Tundra Tailgate Failures!!! I am in the Club. - Page 3

stevencrosbie · #31 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:48 AM

I was gonna load a buddies atv in my truck tomorrow...

Guess we will just load it into his Dodge Dakota....I don't want to break anything on my new truck...I'd rather not fight Toyota and his ATV is 800 lbs...

AlaskaCub · #32 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:52 AM

Yeah especially if you have a CrewMax, I cant imagine what your tailgate would look like. The pics of the white cremax above display damage from a Golf cart that the owner could lift up the portion that was on the tailgate so it wasn't that heavy.A 800 pound Quad might break your tailgate and fall out of the back of the truck...Seriously!

stevencrosbie · #33 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 01:06 AM

Ugh...I'm glad I didn't buy my truck to hold an ATV...it was just a weekend trip and my truck is better for the traveling portion than his Dodge.

I love this truck though. I hope they come up with a fix for this as people like you really depend on these aspects of the truck. I depend more on that trailer hitch.

If they come up with a fix...I'll be the first one in

Stripped Honda · #34 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 05:56 AM

its sad i noticed a small dent in the top left corner but never thought of looking at the inside of the tailgate.... i am sure the seam will be cracked open ..... i load atv's all the time in my truck ... i am not happy at all

highway74 · #35 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 07:17 AM

What I don't get is Toyota offers a bed extender to utilize the full length of the bed and tailgate. This would lead me to believe that Toyota has confidence the tailgate can support weight, how much is the issue. If they are going to give an owner a hard time about a terrible issue such as the weak tailgates they should definately not be selling a bed extender as an accessory.

gobblerman · #36 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 07:33 AM

Everyone keeps saying Toyota will take care of these problems. I sadly have my doubts. In my experience when the fix is cheap or few vehicles are effected this is the case, but this is a problem that will effect 200,000+ vehicles potentially costing millions. I just don't see them taking resposibility for this.

EVOL ARDNUT · #37 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 08:51 AM

Should Have Waited 2 More Years, Before I Bought My Favorite Truck!
My Father Said This After With 8 Truck And 25 Car Experience Over Lifetime About First Year Models, But I Had T Have It Now! And Now We All Will Pay Price With First Year Issues And Fighting Toyota To Fix!

If They Will Fix, Or Blame Customers For Using Tundra Welll Like A Truck Should Be Used!

I Bought It For Next 10 Years, But Now I Wonder If Other Problems Or Weaknesses In Truck Crop Up!

Torch · #38 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:20 PM

Good post AKCUB. I don't have a wheeler but my friend does. I am glad we didn't load his wheeler in the back of my truck when we went to Chitina in August. I am wondering if two large men on the gate wouldn't do that damage also. You answered the first question I would have had. I was wondering if a bed liner would help the situation but it is quite evident by reading the entire thread that it doesn't seem to help. Hopefully Toyota will fix all of our tailgates.

AlaskaCub · #39 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:36 PM

Whats pretty obvious is that a 200 lb man standing on the tailgate would quickly realize just how poorly built the gate is. I weigh 180 lbs and I can feel it flex under my weight just standing on it (as a matter of fact I noticed it this morning on my way to work when I stopped to dump trash at the transfer site). I believe the reason that the one guys tailgate that fell off and damaged his taillights and the bumper cuz he drove with the gate down is because the tailgates are so lightweight (cheap) that it could easily bounce up with no effort, especially with that whole spring loaded jobby on the bottom. So yes I believe the chinsy tailgate is a big issue in more ways than one. I am leaning towards safety too. Someonme brought up a great point about the bed extender. Theres no way this gate could handle much more than groceries on it for any length of travels so the bed extender is basically useless.

idwoodhauler · #40 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:40 PM

The lock on my tailgate has stopped working. It will not turn with the key. Anyone else have this problem? I've had it loaded with some wood overhanging but I don't think it had much weight on it. Maybe they'll beef it up and replace the chincy one if it breaks.

AlaskaCub · #41 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idwoodhauler

The lock on my tailgate has stopped working. It will not turn with the key. Anyone else have this problem? I've had it loaded with some wood overhanging but I don't think it had much weight on it. Maybe they'll beef it up and replace the chincy one if it breaks.

I'd check the top inside corners of yours as that seems to be one of the week spots, in addition I'd check the seam that runs down the side of the tailgate as it appears that just having weight on it splits the two skins in the center as well.

eusasc · #42 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:53 PM

Be nice to hear some feedback on people that have had tailgates do this that had them at the dealership. I would like to hear what responses have been, not suppositions on what people here THINK they will say.

The heaviest bike that I have is a Busa which probably weighs in a little over 500 lbs, so with me on top of it say 750. I've only had it in the back twice. Most of my bikes are well below that. So far I've not had any damage. I bought a 6.5 foot bed so I don't have to leave the back end of the bikes sitting on the tail gate, so it's only the loading and unloading when there's any weight on the thing.

rockstate45 · #43 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:55 PM

DUDE! I went to the Toyota dealership just a little while ago to ask them about my transmission and rough idle. Apparently the jerk into gear is normal and the rough idle is normal because of the skirtless pistons. SO anyway, while I was driving with the salesman he brings up that he wants to buy a Tundra. I told him it was a good truck and asked if he had an ATV. He said no, and I brought up this thread. He basically called me a liar haha. He didn't have any reasoning at all but he basically said to me, "No, that's not the case." He was a great guy though and bent over backwards to help me with my issues.

-rockstate

ckeck · #44 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:56 PM

Has anyone called Toyota or taken their trucks with broken tailgates to the dealer yet??

Supposed to be picking up my new Tundra Monday and I'd like to hear some feedback before then...

AlaskaCub · #45 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:58 PM

I dont think that the dealership is gonna be able to tell us much. They are gonna say ""Hmmm how much weight did you put on it?" this is gonna be one of those things that Toyota is gonna have to recieve a lot of complaints before they even consider this an issue. I know folks at my dealership and I'll be there Monday morning to get the ball rolling and I'll definately update you guys. I believe that everyone who has this issue is gonna need to call Toyota directly so they can start accumulating the concerns. Going to the dealership alone and saying this is BS to the service manager isn't gonna do it!