I need to leave my tailgate down while transporting dirtbikes. Has anyone come across someway to protect the painted surface while down? I have mudflaps but we are on a lot of dirt roads and I'm afraid of rocks, etc coming up and damaging the paint (some more that is!). There was a 3M material that was a heavy vinyl that I thought I could cut to fit but I can't seem to find the site. Anyone have an idea

 

For a short term fix I would just duct tape 2 layers of heavy box cardboard under there. For the long term I would make a heavy vinyl sleeve to slip over the tailgate, an upholstery shop should be able to sell you a couple of yards cheap.

 

you could go to auto windows tinting place and have them add a clear tint film on you tailgate. They should have thick clear film for preventing rock damages and scratches for front bumper and hood. The clear film could also work for your tailgate for the same reason. The clear film can be replaced as needed. This should be a very effective way to prevent paint chipping, and it's not that expensive.

 

We made a slip cover like what Rich636 is talking about when I hauled bikes. I used vinyl and a thin layer of foam to make a slip cover. We cut the correct sizes and sewed everything together. The cover would slide over the tailgate and was held on with straps that had snaps and went on the bottom of the gate. Wish I still had pictures of it....

 

Man I just love the feedback I get from this forum. I have a friend that owns an upholstery shop and never even thoough of a slip cover idea. Great!

 

It worked great on mine. The first one I made, I only had the material go to the bottom of the tailgate (if you were looking at it when the gate was up). I had some dirt/dust blow into it and get in the foam. I took it off and made another one that would wrap around the bottom and back up and snap onto the flat side (when the gate was laying flat) so nothing could blow into it. THat kept most dust/dirt and road grime from blowing up into it.

Wish I had a pic still. Makes it so much easier to explain. When I get home, I'll see if I can take a pic with a towel or something to simulate it.