Replace with Flat Tailgate on Prado150

[byaru1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close byaru1]

So our Prado 150 has the tailgate with mounted spare wheel. Because of the chronic jiggly loud squeaks probably caused by the spare wheel weight, I'm thinking of replacing this tailgate with the flat type with no spare wheel as is on some Prado versions.

I imagine that all that's needed is the fuel tank and underbody spare tyre mechanism, plus some reprogramming to accept new fuel tank size as well as camera position. Anything else?

[rascal Member Find all posts View Profile Close rascal]

Hmm, that’s an awful lot of time, effort and money ($thousands.) to reduce rattles which could be solved by some attention to the latches .....
I have a bigger heavier tyre on the rear wheel carrier and mine doesn’t squeak. (2013 model)

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Lubricate the latches! Rattles not normal on either my previous 120 or current 150. Clean all of the rubber seals on all 5 doors as well and give them a wipe with armorall or similar. Also check out the rear spoiler, a known source of rattles. there is a fix on here somewhere.

[byaru1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close byaru1]

Hmm, that’s an awful lot of time, effort and money ($thousands.) to reduce rattles which could be solved by some attention to the latches .....
I have a bigger heavier tyre on the rear wheel carrier and mine doesn’t squeak. (2013 model)

True, but most hacks even as you suggest seem not to work for me. I've seen a few people suggest it's better to live with the squeaks and just ignore them... I can't

[tempestv8 Member Find all posts View Profile Close tempestv8]

I had a Discovery Series II and everytime the rear door squeaked, I just sprayed a teflon based lubricant all along the surfaces where the rear door rubber seals run along. Then it's quiet for ages until the lube disappears. Its the weight of the rear spare tyre on the door that causes the door to shift. After I upgraded to a Kaymar rear bumper bar, I took the weight off the door and this was a solution but it did complicate the door opening process somewhat.

[SaltBoxII Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SaltBoxII]

The rear door squeak / rattle is an easy fix, I've covered it on here a few times. There's a V shaped locator on the body where the latch is on the left. You just need to loosen off the bolts slightly and tap it up a few mm (it has captive nuts behind it). It just needs to be lifted slightly to take more weight of the door and the noise will stop.

[Kal garkis Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close Kal garkis]

So does anyone know for sure the flat tailgate will be a direct swap for the original ones on the earlier models? Are the Hinges and latches etc all the same?

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

It looks to be an identical door, just without tyre. Swapping fuel tanks should be straight forward, fitting a tyre underneath probably isn't simple. I don't imagine that the replacement door is cheap.

Incidentally, the primary source for the tailgate rattle is wear in the hinge pins. They are just not up to the job and the nylon bush flogs out pretty easily allowing the door to move and rattle. You can check for wear by lifting the door when open. Putting a spacer under the hinge is a doggy fix that does not fix the problem. Replacement hinges are around $100 and take about 20 minutes to fit.