Tailgate skins? Thick steel

Inside of my tailgate is all dented up from loading and hauling some heavy items. I picked up a used one recently and will be swapping over.

Has anyone put a thicker "skin" plate over their tailgates to prevent denting? I have seem these hipster "overlander" food save ones where people use it as a cutting board or an 18g (a whole 1.25mm thick!!) ones, but nothing that is actually substantial.

I'm looking at like 1/8-3/16" thick steel ones. I remember seeing one a bit ago where it was angled over, but couldn't follow the exterior lip due to be bowed out, but i dont think that dude is making them anymore?

 

Yeah, I bought a stainless steel one for about a $120 about two years ago. Not super thick, but it gets beat to hell and takes it like a champ. Slippery as shit with any moisture so I added a strip of grip tape across it. RDP store.com- Access tailgate protector 07-19 Tundra. After that I added a 1/8" angle iron across the top of the tailgate directly over the plastic and over the stainless. Super durable setup.

 

No more visible dents and great for tailgating..
Easily removed and reinstalled if needed...

Pickup Tailgate Mats | Bed Liners & Mats - Bedrug | Bedrug

 

Eh, I use my bed to haul stuff, carpet will only get in the way and be a pain to clean/reinstall every time

 

It's velcro.
It peels off and sticks back on.

You only asked for a solution to the tailgate, not the entire bed..
Sorry if I offend you and your manly hauling work ethic..

Beat that bitch up and be proud of it..

 

Uh, ok... Didnt realize hauling stuff is now considered "manly hauling work ethic"?! I just thought it was a part of having a truck? But then again, I do try to be a "toxic masculine man" per today's standards.

 

Seriously dude, you could have been done fabricating one yourself by now.

 

If only I had a plasma or laser cutter and had already done the cad....

 

Dude, a circular saw and a frickin friction blade would have had it done before you got the computer started!

 

We clearly do things differently...

 

Or angle grinder with abrasive blade or 2. Pretty easy if steel. Aluminum is a different animal with cut off blades. Don’t overthink it.
You could also have shop you buy it at (metal distributor, not Lowes) cut to size with a shear. You can spec gauge, size, and material. Easy peasy.

 

Agreed, but between job hunting and multiple other larger house projects going on currently, was looking for an off the shelf offering, that may integrate an idea or two that I overlooked.

 

Yeah, don’t know of any off the shelf stuff. But with a drawing of what you want and material you want a local sheet metal shop should be cheaper and very easy. Downside would be you’d probably have to drill your own mounting holes. Unless you’re real good at drawing with dimensions and holes accurately marked.
A local HVAC shop could probably hook you up too. You could probably just email a request with drawing for quote.
Who knows, you may have a niche product to market “off the shelf “

I have a feeling Talons shields may get on board with this simple design.

 

Adding extra weight to the tailgate will cause your dampening strut to fail. I had the nub that holds the strut on mine snap off because my dogs always pushed on it to get out. Its fixed now, and now I make them wait til the tailgate is down all the way but I would suggest not adding any extra weight to it unless you dont mind your tailgate falling at the speed of light or having to guide it down.

 

This is the factory part number for a liner for the tailgate. It's kind of thick plastic.

PT271-34070-LB

This is a link to a random dealer I pulled off from google. I am not endorsing them. It is just an example of a dealer that carries this part.
https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem/toyota~bedliner~tailgate~lb~pt271-34070-lb.html

 

There are aftermarket kits that add additional lift mechanisms to both sides. There is also a contraption that allows you to set the tailgate at partially open, can't remember what it's called at the moment, but it replaces the cables with the old style flat bars to support more weight than the cables. Obviously it would have to be one or the other because of the designs and space. I have the 2 additional lift mechanisms because so many people end up with the cracked factory hinge on the drivers side caused by harsh drops.

 

Does your bed/tailgate have a spray in bed liner?

 

Is that a question for OP?

 

Yes, sorry for the confusion

 

yep, line-x. the used tailgate i got has a plastic liner on it.

 

I need to start making them and selling them at that price lol.

 

There it is, thats what I was looking for, thanks!