I believe you...but have you got any installed production panel pics? I want one but I'm hesitant to drop $300 when all the pics/videos on your site and even in your post show otherwise.
Hey @HooliganActual - nice catch! These are prototype panels, we changed the dimension of the production pieces to eliminate the gap!The timing of this thread is impeccable. I was actually looking at these last night and I really like this product over the other HDPE talgate covers/boards
.I almost pulled the trigger but didn't...are my eyes deceiving me? It looks as though it doesn't sit flush against the tailgate on the hinge side. If this is true, then the board itself isn't going to be level (actually looks bowed in the pictures) and that gap means dirt, etc. will have a chance to pack in there.
@BillieBars tell me what's up with that?!?!?! I like and want to buy but that is going to be a dealbreaker for me.
From the OP's post
From the BillieBars install video (before bolting)
From the BillieBars install video (after bolting)
Assuming this is closed cell foam like SeaDek, GatorStep, etc, it cleans up pretty easy. Dawn dish soap and water with a scrub brush. Then hose it off.
We're working on getting them - it should be any day now. And there were no clearance issues with the bed liner!
Well that’s a somewhat frustrating answer. I’m not asking for an update of the website though. Do you have a smart phone? Ask me for a pic of any part of any of my Jeeps and I can post it here in 5 minutes.
Yeah, the perceived value to you. Everyone has different wants/needs.
Im with you on this. I have a hard time seeing the value. I know plenty of Taco owners who have the Snail Armor panels on their tailgate, and they love em, but I still give them trouble for paying $200 for them.
Excellent question! Let's explore this...
Marine foam and aluminum drives up the price quite a bit.
All good points. I wasn't trying to knock company or quality. I was stating that I personally did not understand the purpase. I hope I didn't offend anyone as that was not my intent at all. Apologies to any one I did.Excellent question! Let's explore this...
(I'm having fun with this so please don't take an affront to what follows)
The company will, I'm sure, value the product where it is because there is an R&D cost, material, labor, and overhead such as the rent on the manufacturing space, lighting, internet, etc. Let's not forget marketing, which is hopefully more than slapping some out of date information on a user forum. So I have no doubt that the value of the product to BillieBars is 'X' (their cost of goods sold, COGS) + 'Y' (some amount of profit) resulting in the $300 price tag...oh, and let's not forget shipping called out on the website at $50.
This means that it must provide $350 worth of value to the end user, me.
I'm sure I'm not the only Gladiator owner that uses my tailgate as a workbench, seat, access to the back of the bed, a table, etc. I'm also probably not the only Gladiator owner that does those things and also has the factory, or aftermarket, spray-in bed liner.
1) That bed liner is hard on my old knees and tears up my hands, knees, pants, etc. but it does it's job and is tough as nails. There is some value to me in having some different surface texture on the tailgate.
2) The Gladiator tailgate is not flat. I habitually set things on it that wind up in a different place because of the contour of the tailgate. There is some value to me in having a surface that is flat and won't toss my drinks around, things I set can be level, etc.
Note: here is where the HDPE tailgate boards come into the discussion. They address #1 & #2 and come in around the $250 mark.
3) To address #1 & #2 above currently I use a $27 BedRug TrackMat:
This solves #1 & #2 and doubles as its intended use for working under the vehicle; but it has it's own drawbacks. It is slightly larger than the tailgate, so if it gets bumped it could jostle whatever is sitting on it and I have spilled a drink or two that way. It is not "fixed" to the tailgate and I have had the wind lift it up and chased it down the road before. While it is thin and weighs about a pound, it is actually bulky and takes up storage space. And finally, it sits just tall enough that it interferes with my fridge slide and so it must be moved in order to open the fridge slide. There is some value to me in having a fixed, form fit, less bulky solution.
4) I am a backpacker and, as such, I've become very weight conscious. Compound that with the fact that I'm also an overlander with a rig that is a few hundred pounds over GVWR (that's legal GVWR, I have a heavily beefed up suspension, tires etc. which would allow me to have my GVWR restated if I was in, say, Australia) and I have to consider how heavy a mod is and whether it will be additional weight or is offset by something that I am replacing. While the BillieBars product does not list a weight for their product on their website ( @BillieBars maybe that could be added with updated photos and install videos), I suspect that the weight should come in considerably less than the HDPE boards which are in the 15 to 20 lb neighborhood. There is some value to me in a lightweight solution to problem #1, #2 & #3 above and it's certainly worth the $50 difference in the 2 products.
And finally, as I said, I am an overlander. I use my tailgate as a kitchen work surface constantly. Having a nice flat surface would be very beneficial for organizing gear, stabilizing the camp kitchen items, etc. When I am off grid for multiple weeks at a time, having these little conveniences can actually be worth it; I mean, I wouldn't tolerate a kitchen counter at home that was like my tailgate. There is some value to me in having a "proper" kitchen work surface.
I can't say that these tailgate cover products would provide $250 - $300 worth of value to me, but they would be a solution to all of these problems. And yes, they are problems to me. Hence I am doing the Cost-Benefit Analysis on these products and currently, the one to beat, is my BedRug TrackMat.
Thanks for indulging me my diatribe and my vernacular verbosity.
Hey @Trailman - lol, hmmmm. Well, we do think marine grade foam is the ideal surface for tailgate covers, mainly because its offers a level of cushion without compromising strength (thanks to the aluminum panel). Having recessed cup holders also doesn't hurt. But at the end of the day, the market is full of great options!
