How stout is the tailgate?

Definitely “Safety First”.

As an “Ol Timer” I know how important it is to exercise and stretch daily.

 

I can press on the inside of the tailgate with my thumb and watch the sheet metal flex. Same with the front load wall. I've never seen that before on a domestic brand truck. Can't speak to total load capacity because I have no idea, but the construction of the tailgate and bed IS a lot "cheaper" on these Tundras than what I'm used to. Just saying....

 

Can’t find anything in the Owners Manual on max weight capacity for the tailgate so I googled it.

How much weight can a Toyota Tailgate hold? But that’s from 2008 so not sure what it’s worth.

According to Toyota Corporate, the tailgate is only rated for 200 pounds. That is what they were claiming when people's tailgates were failing last year. I've had 600+ pounds on mine without a problem.

Funny tho for the Tacoma it says 400 pounds.

So who knows. Maybe somebody can find it in the manual somewhere. Or maybe later I’ll call Toyota and see what they say.

 

I don't have an answer about the tailgate, but I installed a new gun safe about a year ago that I won in a raffle. It is a very large and heavy one. It was given to me laying on it's back on a borrowed trailer. The most difficult part for me was standing the safe upright. Once I got the necessary help standing it up I used what I call the Egyptian method to roll it through the doorway and into place. The Egyptian method is simply to use several two or three foot long pieces of 3/4 inch pvc pipe under the safe to roll it on and when the safe rolled off of one piece of pipe I moved that piece to the front and repeated, like the Egyptians did for the pyramids. I even made several turns with the lengths of pipe under the safe. The 3/4 inch pipe was just high enough to get over the threshold of my front door.

 

Really depends on the total surface area where the weight is focused. Then there are safety factors too. Lots of variables to consider.

 

I would at least do the plywood. Rolling a round tire of a motorcycle or 4-wheeler wouldn't compare to the hard edges of a safe as it's dropped and slid around. I'd do the trailer But that's just me.

 

So no answer yet.

Toyota corporate couldn’t find a stated max capacity number either. I also called the San Antonio plant but nobody even answered the phone.

Gotta be a Toyota engineer that knows the answer. I’ve seen so many wrenched tailgates in my days from folks overloading.

It’s surprising to me that it’s not in the owners manual. The steel cables that hold it have to have a max load weight capacity.

I mean like if 2 Fat Guys are sitting on the tailgate having lunch and a 3rd Fat Guy comes over……is he the Breaking point. Hahaha. Toyota gonna say sorry……we only warranty/cover for 2 Fat Guys at a time.

 

LOL, well....the internet is never wrong...

 

British pounds!

 

If those are British numbers, maybe that's what it costs. How many dollars is 4200 pounds?

 

I’d be more worried about the payload, might need a 3/4 ton.

 

$1.36 per pound. Nope, not the cost of the tailgate.