I have the one from Amazon delivering today, but I'm returning it and ordering yours to send to me here in Indiana. I completely forgot you're the OG. That was a close one. Thanks to whoever mentioned this and slapped my brain.
Yes, but the drain holes are small and easy to clog. That is why I cover my large tailgate holes. I believe (and many will disagree) that keeping garbage out is more important than venting through the big holes.
This was my biggest fear - loss of camera due to the water/mud and the same for the tailgate lock.
YES on a flap cover! There definitely needs to be ventilation to dry out thoroughly because condensation happens also.
I would recommend pulling the access panel on your tailgate and checking the wiring connector. Sorry that you are having issues with your camera nowThis was my biggest fear - loss of camera due to the water/mud and the same for the tailgate lock.
Sure enough........
Gotta buy = Agreed and I sprung for the one piece on Amazon. HOWEVER, if somone doesn't want to $pend for a simple piece of black plastic, doesn't have a 3D printer, I suggest what you did. Alternate: Clear, heavy shipping tape works well too and looks decent.
Thanks for the comparison pictures. The Mabett plug actually looks like some of our first designs. Almost like the file got stolen before we finished prototyping it. The cover is slightly smaller (we enlarged ours a bit from the first design) and the hole for the cables is larger on ours. (Another change we made after prototyping, it wasn’t big enough for some harnesses for some reason.) I may be wrong, but the small hole tabs on the Mabett cover look like they are too far over. Maybe that is the reason for the tabs breaking. It is interesting though, it seems like some people think the Mabett one is great and others have problems with it, but most seem to like the OG cover, and if they dont @P99Guy provides great customer service. I just forget to modify the designs to make them fit on tailgates with spray on bed liner coverage down there.Just a plug for the efforts of @P99Guy and @RichardCranium... I have had both the "Amazon" Mabett versions of this tailgate hole cover, as well as the one fabricated and sold by our local forum member. The one you get from the MTC family is much better IMHO.
In the pic below, the MTC version is on top, and the Mabett version is on bottom.
The Mabett version's passenger-side end tab broke on the first installation attempt. From that point on, that end never held tight. It seemed like the lip that inserts into the smaller hole wasn't a good fit, so I tried trimming some of it. No dice. The ABS, while heat resistant, is too flexible to stay tight to the tailgate, especially missing a tab.
David's version is rigid, has much more "tabbage" and snaps in firmly. It is also larger than the Mabett, so you get a bit more overlap where the plastic/metal meet.
I have an aftermarket SIBL that does not cover that area, so no issues with clearance.
TL;DR if you are happy with the Mabett, that is great. But I think there is a much better option from @P99Guy, AND you can get it vented, or in white. Just my experience...
David,
My issue is that the camera and latch locks are not waterproof, but water resistant. When I washed my truck bed out and closed the tailgate, I seriously watched what looked like gallons of muddy water pour out. That means all connectors, housings, ect in the tailgate were soaking for several minutes in muddy water.
