Tailgate Lettering Cover Panel?

[Hamerhead]

I know a lot of you add the black lettering to your tailgates to make it stand out more, but I'm on the other side - I want to cover them. With most cars, I usually get out the hairdryer and take off as many badges as I can, as long as there's no holes behind them. But those big ol' MAVERICK letters being embossed into the tailgate present a problem.

I'd like it to look like this (forgive my Microsoft Paint butchery):

....or even better, like this:

...because (to me) the cleaner, the better.

I know it would take a bodyshop to do the bottom one, but the top one seems do-able.

Has anybody seen a block-off panel like that (top picture)? I've searched the Google and came up empty. My searching skills are suspect, though....

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[Redline]

Isn't that what Bondo is for?
The second one is a clean look that would go well with a roll pan.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

How about a color matched magnetic sign panel?

HRG

 

[Carlitos_92]

I know a lot of you add the black lettering to your tailgates to make it stand out more, but I'm on the other side - I want to cover them.

I agree with you, but you know you probably made a bunch of pacemakers ratchet up a notch with that crazy talk.

I like HRG's idea of the magnetized sheet. You could pretty much do it DIY with touch-up paint.

If you're REALLY serious, you could also just send your doctored up pics to some paintless dent repair outfits and see what it would take. If they could do it, it probably wouldn't be cheap, but they do have access to inside the tailgate if they remove a panel.

 

[Deleted member 7089]

....or even better, like this:

...because (to me) the cleaner, the better.

Even better...without the backup camera. Right.

Why don't you fill in the dimples above the wheel wells while you are it?

 

[Deleted member 37952]

I’m on your side too! In my opinion, adding the lettering to make it stand out makes it look worse but to each their own of course. I feel like the best look would just be to replace the tailgate with non stamped sheet metal but I’m not aware of any easy solutions for that. The magnetic sheet above might work but I think it would be pretty obvious at most angles and look weird. Might be worth trying if the lettering bothers you that much though!

 

[RideSolo]

No Bondo, though. That stuff won't hold up when used that thick. It might look good for a while but then would start to crack and shrink away. The old motorcyclist's trick to fill bigger voids in gas tanks and other places is to use JB Weld, it's stable and won't crack or pull away and can be filed and sanded. Finish that off w/ Bondo and and sanding filler and you might pull it off. A real body worker would cut out the whole section and then weld in and finish a whole new panel. Would I do it? Heck no!

 

[Gray Goose]

Open up the tailgate. hammer the letters flat on an anvil. Likely will need to repaint.

 

[Hamerhead]

Didn't think of a magnetic sign piece. That's a pretty great non-permanent solution. Hmmmm.....

And I forgot about that damn camera (you know, the one I waited 3 months for 'em to fix before I could bring the truck home!). I use my mirrors, mainly. But the wheel arches actually serve a purpose.

I know a bodyman that could make it invisible, along with quite a few $$$.

I'm really disappointed that none of you guys said duct tape. You're slipping....

I was really hoping something already existed. Time to get creative, I guess.

Sorry about the pacemakers!

 

[Vettereddie]

Ford already makes a no-drill tailgate applique, you could look at doing a fiberglass mat over it to hide the logo and build out the bottom to cover the embossed lettering as a flat section. May even be able to have a small tinted lens added to keep the rear camera functional.

Maverick 2022-2025 Air Design® Satin Black Tailgate Applique

Best part is it's all 3M tape, so removeable if needed at a later time or for trade in.

 

[Linc64]

For an even cleaner look.......

 

[canuckford]

I know a lot of you add the black lettering to your tailgates to make it stand out more, but I'm on the other side - I want to cover them. With most cars, I usually get out the hairdryer and take off as many badges as I can, as long as there's no holes behind them. But those big ol' MAVERICK letters being embossed into the tailgate present a problem.

I'd like it to look like this (forgive my Microsoft Paint butchery):

....or even better, like this:

...because (to me) the cleaner, the better.

I know it would take a bodyshop to do the bottom one, but the top one seems do-able.

Has anybody seen a block-off panel like that (top picture)? I've searched the Google and came up empty. My searching skills are suspect, though....

---
Does look cleaner but putting some kind of panel on that won't look clean.
On an old beater I've done some body work to fill cavities with schluter mortar, I'd never suggest doing this on a nice vehicle like this. The mortar is weather proof but it's going to look like CR*P on a nice new vehicle.

 

[Frenchy]

---
Does look cleaner but putting some kind of panel on that won't look clean.
On an old beater I've done some body work to fill cavities with schluter mortar, I'd never suggest doing this on a nice vehicle like this. The mortar is weather proof but it's going to look like CR*P on a nice new vehicle.

If you knew a body shop. it would be fairly easy to replace the whole exterior skin and to paint it to match the existing color.
Personally I like my maverick with e letters better.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Didn't think of a magnetic sign piece. That's a pretty great non-permanent solution. Hmmmm.....

And I forgot about that damn camera (you know, the one I waited 3 months for 'em to fix before I could bring the truck home!). I use my mirrors, mainly. But the wheel arches actually serve a purpose.

I know a bodyman that could make it invisible, along with quite a few $$$.

I'm really disappointed that none of you guys said duct tape. You're slipping....

I was really hoping something already existed. Time to get creative, I guess.

Sorry about the pacemakers!

Besides duct tape, they also missed the often used silicone sealant.
. Using your mirrors is great, as long as you don't expect to see anything less than 4 ft tall.

 

[Hamerhead]

For an even cleaner look.......

You forgot the mirror and taillights!

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