I always wanted a 4Runner, finally bought one a 2006 SR5, I got it super cheap as it needs a little work but nothing major and only had 150k miles. Has some damage on the back, I would like to get the dents taken out so it looks decent, doesn't need to be perfect for the price I paid. I have taken it to 3 body shops that were recommended and I was told would "help me out". I explained the situation bought it cheap just want the dents taken out doesn't need to look perfect, this isn't an insurance claim, there is no insurance money this is out of pocket. All 3 came back with quotes to replace the rear lift gate assy at over half of what I paid for it. All 3 said they wouldn't be able to do the job of just fixing the lift gate on the rig. I would much rather spend that money on a lift, roof rack, wheels & tires, etc.

Sunday I am running around town with the fam come out of a store and a guy is looking at the back of my 4R, I walk up and he ask if its mine, I say yes. He asked if I have thought about taking the dents out of the rear, I said yes I have been to 3 body shops and all 3 said they can't do it and quoted me brand new replacement. He said BS man, I will fix your lift gate, I can do it right in your driveway or wherever you want, it will take me 3-4 hours and I will charge you $600. Given the 3 body shops I have already been to I don't really want to waste time going to more, I am seriously considering this guys offer, but would like opinions, whats your opinion?

My other option is searching salvage 4R's for a lift gate, but shipping on anything not local is $$$.

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That looks like a tough one but if you have the right tools maybe not. Does he have any references he can give you? Will the door still need to be painted or is this just to take as much out as possible? What if you're not happy with the results? I don't see that being close to normal without some body filler after the major dents are pulled.

He said that would be ready for paint, he would paint it for $1,100 total for both.

For $1100, it would be much less risk to get a black tailgate from a junkyard and install it with a few buddies. I think you can find them in junkyards anywhere from $500-$1000. Even if you have to drive a few hours, driving is cheap. Then you also still your old complete tailgate with only cosmetic damage that you can either part out or sell whole. Tailgate issues aren't super common, but you could probably sell the internals and spoiler to get a few bucks back.

Agreed - I think it just depends on how patient you can be. Keep an eye on used-car-parts, eBay and Facebook. Tailgates should be around 500 and then 200 at Maaco to paint

This is a popular scam here in Illinois for quite a few years. They fill the dents with 'plaster of Paris' type filler. They will come to you so you cannot find them again.

I just did a search on eBay, and they're not as expensive as I was expecting. Definetly going to be cheaper if you can pull yourself, but even with shipping these are mostly under $1000 and are already black. Oddly enough no spoiler on any that I found, but those are really just cosmetic.

Black, no spoiler - $850
Trunk/Hatch/Tailgate Without Spoiler Fits 03-09 4 RUNNER 652559 | eBay

Black, no spoiler - $740
Trunk/Hatch/Tailgate Without Spoiler Fits 03-09 4 RUNNER 2152697 | eBay

Black, no spoiler - $900
Trunk/Hatch/Tailgate Without Spoiler Fits 03-09 4 RUNNER 921518 | eBay

Blue, no spoiler - $1200
2005 Toyota 4runner SR5 Sport V6 Decklid Tailgate 16079002 | eBay

Black with few dings and dents, no spoiler - $400+ship
03-09 Toyota 4 RUNNER Rear door Trunk Hatch Tailgate Without Spoiler OEM | eBay

Thanks, I found this one and have contacted the seller $300 shipping so still sub $1,000 mark.

http://https://www.ebay.com/i/164281962025?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=164281962025&targetid=934800884376&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9024173&poi=&campaignid=10897343935&mkgroupid=109964864089&rlsatarget=pla-934800884376&abcId=9300403&merchantid=6577984&gclid=CjwKCAjw4rf6BRAvEiwAn2Q76svMD78ndlyMn6_CJOlr TDmYtEfr2bk3fM0WOgo2yZl_AMkvVotOKxoCJQMQAvD_BwE

The 03 4runner I bought wrecked had a liftgate that got damaged by a copart forklift operator with very similar damage to yours, just not as bad.

My brother does body work and did the repairs, and from the looks of it at first we thought we could maybe PDR it. The metal there (especially once it creases) is stupid thick and did not want to be worked at all. It took him close to 40 minutes with the weld-on studs and slide hammer to get it to move close to an acceptable level before he went to body filler.

Your damage looks a bit worse, so a shop (with disassembly and prep time) is probably throwing the same 6-10 hours the guys quoted you. So for them, obviously its much more beneficial to just swap out gates.

I don't know how much I'd trust someone to do work in my driveway (not to say there aren't good people out there that do good work) though $600 seems "reasonable". I have seen people throw some body filler over stuff like this and call it good, which is far from the right way to do it.

Like mentioned above, at $1100-1600 bucks (which seems very reasonable to repair something like this ) find a used gate in the same color and call it good.

I was able to source a complete bumper, reinforcement, complete door, hood and fender from a wrecked 05 4runner in the same colors for $1200. Hood alone should have cost me that much to replace or repair.

This is what I was thinking, lots of angles there to try and make good.

Good thoughts above especially the part-out of the old door idea. The bottom latch would sell easily, I could use one myself. All the motors and the window are also worth some dough.

a good place to look for a junkyard part-outs is car-part.com. Just search near your zip code. I found quite a few hits, all sub 1000 bucks depending on your configuration. Do you have a spoiler on it?

Also, a lot of the yards on car-part.com will also ship as well. I had an entire front clip from an frs delivered straight to the driveway.

Yes it has a spoiler but I don't mind if the replacement doesn't have one.

Thank you to all of you who provided feedback and advise, I think this turned out way better than I expected. I found a lift gate at a place in Texas, even looks to have a Gobi ladder attached to it. Called purchased the lift gate and when I asked about the ladder and if there were holes, he said ladder still on it and were going to leave it on there if you want it! I said hell yeah I want it, and said if you want to sell the roof rack and wheels shot me a price for those as well, so he is checking on those. New parts should be here next Thursday, thank you again!

DECKLID TAILGATE - 2007 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER | Snyder's

Hey man, thats awesome! I'd say this is a big win, new tailgate and a fresh ladder. I'd love to see some pictures when you get it attached! If you're able to get any pics of the mounting locations and the wiring connections on install, Id love to add them to the 4th Gen Maintenance Tutorials, Writeups, and Picture Threads. If not, thats no sweat too.

Oh man great find! Especially with that ladder already attached and no wait time. I’m jealous lol, been wanting to order a Gobi ladder for mine. Hope you can get a killer price for that Gobi rack too!