rd time, I went back and showed insurance company.
It does bum me out though, I work hard to pay for this little Tacoma, and its going on 7 months of body shops and insurance claims, quotes, etc etc.

 

I've been in your shoes, I get it. Auto-body work is an acquired skill like anything else. Hopefully the other shop can get it back to the way it was.

 

Good help is hard to find. Even harder if you need someone in a skilled position.

 

Talk to the dealer, see if there is a VIN or identification tag that’s traceable to a VIN on the tailgate. If so, ask the local PD to check for stolen parts with that VIN…

could lead to something. Maybe not.

 

Tailgates don't normally have VINs stamped on them. They are multiple parts, not one piece.

 

True. The second half of my statement is more of the important part. Plenty of aftermarket systems that can be used to help with theft (after the fact)

data dots comes to mind here.

 

Go compare the rigs the dealer has on the lot - that will tell you what it is supposed to look like (should have a consistent similiar paint job for all colors and enuff of an example for you to see compare)

 

Get the painter some weed… they usually can paint better when there high

 

There is no reason a body shop should not be able to match the paint. I have had a lot of custom work done and any piece that was painted was a perfect match. It sounds like you got a poor paint job from a bad body shop. I am also wondering why they used a used tailgate. I have had insurance claims and the shops I have used always used new parts. I find that odd that they used a pre-owned part.

 

Lol what a shit storm of a thread.
OP, the inside color should match the outside color. If it don't, tell them to fix it. Simple. Used or new does not matter.

 

I don’t think that is true. A lot of oem new parts come primed. If it was a green tailgate, then they would have to put the necessary prep work in. They could have painted over the dark green instead of stripping it completely. That may have caused the slight difference in color. It is all speculation.

There really should not be an argument though. Good paint shops can match. In fact, you can buy a color matched tailgate online and have it shipped to you.