R1T Tailgate Abyss Cover!

[scr5008]

Update! I settled on a final design and I think it works great so far! Below is a pic of where I landed. It's very sturdy and blocks a large majority of the gap.

I cant seem to get a video to upload, but the top flap stays in place very well w/o interfering w/ the hinge/piston. Also the whole thing is a friction fit, so no glue or fasteners needed. Just snap it in.

Hoping to test this out more in the coming weeks!

Original post:

Thought I’d show off my prototype design for a tray to cover that annoying hole-to-nowhere in the RIT bed. 3D printing it out of TPU (super strong & flexible). Pictured is just a quick draft for concept. I’m still adjusting the design a bit, but so far it works real well and seems promising. Would love any feedback.

I carry a lot of hay and loose material and every time I close my tailgate the extra debris falls down into this abyss, really don’t want this stuff to keep building up down there.

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[HighVoltOverland]

maybe add a brush gasket by hacking up a broom or other bristled cheap hand tool, the bristles could help keep most stuff from going in, and not inhibit the movement of the hinge, like an old parking brake/ drive selector gasket
(example from a TJ)

 

[scr5008]

maybe add a brush gasket by hacking up a broom or other bristled cheap hand tool, the bristles could help keep most stuff from going in, and not inhibit the movement of the hinge, like an old parking brake/ drive selector gasket
(example from a TJ)

Thanks for the input! I thought about a brush, but I couldn't find a simple way to make that sturdy enough to hold heavier debris. I also wanted this to be easy to make (3d print) and a simple one-piece design.

 

[jjswan33]

Cool idea. What does it look like with the tailgate closed?

I ask because something like this could be helpful in keeping dust out of the bed when driving on gravel roads (for people with truck caps/working tonneau covers)

 

[scr5008]

Cool idea. What does it look like with the tailgate closed?

I ask because something like this could be helpful in keeping dust out of the bed when driving on gravel roads (for people with truck caps/working tonneau covers)

It's completely hidden when the tailgate is closed. This sits under the flap between the bed and the tailgate. You can't see it unless you lift it up.

If dust/debris settles in your bed, when you open the tailgate some would fall down into the unreachable area beneath the bed. This cover would prevent a large majority of that.

 

[jjswan33]

It's completely hidden when the tailgate is closed. This sits under the flap between the bed and the tailgate. You can't see it unless you lift it up.

If dust/debris settles in your bed, when you open the tailgate some would fall down into the unreachable area beneath the bed. This cover would prevent a large majority of that.

I understood your purpose.

I am pretty sure that dust comes up through that hole while driving on gravel roads (tailgate, tonneau closed), I guess with your cover the seal would still not be any better but that was my first thought seeing your idea.

 

[scr5008]

I understood your purpose.

I am pretty sure that dust comes up through that hole while driving on gravel roads (tailgate, tonneau closed), I guess with your cover the seal would still not be any better but that was my first thought seeing your idea.

Ahh gotcha - I don't have a tonneau so maybe that problem is less for me.

I would expect the cover should block some of that from entering, but it's not airtight.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

Thanks for the input! I thought about a brush, but I couldn't find a simple way to make that sturdy enough to hold heavier debris. I also wanted this to be easy to make (3d print) and a simple one-piece design.

Gotcha,
Any chance you could make an accordion style or fabric boot (like on a gear shifter) work?

 

[jjswan33]

Ahh gotcha - I don't have a tonneau so maybe that problem is less for me.

I would expect the cover should block some of that from entering, but it's not airtight.

Yeah with tonneau open you get wind flow across the bed so dust accumulation will not happen. It's even worse because I have a camper shell and I am struggling to keep the dust out on overlanding trips.

Anyway, cool idea. For people hauling in the bed I think this is very useful.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Cool idea. What does it look like with the tailgate closed?

I ask because something like this could be helpful in keeping dust out of the bed when driving on gravel roads (for people with truck caps/working tonneau covers)

You'd be better served with something that totally seals off the bed floor to tailgate cavity when closed. A TPU print with a light infill could be great for this. But of course who has a printer that can do 5 foot wide prints... You'd have to do multiple pieces and bond them together.

 

[Linuturk]

Are you going to share any 3D printer files or sell them?

 

[jjswan33]

You'd be better served with something that totally seals off the bed floor to tailgate cavity when closed. A TPU print with a light infill could be great for this. But of course who has a printer that can do 5 foot wide prints... You'd have to do multiple pieces and bond them together.

I've got a bulb seal along the bottom of the tailgate and I have experimented with different seals along the sides of the tailgate that I think should be mostly effective. What is left is these holes. I documented some of what I tried in this thread

I know the seal on the bottom is still not good though because when I turn my Maxair fan on exhaust that is where it pulls air in from. Most likely my solution is going to involve negative pressure. Anyway don't want to distract too much from OPs topic so I will leave it at that.

 

[scr5008]

Are you going to share any 3D printer files or sell them?

Thinking I'd like to sell a few if there's interest. I don't have a print farm or anything like that, but I could take some orders for the physical parts or maybe sell the STL's.

 

[cabbey]

But of course who has a printer that can do 5 foot wide prints... You'd have to do multiple pieces and bond them together.

Belt printers are the answer there. It becomes 5’ *long* instead.

Thinking I'd like to sell a few if there's interest. I don't have a print farm or anything like that, but I could take some orders for the physical parts or maybe sell the STL's.

I would happily buy the stl, or source. May be able to help with printing them for ya in “bulk”… my XL arrives this week.

 

[peakbaggersanonymous]

Did anyone ever get around to printing a batch of these? I’d love to get a set after losing some stuff to these holes.

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