As many of you are aware, I have my custom tops I change out and use throughout the year here in the desert. Here is my home made "winter top".

And here is my "summer top" for more efficient A/C purposes.


Here is my tailgate. You'll notice the back half of the fiberglass top on the ceiling. It still fits and functions with the rear window like stock. But mostly, I'm just driving around with unneeded weight in the back with all the "stuff" in that tailgate, and a metal tool box clanking around in the rear driving me nuts with the slightest bumps or variations in the road, ESPECIALLY OFF-ROAD!!


I was able to aquire a free used tailgate shell from a Gen1 4Runner from a local Pirate member "HMI1". It was originally MY paint code 033, but repainted red, then later rattle canned maroon. Not perfect, a little bondo, but a great platform for my idea testing. I didn't want to screw my perfectly good tailgate up, because what I am about to do will either work great, or fail tremendously. I started by cutting out the inside sheetmetal (a little too much I later realized, but still workable). I made a box from wood the general shape that I could use to still work with the latches and pull cables.


I used some cheap sheet metal roofing flange to make this portion mountable to the sheet metal of the tailgate.

The latches are actually a junkyard find from a Gen2 4Runner. The 3 side holes line up just fine, but you may notice that the cable mounts point up, rather that down. This actually worked in my favor. The hardest part was figuring a way that I could use 1 key to unlock both latches. Usually, this is all fabbed in the dead center of the tailgate, and I wanted to keep the cables for the latches up and out of the way.

I used my existing wire harness for the tailgate. All I needed to do was lengthen the wires for the license plate light bar (scored from "fireLt." on Pirate), and jumper the 2 outermost wires for the latch plug to keep the crappy "rear door" light off from the dash cluster. What was left over was bundled out of the way and strapped down.


After this, and getting a little excited, I painted the tailgate with cans of color matching Plasti-Kote spray. Not showroom quality by any means, but then again, this truck ain't no show queen either. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


After purchasing some 1/2" birch plywood and a piano style hinge, I was able to start laying out tools, and stapeling velcro style straps I would use to keep everything in it position. I was even able to fit my air compressor, a tupperware container filled with spare nut/bolts/fuses/hose clamps, etc. The hose for the compressor is locked up in the side of the bed. I also made another board covered in foam rubber for an additional layer of tools as well. This how it looks with the lid closed and locked.

Unlock and open the lid.


And move the top board outta the way.


I'm still not done though. I plan on either sheeting the plywood with aluminum diamond plate, or, use the plywood as a template and use a thicker plate. I guess it could also be a work bench too.
I used to keep a metal tool box chained and paddle locked to my roll bar in the rear. That dang thing would clank and clunk and rattle over everything. Sometime flip over on the trail, and I would really be ticked <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />
Now I need to get used to the quiet I have now. Dips, speed bumps, etc makes the interior sound like a caddy <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
This little mod ain't for everyone with a 4Runner I know. Not everyone has 5 possibilities for tops to use, and not everyone is in a desert climate. But for me.. So far, so good! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />