SnailArmor Tailgate Panels

[bettywhiteoneseven]

I know the 4th Gen Tacoma has just come out, but has anyone checked the fit for a SnailArmor tailgate panel yet?

 

[BG]

That's a good question, I was actually just hanging out with Jimmy yesterday. Not sure if he has any plans for a 4th Gen tailgate panel but im sure if he got his hands on one, he would design something for it.

 

[Jimmy Jet]

Hey @bettywhiteoneseven I picked up my first version prototype today from the laser cutter. I found a local guy who has a 4GT that is letting me use his truck for templets. I am hoping to get these panels out ASAP.

 

[BG]

Hey @bettywhiteoneseven I picked up my first version prototype today from the laser cutter. I found a local guy who has a 4GT that is letting me use his truck for templets. I am hoping to get these panels out ASAP.

That's awesome. Our guy @rustytaco (konrad) is getting a 4G here shortly. We might need to get him setup with a 4GTaco.com panel. Let's go!!

 

[Jimmy Jet]

That's awesome. Our guy @rustytaco (konrad) is getting a 4G here shortly. We might need to get him setup with a 4GTaco.com panel. Let's go!!

I'll keep you and the 4GT forum know when its completed

 

[rustytaco]

Dope! I'm definitely going to need one of these... Just need to hurry up and sell my 3G so I can free up some funds...

 

[TRD JON]

Looking forward to it!

 

[BG]

@Jimmy Jet any word on the 4th Gen panels yet?

 

[Jimmy Jet]

@Jimmy Jet any word on the 4th Gen panels yet?

Unfortunately, these are a hard tailgate to finalize. The 2nd and 3rd Gen Tacos had a nearly completely flat metal surface when you removed the plastic. The 4GT has many sections that rise. So its been a pain to finalize. I will get some photos soon and update everyone.

I will have a question as to what you think I should do.

 

[Jimmy Jet]

I have questions about your upcoming SnailArmor 4GT panel. Id like to know your thoughts.

I have been wrapping my head around the best way to make this panel. I have run into a few different snags as it's not the easiest panel to simply replace. One of the major issues is the metal on the underside of the stock plastic piece. There are a few different places around the edge that raised (marked in orange below). Because these parts rise I think cutting them out would look silly and expose much of the stock tailgate. and If I cover them there is no support in the middle, plus the sides have massive gaps.



I have thought about making a fancy ABS cutout that could go under my panel but I am afraid that it would raise the cost a lot and wouldn't save anything on weight. Because of this, I am going with the Snail Armor panel ontop of the stock plastic. But this also has a problem View the videos below.

View attachment 20241216_103805.mp4

Because I am thinking about placing my panel on top of the Plastic there isn't much room between the Tailgate and the Bed. Because of this, I needed to cut my panel short and when I do this it exposes the ridges from the stock plastic panel.

View attachment 20241216_103828.mp4

So this is my idea to solve this problem, add a rubber gasket onto the back of the panel that extends beyond the Snail Armor panel and it will adhere to the stock panel covering the ridges


View attachment 20241216_104848.mp4

I would like to know, is this an acceptable solution?

 

[TRD JON]

I have questions about your upcoming SnailArmor 4GT panel. Id like to know your thoughts.

I have been wrapping my head around the best way to make this panel. I have run into a few different snags as it's not the easiest panel to simply replace. One of the major issues is the metal on the underside of the stock plastic piece. There are a few different places around the edge that raised (marked in orange below). Because these parts rise I think cutting them out would look silly and expose much of the stock tailgate. and If I cover them there is no support in the middle, plus the sides have massive gaps.

View attachment 1519

I have thought about making a fancy ABS cutout that could go under my panel but I am afraid that it would raise the cost a lot and wouldn't save anything on weight. Because of this, I am going with the Snail Armor panel ontop of the stock plastic. But this also has a problem View the videos below.

View attachment 1520

Because I am thinking about placing my panel on top of the Plastic there isn't much room between the Tailgate and the Bed. Because of this, I needed to cut my panel short and when I do this it exposes the ridges from the stock plastic panel.

View attachment 1521

So this is my idea to solve this problem, add a rubber gasket onto the back of the panel that extends beyond the Snail Armor panel and it will adhere to the stock panel covering the ridges


View attachment 1522

I would like to know, is this an acceptable solution?

That looks super clean man. I think that would be a proper solution. As long as it is a high quality double sided tape.

 

[Jimmy Jet]

Yeah, that is a concern of mine. I don't want the rubber gasket coming undone and flopping around. I was thinking about some sort of adhesive but I also want to make it easy on the customer.

 

[BG]

Looking good dude, that looks perfect!

 

[Jimmy Jet]

Looking good dude, that looks perfect!

Thanks, I guess if you two are happy then I might as well go to production, haha

 

[BG]

Thanks, I guess if you two are happy then I might as well go to production, haha

Maybe produce one, send it to @TRD JON, and have him confirm. lol Looks good at glance though.

 

[Jimmy Jet]

@TRD JON did you get your 4GT yet?

 

[BG]

@TRD JON did you get your 4GT yet?

He's got two of them. Just picked up a new TRD Pro last week.

I Got A 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro UNDER MSRP!

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