I just got an 87 4Runner dirt cheap, and it was rearended. The tailgate glass is okay, but since the tailgate is wrinkled, it won't go down. I need to be able to hammer out the tailgate a bit so I can eventually get the glass out, or lower it. I figure if I can get to the guts of the tailgate I might be in luck. I have never wrenched on a 4Runner, and any help would be appreciated.

I don't think I am going to replace the gate, since they are selling for more than I paid for the truck, but I would like to see if I can get it functional again..

Thanks!!

 

Just pot the carpet pannel off to get to the inside. you may not evey have to do any more disasembly than that to get the dents out depending on whare they are:

 

depending on how big/bad the dents are, you may be able to rent a dent puller from your local auto supply store. if the glass is down, it will be in the way of popping the dents out from the inside. you would have to remove pretty much all the inner workings of the gate to get at the outer skin from the inside.

lee