Tailgate top edge protector strip - DIY

[Surly Old Bill]

I sometimes haul longer stuff in my bed using the half-lowered tailgate feature. The plastic factory trim is soft and fragile. I added some stainless to protect the plastic.

I had some 1x2 stainless angle for some reason, 10 pieces that I don't even remember where they came from. I build live theater sets and props, so it was some leftover from a show at some point.

the 1x2 fits almost perfect, but a 1.25"x2" would be perfect. I could not use the existing plastic snap holes because the 1" was a little short. The stainless had existing holes, but they did not match up to tailgate holes.

Procedure:
I centered the stainless piece on the tailgate cap and marked where to cut off the ends. (the 4 existing holes in the stainless piece were not centered; the cut removed 2" from one side and 3" from the other, leaving the remaining holes equidistant from center of tailgate)
I cut the stainless, and rounded/beveled the cuts.
I used the existing holes in the stainless to mark location for screws to attach it.
I drilled two 1/8" holes at these locations in the tailgate.
I attached the stainless trim using stainless caphead screws.
The end.

For those wondering, the bed cap uses a T-25 bit to remove. The plastic rivets holding the factory plastic bed cap are easily removed by hand by pressing up from underneath. There is plenty of room to replace these plastic rivets with stainless or aluminum bolts and nuts. I could have just used VHB tape to install my cap protector, but these two screws will work fine.

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[MavStangVa]

Just to clarify, and I like the addition by the way, to prevent damaging the factory plastic trim you damaged the factory plastic trim and sheet metal by adding addition holes?
If I was copying you , and I might, I might order this and use the factory holes. Thanks for the idea Bill

 

[craigt502]

I like the idea and looks like it will work great. Do you think sliding stuff to the edge of the tailgate, when the tailgate is lowered, could become problematic?

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Just to clarify, and I like the addition by the way, to prevent damaging the factory plastic trim you damaged the factory plastic trim and sheet metal by adding addition holes?
If I was copying you , and I might, I might order this and use the factory holes. Thanks for the idea Bill

Nah, you need at least 1.25" leg to be able to use factory holes. A 1.5x1.5 angle would work pretty good.

On the holes I drilled; I can easily rustproof and fill them with plugs if/when I remove or replace the DIY rail guard I made.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

I like the idea and looks like it will work great. Do you think sliding stuff to the edge of the tailgate, when the tailgate is lowered, could become problematic?

It actually sits in a recess compared the the height of the tailgate bed when lowered. Also, I'm going to put on some sort of mat or ply to protect the inside of the tailgate. I've already scratched through the paint a few times using it as an impromptu workbench or when loading stuff. The horse stall mat material I put in the bed is GREAT in the bed, but would add a lot of weight to the tailgate for opening and closing. I might try it anyway, since it would cost less than $20, and I could always use the stuff elsewhere.

 

[jonshep]

Sounds like you came up with a good way to solve your issue.

 

[710-oil-614]

Timely post. I noticed yesterday transporting some crushed stone that between the tailgate and bed where they spray in bedliner does not cover is getting a few scratches - nothing to the bare metal but enough that I don't like.

So I ordered some xpel PPF film to put on it. I know it won't be a pro job and that the PPF itself will get dinged up in time but I figured its a good way to protect what I can. if I have enough left over I'm going to put a strip above the windshield where others are seeing rust.

Will put a thread up with pictures when I'm done this weekend!

 

[Tall Hobbit]

What about laying down some kind of mat before loading the cargo?

 

[Dad]

Timely post. I noticed yesterday transporting some crushed stone that between the tailgate and bed where they spray in bedliner does not cover is getting a few scratches - nothing to the bare metal but enough that I don't like.

So I ordered some xpel PPF film to put on it. I know it won't be a pro job and that the PPF itself will get dinged up in time but I figured its a good way to protect what I can. if I have enough left over I'm going to put a strip above the windshield where others are seeing rust.

Will put a thread up with pictures when I'm done this weekend!

Looking forward to see this.

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