Toyota Tundra Forum

Without knowing the golf cart was on it, I would guess the truck was backed into something with the tailgate down. However, there would be noticeable damage to the edge of the tailgate and from the little that is shown in the last picture, it looks like that is not the case. So my guess would be that the truck was going too fast down a very bumpy road. I've driven my truck down a dirt farm road with 3 men sitting on the tailgate. I was not going very fast and my tailgate had no problem with them on there. There was more than just the weight of the golf cart acting on that tailgate. There had to be some hard bumps involved in there.

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2007 SR5 Crewmax 5.7L 4x4
Mods: nerf bars, Truxedo tonneau, radar detector power, 3M clear bra, fog lights, black billet grille, rear differential breather, parking sensors, Line-X, power tailgate lock, hood safety latch mod, one off driving lights behind grille, Pioneer NAV w/ OEM camera, Flowmaster 50 SUV dual/dual, blue LED dash lights, Volant CAI, Llumar tint, CompuStar Pro alarm, ProComp 6066 20" wheels, Cooper Zeon LTZ 275/60/20 tires, OME HD coilover lift, Firestone helper air bags, stereo cable lock, Tekonsha P3 brake controller
All mod descriptions and pictures © 2007-2009 by Toxarch. They may be copied only for personal use and the mods may be done for non-profit only.

Oh I hear what you all are saying and know what could have happened. I looked for evidence and will take apart the gate to see what I can. It went all the way there with no problems and the gate was straight when she left. I know cause I put a small scratch in the paint with one of the ramps and was really upset about it. I and a freind looked at it and comiserated for a 20 minutes with a cold beverage.

I think if it had been hit there would besome evidence on the top of the gate but there is not a dent or even a bow. Only the bow that would be caused by the weight of the cart.

either way that was one expensive lunch hour to order up an new gate.

wayne

OK so I took apart the tail gate to see what I could see. I can now confirm NOTHING hit the gate from the back it is straight. It seems there is a stiffening stinger that runs right at the crease, when the cart overloaded that stringer is caused the stringer to pull away from the gate skin. (It was only glued on with some sort of seam seal.) and that is what creased the gate.

When Toxarch talked about a dirt road it got me thinking about the 3miles of whoops and rocks driven by one 17 year old wanna be desert racer, Totaly unsupervised in a 380 hp Tundra. I think the mystery is solved.

I drive that road 2 or 3 times a month with no problems but I pay for the equipment.

thanks for the help. Watch how you load the tail gate

Wayne

Boy that is some seriously soft looking metal for a tail gate, hate to say it but I have done much more to my 04 ford tail gate with no problems??

had my ATV on tailgate - no damage to mine..

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2007 CrewMax 5.7 TRD
lineX bedliner
Diamondback bed

I'm getting an ATV, so that is good to hear. I'd rather just load it in the back of the truck than have to worry about loading it in the trailer and taking the trailer along for a weekend hunting trip.

Did you take pictures of the "stinger"? I am having a hard time picturing it in my fuzzy brain.

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2007 Tundra 5.7, Double Cab, SR5, Blue Streak

TRD (stickers removed), de-badged, Volant Intake, Zoomers exhaust , Doug Thorley headers, Leer 100R, Bedrug, Curt front mounted hitch, Sirius interface kit, Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller, OEM alarm activation, Wet Okole seat covers, Stubby Antenna, Folding Rear Seat Mod for Double Cab, Unichip

OOPs typo I ment "Stringer" just a bent plate of sheetmetal used to stiffen up the gate. I will get a pic when I can.

wayne

Well that makes sense then.. if she's prone to pushing it fast, then i could see that. Realistically, nothing could have hit it from behind so evenly as to make the damage identical on both sides. So yeah, i think you've got it nailed.

Anyway.. we'll learn from your mistake (that is, don't let a 17yr old drive your truck) haha... thanks for the lesson

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CrewMAX 5.7 SR5
Surrey, BC Canada

LINE-X Bed Liner, Tekonsha Prodigy Brake Controller, ScanGauge II

Geddes Family Homestay - Hosting international students in Vancouver, Surrey

LOL you got that right she is a good driver and has driven 4X4s in places that most would not. But still is a kid and may not make good desicisions all the time or think of the consequence.


Wayne