Tailgate Hole revisited, with easy solution

[P99Guy]

+1

No worries. Black will be the primary color. Custom colors will depend on what color filament I have on hand.

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[RichardCranium]

Richard Cranium has some stuff on Thingiverse, for those wanting to print themselves, but not that grate yet. I was considering the screen using self adhesive screen repair tape myself, but the grate, being easily removable would be an excellent option.

Will he be releasing the file on Thingiverse, or selling them?

That must be a different Richard Cranium. I do not have any files on Thingiverse.
@P99Guy reached out to me and offered to work with me since I don’t have my truck yet. He was willing to do the leg work for the design.
I will put it up on my wife’s Etsy page once the kinks are worked out. And I will post a discount code here for MTC members (basically cover costs l, shipping, and enough to go buy a coke).
@P99Guy is co-owner of the design, so he can choose how he distributes it as well.
Thanks to all that have shown an interest, especially @P99Guy for his support!

 

[Mightybeast]

That must be a different Richard Cranium. I do not have any files on Thingiverse.
@P99Guy reached out to me and offered to work with me since I don’t have my truck yet. He was willing to do the leg work for the design.
I will put it up on my wife’s Etsy page once the kinks are worked out. And I will post a discount code here for MTC members (basically cover costs l, shipping, and enough to go buy a coke).
@P99Guy is co-owner of the design, so he can choose how he distributes it as well.
Thanks to all that have shown an interest, especially @P99Guy for his support!

If you can create a full plug option vs with vents.

 

[RichardCranium]

If you can create a full plug option vs with vents.

Yes, I can do that.

 

[Last Truck Ever]

Me too, me too!!

Me too, please!!

 

[P99Guy]

I want to thank everyone for their interest.

We are still about a week away from having a final product.
This is just a fun project and not really intended to make us rich beyond our wildest dreams, more to just provide to the community and cover costs of Materials.

We want to make a durable, long life useful product, but that is sometimes difficult using printed plastics. I can't print metal....yet... (maybe at $500.00 per cover we can talk.)

We will have worked out final product and distribution details by then and post details on the Forum.

Thanks for your excitement and patience.

P99Guy

 

[2023Maverick]

I used a 4” thick clear film which I

used to protect interior plastic parts from pets and foot scraping. The film sticks very good and no residue is left behind when removing. Can be purchased through Amazon.

 

[Tim d]

Since the prior thread on this topic is closed, here's what I did to address it.

A past truck I owned had rust come through the paint on the bottom of the tailgate and it started to appear about 3 years from when it was new. I'm convinced it's from dirt, wood chips, leaves, grass, and everything else making its way into the tailgate vent holes. It sits in there for years and retains moisture and rusts it from the inside out.

Before I hauled anything in my Maverick, I wanted to reduce the odds that this was going to happen here. It'd be easiest to put some butyl tape right over it, or as others have suggested, 3D print a cover for it but I don't think those are good options as they'd reduce the airflow provided to the inside and make it even more likely to hold moisture.

In the existing tailgate hole, I added a zip tie to the harness which exits the hole to hold it to its plastic fastener better so it wouldn't move around as much as the gate is opened/closed. I cut a piece of fiberglass window screen a bit bigger than the hole, and notched out a spot on one end for wiring clearance.

I masked off the hole, then applied a couple millimeter layer of clear silicone around the perimiter. Embed the screen in the silicone.

I don't know if it will keep everything out, but it will certainly be better than it was. The fiberglass screen isn't the strongest, but I'll be installing a tailgate gap cover shortly to keep the big stuff out of the gap completely. And if I ever need access into the gate through that hole, the screen and silicone can just be peeled off.

Thanks for posting this,I did not know that hole was there,my ram does not have this.temporarily I was going to just duct tape it shut when hauling something and then remove the tape. I like your solution better.curious how good it will stay on.plz do an update after awhile.

 

[GotKT]

I ran out of daylight but my plan is to make a cover out of 3-ring binder divider, or similar flexible plastic. Managed to make a template for the larger rectangular hole, then realized it can be extended to cover the smaller opening.

 

[RichardCranium]

@P99Guy and I are really close to having solution. He is a 3D printing machine. We have been tweaking the design and he has been printing a bunch of prototypes. He is going to print our latest design tomorrow and hopefully he will update. I think we are close! Stay posted, we haven’t forgotten about you.

 

[GotKT]

Template needs adjusting but it fits and is removable.

Template is the right size but the plastic cracked during installation. Need to find more durable alrernative.

 

[BlueSpec1]

Kydex sheet might be an option. It's tough, flexible, heat forming.
I had used some once (.060) to make a missing trim piece under the hood.

KYDEX Thermoform Sheet - (Type V) - (P1 Texture) - (0.060 Thickness) - (8in x 12in Sheets)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HB6BY67?th=1

KYDEX Thermoform Sheet - (Type V) - (P1 Texture) - (0.080 Thickness) - (8in x 12in Sheets)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09SVGBM5G?th=1

 

[JB9]

Here's an alternative for those that prefer a 3D printed design...

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6265706/apps

 

[RichardCranium]

Here's an alternative for those that prefer a 3D printed design...

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6265706/apps

Cool! Thanks for posting this. Did you design it?

 

[JB9]

Cool! Thanks for posting this. Did you design it?

I did… they fit ok, but slightly loose. I’ll probably scale them up a couple percent if they ever come off. They were printed on an Ender 3 Pro which is dimensionally quite accurate using PETG filament for higher temperatures.

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