Tailgate Attachments & Mods

I've fallen down a bit of rabbit hole checking out different styles of tailgate accessories, attachments, and all things you can do with your tailgates.

Thus, I'd like to make a thread to share some tailgate mods, accessories, and attachments I've seen. And hopefully nail down ideas for what I'd like to accomplish with my own tailgate. Perhaps you all will find it interesting and I welcome anyone to post their own tailgates or plans.


To start I have seen some Rams and Jeeps with flip up tailgate seats and even steps (unsure if anyone has done this with their Tacoma):






Next I've seen some pretty cool storage builds. It would seem that if you remove the oem plastic you'd have plenty of options to build something like these:





Finally, I think most opt for mountain hatch or some other flat surface panel insert with maybe some holes for holding drinks:



this one is probably good on your knees/butt - looks fluffy:


I personally need some of the ribs for my build, but would like one segment of the tailgate flat. Would be cool to have it flip up to reveal a storage compartment cut in the oem plastic too - but I can do without.

Do any of you think there's a way, or some sort of product, I can just screw on top of the existing tailgate to have a flat, food-grade safe, middle part of the tailgate?


something like butcher block or a thin cutting board would be cool attached in one section of the stock tailgate:




Or perhaps order a square of food grade sheet metal to drill into the stock tailgate:
https://www.onlinemetals.com/en/buy...e2pM6JSqF2N6N-rs1I3BHIKu-ocWvMOoaAgE1EALw_wcB

similar to what this guy did with the wood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OWhmEkJ-cY
expect food grade sheet metal drilled into tailgate (not a panel insert).


I'm thinking of buying a piece of food grade sheet metal and attaching it on just like this molle panel attaches for the OME tailgate:




Any ideas?

would love to see what others have done or plan to do.

 

We've done similar threads in this one, the tonneau covers, caps and shells and the outdoor forums. Mine has a piece of HDPE screwed to the factory cover; nothing fancy, if you search there are pictures of mine and many others. I had a piece of plywood on my 1st gen tailgate.

 

My fault, I did search for tailgate threads specifically but didn't see anything. I did see the many threads on caps and toppers though. I'm not really interested in toppers atm just tailgate mods and accessories.

 

I replaced the stock ribbed plastic tailgate liner with this gray HDPE (high density polyethylene) version, since the company started in my old Montana hometown before moving to Fresno in 2018 to become one of the Trail Gear family of companies. Much easier on the knees when getting into the bed... There are quite a few companies making aluminum tailgate inserts, too. Check YouTube University for DIY options.

 

Nice, I haven't heard of them before. It does look like a good panel insert. I think I've decided against panel inserts for my build though.

I'm thinking for my build just screwing on a sheet of food-grade metal into the stock tailgate.

buy some sheet metal like this:



size out the sheet metal to about the size of this cutting board here in the middle:





and then attach it to the stock ribbed plastic tailgate liner in a similar fashion to the way this molle panel is attached to the oem tailgate:





Basically, I'd like to keep the stock ribs on the sides for other things like this if possible:




I haven't seen anyone do what I have in mind which is kind of a bummer since I could use the instruction. I think most opt for panel inserts, they're probably easier and more aesthetic than what I have in mind.
even storage compartment are probably better premade than dyi:
https://hfabusa.com/products/ram-truck-tailgate-storage
I'll check yt again. I did come across this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPidTSEUdQM

but I personally haven't seen anyone craft a flip up storage from their tacoma tailgate mod or simply screw on a flat surface into a segment of their oem tailgate.

 

I feel like a crazy creek chair will be just as good as those options you show and for cheaper and don't take up as much room.

 

I was just showing off stuff I thought was cool. I personally won't be putting any chairs in my build.

What I'd like to do is continue to use my OEM tailgate (I need some of the ribs for my build) and screw on a piece of sheet metal that is food-grade in the middle (similar to the molle panel pic but smaller footprint)

would be cool to have it combo as a flip-up storage (who says no to more storage) but I can do without quite honestly, though I've personally never seen anyone craft a flip up storage from their tacoma tailgate as a mod or simply screw on a flat surface into a segment of their already existing oem tailgate.

 

I have a shell so I have to climb into my bed the ribs on the tail gate had to go. It was like crawling across a sea of Legos. I think the way our tailgates are made, storage might be a little hard to fab but I say give it a try. Would love to see the finished product.

 

I have a shell too, I know what you mean! ribs are unpleasant on the knees for sure

but the middle is enough for me. I don't want the flat surface to take the entirety of the tailgate because I don't enter from the sides anyway


I'd like to keep at least a couple of the ribs on the sides free sort of like this:



and I thought our tailgates would be perfect for storage slots given this is what is looks like underneath:

 

Those MOLLE panels have to be one of the stupidest ideas ever- you can't kneel on them, you can't walk on them, you can't slide stuff over them, you can't load well, anything, over them, etc. The hatches without a storage compartment have to be a close second. The metal on the tailgates is thin enough as it is and I don't want junk bouncing around in there denting the sheet metal and rattling.

If you camp out of your truck or sit on the tailgate just cover the whole thing, it makes cooking, cutting up fish, climbing in and out, etc. a lot easier.

Whatever you decide on, remember that when, not if, those stupid cheap plastic clips that Toyota decided to use on the handle break you will have to take the panel off in order to access the rods for the latches on either side.

 

eh, they don't bother me but the point of posting the pic is to show they're over the OEM tailgate which is what I'd like to do. I do not wish to ditch it for a panel insert. What I envision is some food-grade sheet metal screwed on over a segment in the middle. Plus the ribs on either side will be great for fish guts xD

 

basically these combined if that makes sense.

1 this finish:



over the oem tailgate similar to this:



but in a smaller form factor such as:

 

And as far as the storage that would take a lot more ingenuity... Which I don't have the skill or desire to execute

basically you'd have to imagine instead of having two cup holders drilled in - you'd just make larger square shaped holders (that fit the outline of second image below) and add lid (which could be as basic as the lids on your two side compartments in the bed - or as fancy as the lid containing the ratchet strap holders posted above lol).

 

I'd hit up your local scrap metal dealer and try to find a piece of stainless large enough for what you want or a second hand restaurant supply. We picked up a stainless processing table and a couple of other items for use at my buddy's farm for decent prices. The table is definitely large enough that you could cut a tailgate covering out of it. Somebody posted a file with the measurements/template a while back.

I went with the plastic since it was easy to work with, I found a cutoff at a local plastics place for a good price, steel gets cold/hot depending on the climate if you sit on it and if your feet press against it while sleeping (I sleep head towards the cab), it won't damage knife edges if I'm cutting, it's easy to clean, etc. The shell stays on my truck and there's almost always camping gear in it so it's a setup that works for me; when I had motorcycles or need to haul larger items I have a utility trailer.

Lots of ways to skin that cat.

 

Great idea on the utility trailer. I remember bikes/atvs were a big thing for me when deciding whether to get the topper. That and I just like the "truck" look better.
while the topper makes my truck ugly, it's extremely useful to have for the ideas I have in my head. Once I narrow things down I'll def look into local scrap shops as well

 

If you do fab up storage, make sure you do some sort of assisted tail gate opening system. These tailgates already come down with alot of force.

 

True, when I first saw that mod I thought it was pointless but now I can see how convenient it could be. I probably still go without though xD

 

DIY 1/4” HDPE cut to fit.

 

I'd like to do what you have here and /or add the side cubbies into the tailgate. Haven't checked if they are too deep but it's a thought. Good junkyard item.

 

Where did you find the HDPE ?