Have ever looked at the tailgate of your Toyota Land Cruiser 100 or 200 and regretted all that wasted space inside it? Wouldn’t it be great if that space was usable? It is hollow, after all, so just imagine what you could store in there!
Well, the guys that know how to do adventure, Big Country 4×4, were thinking the exact same thing and came up with a high-quality and very practical storage solution. It is pretty straight-forward really, but prepare yourself because there will be cutting and grinding involved. The first step is to rip the carpet off the tailgate. Next the tailgate is cut open and any support beams are removed. Then the cleaning starts… and believe me when I say it’s a messy exercise. You’ll be amazed by how much dust that hollow space collects!
Once the dust has settled, so to speak, glue is applied and left to set for a few minutes. Then, painstakingly slowly to ensure that there are no bubbles or bumps, the carpet is installed inside the cavity. Finally, all the cables are tied down, the top is fastened on, and the lids with their springs and lock are attached. The plate (lid) added is made from two layers of 4.5mm aluminium sheeting with welded-in support, which makes this product durable enough for any average sized person to stand on. Adding only 10kg to the overall weight, it can be a great addition to your Cruiser to ensure you get the absolute most out of the vehicle when overlanding (when packing space comes at a premium!).
The only downside is that the tailgate lock is now no longer operational, but everything else is still in working order and the central locking is not affected. We plan to reattach the carpet to the tailgate with Velcro, which means that there will be no evidence of our new tailgate storage unit. The space is ideal for recovery gear, a first aid kit or even some crockery. Remember it is illegal to take certain foods across the border – so don’t use your new storage space as a hiding place! It is also not advisable to consider this space for anything too heavy.
We are really happy with our tailgate storage solution and have been showing it off to other overlanders, who all marvel at the ingenuity of it all. In fact, a mate of mine who owns a Land Cruiser 105 has already indicated that he will be taking his ride for a ‘nip and tuck’ to add space shortly. So, if you’re looking for a bit of space that you never thought you had, chat with the guys from Big Country 4×4.
*For more information hop onto Big Country 4×4’s website – www.bigcountry.co.za or give them a call on +27 11 795 9700.
