tailgate problems

Ricky Bobby · 10-21-2007, 10:47 PM

Here is a petition that the guys over at tundra solutions have put out for those of you that may have an issue with your tailgate.

http://www.petitiononline.com/Kwasted/petition.html

slamdyota · 10-22-2007, 04:53 PM

I have not experienced any probs. I have probably only had my tailgate down about 4 times since owning my truck though. What kind of things are happening?

***EchoHoLiK*** · 10-22-2007, 06:03 PM

It's about freakin' time Toyota make their tailgates out of diamond

Ricky Bobby · 10-22-2007, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slamdyota

I have not experienced any probs. I have probably only had my tailgate down about 4 times since owning my truck though. What kind of things are happening?

There are some guys that load 4wheelers in the bed of their trucks, and the seam on both upper corners is starting to open up. Also, there was a guy that left his tailgate down, and hit a pothole or something that made the bed bounce real bad, and his tailgate flew off!!!

Go to tundrasolutions.com, and check out the thread "tailgate problems", they have pictures to show the different problems.

Just wanted to share this with yall, and see if anyone who may have a problem can voice their concern.

***mhadden*** · 10-23-2007, 11:50 AM

For trucks, the tailgate should be rigid and strong. Unfortunately, Toyota hasn't been up-to-par on these issues. But I will bring up one point, I've never seen the inside of a domestic tailgate, so I can't compare the two. I definitely think Toyota should spend a couple more dollars (that they'd pass onto the consumer anyways) and weld the tailgates instead of using that goo glue. But, I think people think a tailgate should hold 500 lbs, and given the physics and general design of every tailgate, it shouldn't be expected to hold that weight.

Either way, I didn't have a problem with my Tacoma tailgate besides a cracking sound when my fat ass sat on it, but I have absolutely no rigidity problems with my tailgate on this Tundra.

wonger · 10-23-2007, 10:23 PM

what does it say in the owners manual about how much the tailgate can hold..

chakis24 · 10-23-2007, 10:28 PM

id expect it to hold that. how else do you load stuff like that into the bed? the tailgate has been used like that since the beginning of the pickup. this is bad toyota design. there were never problems with the previous gen tundra, or many other pickups for that matter. i wonder if it has something to do with the hydraulic drop it has?

Ricky Bobby · 10-23-2007, 10:51 PM

We need to come up with something like the "gator savor". There was a guy on the tacoma forum that made these for a while. It would bolt over the inboard side of your tailgate to increase its strength.

That should keep the tailgate from bending from your fat-ass!!!

skidmike · 10-24-2007, 12:37 PM

I've owned alot of trucks over the years and the tailgates have stood up to lots of use/abuse. The worst case I can think of was when my bro and I bent (note, did not collapse) the tailgate on my 1990 Nissan, while loading a 1200-lb gun safe into it. The gate held and worked fine thereafter, it was just a little er.. warped.

I think a tailgate should hold a minimum of 500 lbs, concentrated across the center third of the tailgate's width. This would provide more than adequate strength for almost any job, while not being unduly difficult for manufacturers to achieve. Hopefully, all these tailgate issues will lead to manufacturers recognizing the need for more strength. Failing that, the government needs to step in and establish a minimum standard. This is a safety issue, as any tailgate that collapses under several hundred pounds' load could cause serious harm to anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby. Not knowing what one can or cannot place on a tailgate renders the payload capacity of the vehicle almost irrelevant, as many loads must traverse the tailgate on their way to the bed.

-- mike

chakis24 · 10-24-2007, 12:44 PM

youre right, it is a safety issue, and as such it should be recalled. but its not for some reason- same with the camshafts.

dakmor · 10-25-2007, 05:20 PM

What other manufacturers have had this problem that needs to be addressed Mike?

Metrictundra · 10-28-2007, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhadden

For trucks, the tailgate should be rigid and strong. Unfortunately, Toyota hasn't been up-to-par on these issues. But I will bring up one point, I've never seen the inside of a domestic tailgate, so I can't compare the two. I definitely think Toyota should spend a couple more dollars (that they'd pass onto the consumer anyways) and weld the tailgates instead of using that goo glue. But, I think people think a tailgate should hold 500 lbs, and given the physics and general design of every tailgate, it shouldn't be expected to hold that weight.

Either way, I didn't have a problem with my Tacoma tailgate besides a cracking sound when my fat ass sat on it, but I have absolutely no rigidity problems with my tailgate on this Tundra.

You would think that the goo glue would not be the answer. But as I recall, it must. The GM boys use it to hold there doors on.

dpktm · 10-28-2007, 03:05 PM

I wondered how they got the tailgate to fall so gently. Then I bought one and can feel how thin the steel is- .047" On my reg cab, which has a long door, I can see the metal shudder when I close it - gently.
I think the Chevy has a real light gate as well. They show a gate going up on it's own when it's being lifted for '08. It can't be very heavy. The Tundra tailgate is tall (wide) as well. More than 4" taller than my old Chevy and nowhere as heavy a gauge of sheetmetal. It's a real issue for people turning their trucks over on a regular basis.

skidmike · 11-02-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakmor

What other manufacturers have had this problem that needs to be addressed Mike?

Well, I've never had another truck that had such a flimsy tailgate as my 07 Tacoma. Given the pics on here and elsewhere of the new Tundra tailgate carnage, I'd say it's a systemic thing with Toyota's design of their new trucks.

All of my former trucks (Nissans, Chevrolets, GMCs, Mazdas, Toyotas) have had solid tailgates that never gave me any doubt that I was safe when loading them. Since it appears manufacturers have taken lightening components to a rather absurd extreme, perhaps some minimal strength standards and associated testing are in order. Notice how I'm not singling Toyota out here - just arguing for common sense testing that tells us what we can reasonably expect from the product, no matter who builds it.

-- mike

Firehand · 11-02-2007, 07:13 PM

I have not had my truck very long but the one glaring issue I have so far is the cheezy, flimsy tailgate. What the heck were they thinking. I think the tailgate should hold at least 500lbs. That is the weight of two good sized people just sitting on the tailgate. I can't believe they put this thin gauge, unbraced metal on a TRUCK. A truck that is rated for 3/4 ton. You got to get the load past the darn tailgate!!

The thing should not just fall off either.