Not sure if this is the right section or not..

So my tailgate is an absolute mess. It's been like that since I bought the truck, and despite some recent attempts at body work, it still looks like a target for slingshots. Has anybody ever done something creative with a tailgate? I know I could put a tailgate "net" on, rig up some plywood, but I'm trying to retain a somewhat attractive vehicle. Alas, I haven't the money for any major mods, and unless a tailgate randomly slides itself into my back pocket, I won't be coming across a clean, OEM one any time soon.

Any ideas?

 

Louvered Tailgate
http://4wheelonline.com/Towing/Custom_Flow_Tailgates.205488.0

Air Flow Tailgate
http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/parts/512/go-industries-air-flow-tailgate-2/

Try asking these guys to build something.
http://www.norcalprerunners.com/id56.html

 

Those are some interesting ideas.. Thank you!

 

You're going to hopefully want to keep it cheap(er) for a fix I hope. If your gate still opens and closes, but just looks fugly, with a moderate layer of bondo, you could layer it on, sand it smooth, and go from there. Or if you could care less about the toy logo, a co-worker from years back, (no pics sorry ) took light tin/sheetmetal and tack welded a "new" skin over his outside layer, he wrapped it around the sides, welded it, sanded it down, and it still fit snug enough to open easily with 3 fingers and not needing a crowbar to open. (He later cut out some "Toyota" letters and bondo'd them into the back.

 

I got a Nissan hardbody tailgate on mine it'd look ok if I had a u.s. bed but I don't so it looks fugly

 

My thoughts are to just make one that lifts out .

Expanded metal on a square tube frame that slides down into a channel made with two pieces of angle.

One of those projects that gets pushed aside and forgotten about till times like this.

Push pins to hold it in place

Painted a nice Hot Pink

 

NO HOT PINK I REPEAT NO HOT PINK.

 

google "toyota pickup tailgate skin". there are a few company's who make them.

 

This is one I built for my truck. Its in the work bench in this picture. I'll have to take a picture with it on the truck.