I need a new tailgate for my 1986 4WD pickup. Assuming they are about the same price, would you get a used one and repaint it, or buy a primered aftermarket one like from JC Whitney.... http://www.jcwhitney.com/1980-1995-t...6&filterid=g12

 

Used and repaint if you can find one worth fixing and the aftermarket ones I have seen are far from quality, thin metal cheap. Possible to get a new one from the dealer then you would have to rig some sort of hand brake due to your leg went to the dealer.

I always try to find used but all the tailgates that year have seen some better days although I haven't checked for a while maybe someone else is making them that is a better quality??

Good luck let us know what you do

 

Agree ^^^^ the aftermarket ones I have seen are poor quality. I am sure there are better ones but not from the few I have seen. There are still good used ones out there, they can just be hard to find.

Pull the interior panel and make sure it isnt full of debri and the drain holes are clear. I have a tailgate that looks great on the outside but is about to fall apart at the bottom.

This tailgate is dent free, but was filled with dirt,mud,?? and looking inside of it, it is just a matter of time before it has big rust holes in it. It doesnt show to well but the area between my fingers is real thin and is rust underneath.

 

Thanks guys. Thought I had a used one lined up, but it fell thru (damn craigslist). I'm gonna keep looking for a good used one.

 

Check out toyotafiberglass.com here.

I don't know if the 84-89 rear hatch for the 4Runner will work w the pickups, but it's worth a try to find out. The owner is also a member here at yotatech. Check it out.

 

I picked up a new tailgate (90 pickup) from the dealer for about $130 ish
Check out a dealer and look at new. You might be surprised

 

Holy crap!!!! Do you know someone?? That's unheard of!!

I checked on quite a bit of parts and I vaguely remember checking on the tailgate to get when I do paint and it wasn't 130 bucks?

 

Don't know anyone. Just searched the part # and called the dealer to order it in. Good thing about ordering from the dealer is that there was no shipping charges. They ordered it in and I picked it up when it arrived.

Make sure you look for the tailgate shell. Looks like they also have an assembled tailgate for way more cash

Worked for me and it's OEM

PS: Don't know if it made a difference but do your homework before heading down. I used the Toyota EPC download to search what I needed. The dealership was REALLY co-operative when I started quoting part numbers....

 

Here's your Toyota part number and price

This site has them listed for $135.74
http://www.midatlantictoyotaparts.co...sy/65700-87308

Any dealer should be able to order them if they are still available.
Part # is 65700-87308 (should be tailgate for a US style (Non-Japanese) bed)

 

Interesting. That's a great price for new OEM tailgate. So the tailgates that run around $400 are for a Japanese bed, and the $135 is for the US beds? You can see both listed here: http://www.oemtoyotascionparts.com/p...ware/tail-gate

Edit: The two $400-ish tailgates say "To be used on vehicles with a 4 in the third position of the V.I.N. number." My VIN starts with JT4. The $135 tailgate says "To be used on vehicles with a 5 in the third position of the V.I.N. number." So I'm guessing the cheaper one won't work for my truck??

 

I'm thinking for the amount to be saved you might want to investigate
Let us know how it shakes out...

 

Checked with two local dealers. The cheaper tailgate (65700-87308) comes up as the correct one in their systems, which is great, but there are none left in warehouses. A dealer search also turned up none available. I emailed Mid-Atlantic and one other place to see if they actually have any in stock. Anyone know of a good OEM parts dealer that might have some on hand?