Tailgate protection

Looking to protect my tailgate a bit. Bought my truck used and my tailgate I’m assuming came from factory like this.. does anyone make a panel for the bottom? I found a part number for a Toyota one but it’s far from cheap.anyone have any suggestions besides line-x?

 

Mountain Hatch!

discount for $50 off, Hatchvember

 

Looks like you have spray in bed liner but the tailgate wasn’t done. Not sure why the panel was sprayed but not the tailgate. Original tailgate? Wondering if was replaced and they installed the sprayed panel from the old gate onto the new one

 

That didn’t come from the factory like that. The truck has a spray in bedliner, but the tailgate doesn’t. This leads me to believe the tailgate was replaced at some point and wasnt sprayed with bed liner.

 

I was somewhat thinking that. The original pictures the dealer had of the truck the tailgate was dented. And they repaired it before I bought it. Maybe they ended up just replacing the tailgate not sure what went on

 

It was replaced. It’s easier and often cheaper to just replace a body part like a tailgate.

 

FYI - Super duper slippy in the snow and ice.

 

An still too much for what it is. Wish I knew a machinist. I would like a flat aluminum panel for my tailgate and it can't be that expensive to produce. Would be nicer to have a flat surface for cooking and stuff.