tailgate swap?

[19801981]

ive got an 80 model yota 4wd ... what year tail gate still has the lip on it but opens in the middle and will work to swap

[WHITE_TRASH]

Opens in the middle??

[kyle_22r]

there's 2 styles of tailgate on early trucks...one with a center latch, and one with 2 latches.  i think mostly sr5 trucks had the center latch, never really figured it out myself

look for ones from '79-83

[kneedownnate]

My 81 2wd is as basic as they came, but came with the center release tailgate.  You're most likely to find them on 81-83s, and they all have the lip on them, the hidden lip wasn't an option till the next body style,   Nate

[WHITE_TRASH]

lol ok Im stupid on this one.   Now I get it, my 81 had a center release as well.  It seems to be mostly 2x's that got the side latches from what Ive seen.

[19801981]

no no o ...79-83 have side latches but maybe 84 was the middle latch or something like that   

[WHITE_TRASH]

Nope as I said my 81 had a center release.  It did NOT have dual latches.

[kneedownnate]

no no o ...79-83 have side latches but maybe 84 was the middle latch or something like that   

??Am I missing something here?  I may have misinterpreted what you said, but my 81, my old 83 and an 83 in a local yard and many other pre 84s I've seen have center release.  And WT, that's funny, cause most side latchers I've seen were 4wd.  Strange how people see different things like that,   Nate

[jr9162]

Not sure if this is the correct explaination but the Japanese and Canadian trucks had different tail gates than the US models.

[kneedownnate]

As far as I know, if you went to Japan, or some third world countries for that matter, and saw a newer Toy 4by it might have a bed that looks like that of a 79-83, though this might only be if it's a double cab.  I've seen many pics of 90s style crew cab Toys overseas with the older style bed, and from what you say that might be true of Canadian trucks too.  Dunno why, maybe they just had tons of those beds lying around, and people in third world countries probably aren't as vein as us and don't care if the bed matches.   Nate

[Hyena]

I know most of the 80-83 trucks i have seen have had the two side latches.  But i know that 84-88 2wd toys had the 2 side latches also.  84-88 4wd had the one latch in the middle.  

[kneedownnate]

Hyena,  84-88 Jap beds have the outer rails, US made beds had smooth sides.  I dunno if this was so much an option as luck of the draw as far as what the dealer happened to get, maybe somebody who was lucky enough to buy one new at that time could enlighten us. 

JR,   My above explanation might be relevant to the older ones as well.  Considering I've never seen a non US 79-83 with center release, the Jap beds may have had side latches and US ones had center.  Thinking back I remember there being a tag just inside the front lip on my 81 that says it was made in California, hafta check in the daylight,............Nate

[jr9162]

If I recall correctly the trucks weren't made 100% in Japan. Some parts were made in the US (bed) or at least the truck was shipped to the US as a cab chassis, and the bed was installed here. It had to do with import duties and such.

Check out this site http://toyotafiberglass.com/products.htm They talk about Japenese/Canadian versus US beds and tail gates.

[kneedownnate]

Yea, I've checked out that site before, pretty cool.  Considering they want $900 for a rusty used bed, I'd hate to see what they want for one of their fiberglass jobs,   Nate

[WHITE_TRASH]

Its pretty rare to find a second gen here in the states with the side latches that is a legit 4x4 bed. (bulged fender openings)  I have only seen one ever, and its here in my little podunk town of all places.   Its a 87 4x4. The truck was imported from japan when the guy got out of the service. 

[19801981]

well the conclusion ive found from the elders is that was an 82 and up sr5 option anywho... someone got one close to s.c for release     

[bluetoy84]

is that was an 82 and up sr5 option 

It was not an sr5 option. I have two '83 non sr5's with the center latch. The beds with the center latch have a sticker on the front that say's they were made in Long Beach California. The side latch beds were made in Japan.

[19801981]

  ok ok ok  ..well that means that the american is middle latch and the import is side ,any way i just want to change mine from outter to middle .u got any body with that tail gate to get rid of.... oh ,which do u think is better and looks better im rebuilding complete

[19801981]

ok this is it

[kyle_22r]

it didn't start in '83, they were available with the center latch by '81 at least, probably earlier too.

another wierd point, the lettering on the tailgate.  some '79-83 trucks(mostly '79-81) got the mid 70s style lettering like on an early 22R valve cover and some got the later style block lettering.

canadian trucks after '83 got lucky and still had side rails and tiedowns while US trucks got the fugly(imho) smooth beds.  am i the only one who actually uses their tiedowns in the country?

[19801981]

no i love em i haul tires(BIG) in the little bed and couches ,,,do u know in forgien contrys they still have the latch and lip beds thats cool ,,,for real watch the news

[kneedownnate]

Ok, I have an idea for ya.  Have you done a bed bob yet?  Are you gonna?  Buy or borrow a battery powered sawzall, go to a local yard and hack off the back section of the style bed you want, tailgate and all, bob your bed and put this one back in it's place.  That's what I was gonna do, but when I was in the yard today some thingy-smooch decided to put a huge dent in the perfect tailgate I'd found recently, so my search continues,   Nate

[19801981]

that sounds cool but hows it look

[kneedownnate]

How good of a welder are you?  Do you know how to grind thin metal without warping it?  If you're good and patient you can make it look great, I've heard of em done that didn't need body filler, but that's a tall order.  Just make sure you start with a straight bed on your truck and a straight donor bed and it should be a lot easier.  I'm sure if you post in general and ask for pics of members bobbed beds you would get a pretty good idea of how it will look like, and people will gladly help talk you through it,   Nate

[86yota]

You guys run tailgates?

[kneedownnate]

Hey 86yota,  I seem to remember seein a tailgate on your OTHER truck the other day.............Nate