Hardwood tailgate?

[Iantenenoff]

I've kinda brought the idea up to myself of ripping the carpet and what not out of the pop down tailgate to bare metal, and installing a thinner hardwood floor. I planned on running about 8-10 1/2" high plastic strips to help with not scuffing the wood up and to keep things from rubbing against it. Any ideas? Or pros and cons?

95 4Runner btw

 

[Ahlem]

How thin? How do you plan on fastening it to the tailgate? Some woods are better for exterior application than others. Just ask a boat guy. Ash, White Oak, Honduras Mahogany, Australian Jarrah Teak and Ipe could work. You could get Mahogany marine grade plywood and use stainless steel screws with finish washers and some stainless steel strips with counter sunk screws and make it look like an old Chris Craft. Check out the West System Epoxy web site for ideas and products.

 

[Iantenenoff]

How thin? How do you plan on fastening it to the tailgate? Some woods are better for exterior application than others. Just ask a boat guy. Ash, White Oak, Honduras Mahogany, Australian Jarrah Teak and Ipe could work. You could get Mahogany marine grade plywood and use stainless steel screws with finish washers and some stainless steel strips with counter sunk screws and make it look like an old Chris Craft. Check out the West System Epoxy web site for ideas and products.

Not sure the thickness yet, I need to still rip it out to get a better idea of what im looking at.cbut thanks I'll defintly check that website out.

 

[Hyde802]

Lauan plywood is pretty thin but still durable. I did this in a van back in high shool, came out pretty good.

 

[Iantenenoff]

Lauan plywood is pretty thin but still durable. I did this in a van back in high shool, came out pretty good.

Yea Lauan was something I thought about, but I'm really going for that nice clean hardwood look so im gonna run by some local hardwood stores and see what I can find.

 

[Ahlem]

Take a look at wood flooring. The devil will be in the details. I am in high end furniture manufacturing and would be happy to offer cheap advise.