Buyer's guide · Tailgate covers · 2026
Truck tailgate covers: which one your tailgate needs
Search for a tailgate cover and you'll get five different products: a cap for the top edge, a rubber liner, a diamond-tread protector, a bike pad and a flat aluminum panel. Each one covers a different part of the tailgate, so the right pick comes down to what you do with it once it's down.
Here's what each type covers and costs, when a flat panel is worth buying, and the fitment and prices for every TrailGate panel we sell.
TrailGate panels are made here in Wichita, Kansas, by XTR Offroad, our sister company that took over the AL Offroad Products line in 2023. We sell them next to our bed racks, and the fitment notes below come straight from the listings and the install sheet that ships with each panel.
The short version
Pick the cover by what happens on your tailgate
- Bikes A bike pad drapes over the top and keeps frames off the paint
- Scuffed top edge A cap covers the edge that cargo slides across
- Soft grip A rubber liner covers the inside face so cargo slides less
- A flat table An aluminum panel turns the inside face into a level work surface
Prices run from about $65 for a cap to $349 for our most expensive TrailGate.
What is a tailgate cover?
The name gets used for anything that covers part of a tailgate. Caps, rubber liners, diamond-tread protectors, mountain bike pads and flat panels like ours all show up under the same search. Here's how they compare:
| Type | What it covers | Made of | Good for | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tailgate cap | The top edge | Aluminum, often diamond tread | Scuffs from loading and sliding cargo | About $65–$105 |
| Tailgate liner | The inside face | Rubber or a similar soft plastic | Grip under cargo and a softer spot to kneel | About $77–$108 |
| Full tread protector | The inside face | Diamond-tread aluminum | Hard wear from tools and gear | About $150–$210 |
| Bike pad | The top edge and outside | Padded fabric with straps | Hauling bikes over the tailgate | About $130–$260 |
| Flat panel (TrailGate) | The inside face | 1/8" powder-coated aluminum | A flat table, workspace and knee saver | $259–$349 |
Price range by type
Each bar runs from the lowest to the highest price for that type, on a $0 to $400 scale.
Outside prices are street prices we found online in November 2026, and they change with the truck and the seller. TrailGate prices are ours as of November 2026.
When a flat tailgate panel is worth it
Drop the tailgate on most trucks and you're looking at ribbed plastic or stamped steel. You can sit on it all day, but a cutting board, a laptop or a cup of coffee rocks or tips on those ridges. And anyone who has knelt on them to reach the cooler that slid to the front of the bed knows exactly where each one is.
A flat panel bolts over that face and leaves one level surface. Here's what that surface gets used for:
Camp kitchen
The stove box, the coffee setup and the cutting board sit level while the rest of camp gets set up.
Work surface
On a work truck it holds a laptop, a clipboard or a tray of fittings at the job site, and the smooth top wipes clean.
Knee saver
With a bed rack or a tonneau overhead, reaching the front of the bed means kneeling on the tailgate. Flat aluminum is easier on the knees than ribs.
When a panel is the wrong buy: if the tailgate mostly carries bikes, a bike pad does that job better. If you only want to keep the top edge from getting chewed up, a cap costs about a quarter as much. And if you want something soft and grippy, look at a rubber liner or a panel with a foam top (BillieBars glues 6 mm marine flooring over 1/8" aluminum).
What to check before you buy a tailgate panel
- It's cut for your exact tailgate. There's no universal size, and the tailgate can change within one model. Ram moved to a new bolt pattern on the 2019 Ram 1500, Silverado and Sierra offer a Multi-Flex or MultiPro tailgate, the 2021+ F-150 has a workbench-style option, and the 2024 Tacoma got a new tailgate.
- It mounts at the factory screws. TrailGate goes on at the tailgate's existing screw locations with hand tools, so the panel itself needs no drilling.
- Cup holders need two holes. Our optional pair of marine-grade cup holders sits in two 3.5" holes drilled in the factory tailgate liner. They're 3" deep, enough to keep a can upright while you work.
- A locking tailgate can rule out cup holders. They don't work with the 2024+ Tacoma's optional locking tailgate or the 2022+ Tundra's motorized locking tailgate. The panel still fits both.
- Bare aluminum is slick when wet. Take care standing on a wet panel or setting gear on it, and put a silicone mat under anything that shouldn't slide.
- The finish lives outside. Aluminum under powder coat won't rust. TrailGate comes in black plus six colors, and on the F-150 and Ranger the black and red are a wrinkle-textured crinkle finish.
TrailGate fitment and prices by truck
Every TrailGate is made for one truck's tailgate. Find yours below, then pick the year range or tailgate style in the listing's menu. Black is the lowest price, and any of the six colors adds $30. Prices are as of November 2026.
| Truck | Years and tailgate | Black | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Tacoma | 2005–2023 (2nd and 3rd gen) | $259 | $289 |
| Toyota Tacoma | 2024+ (4th gen) | $259 | $289 |
| Ford Ranger | 2019–2023 or 2024+ (US spec) | $259 | $289 |
| Ford Maverick | 2022+ | $259 | $289 |
| Nissan Frontier | 2005–2021 | $259 | $289 |
| Nissan Frontier | 2022+ | $259 | $289 |
| Jeep Gladiator | 2020+ (JT) | $259 | $289 |
| Toyota Tundra | 2007–2021 or 2022+ | $299 | $329 |
| Ford F-150 and Raptor | 2009–2014, 2015–2020, or 2021+ standard or workbench tailgate | $299 | $329 |
| Ford F-250 / F-350 / F-450 | 2017–2022 or 2023+, with the factory tailgate step | $299 | $329 |
| Ram 1500 / 2500 / 3500 | 1998+, old or new bolt pattern | $299 | $329 |
| Silverado / Sierra | 1500 2019+ and 2500HD / 3500HD 2020+, standard tailgate | $299 | $329 |
| Silverado / Sierra | Same years, Multi-Flex / MultiPro tailgate | $309 | $339 |
| Cup holders | Any truck | +$10 | +$10 |
Not sure which Ram pattern you have? The 2019+ Ram 1500, TRX and RHO use the new one. Older 1500s, the 1500 Classic, the 2016–2018 Rebel and every 2500 and 3500 use the old one. The Super Duty panel is made for tailgates with the factory step, so email us first if yours doesn't have one.
B-stock panels are regular TrailGates with cosmetic marks from powder coating or shipping. They fit and work like new, they're already built, and they run $180 to $210. What's in stock changes, so the listing shows exactly which trucks and colors are on the shelf.
How to install a tailgate panel
Pull the factory screws
Remove the screws on the inside of the tailgate and keep them handy. On some tailgates a plastic insert lifts out next.
Drill for cup holders, if you have them
Drill two 3.5" holes in the factory tailgate liner before the panel goes on. Without cup holders, skip this step.
Set the panel
Line its mounting holes up with the factory screw locations.
Snug the screws evenly
Use your factory screws or the replacements in the kit. Tighten them evenly and don't overtighten.
A screwdriver or bit that fits your factory screws is the only tool the panel needs. Most kits include eight black stainless screws and washers, and the Silverado and Sierra panel reuses your factory screws with the eight washers in the box. The full steps are in the TrailGate install sheet (PDF). Lost a cup holder insert? Replacements are $7.95.
Tailgate cover FAQ
What are tailgate covers called?
That depends on what they cover. A cap protects the top edge, a liner or protector covers the inside face, a bike pad drapes over the top and outside, and a panel or insert like TrailGate bolts flat over the inside face.
Do I have to drill my tailgate to add a panel?
Not for a TrailGate, which mounts at the factory screw locations. Only the cup holder option needs drilling: two 3.5" holes in the tailgate liner.
Do tailgate cup holders work with locking tailgates?
Not always. Ours don't work with the 2024+ Tacoma's optional locking tailgate or the 2022+ Tundra's motorized locking tailgate. If your tailgate has a power lock, ask us before you order them.
Is an aluminum tailgate panel slippery?
Yes, when it's wet. Take care standing or setting gear on it in the rain, and use a silicone mat under drinks and loose gear.
Will an aluminum tailgate cover rust?
No. TrailGate is aluminum under a powder-coated finish.
Is a tailgate panel the same as a tailgate table?
Close. Most tailgate tables are fold-down shelves for Jeeps, Broncos and SUVs with swing-out rear doors. A pickup's tailgate already folds down into a table, and a panel makes that table flat.
Does a panel change how much weight my tailgate can hold?
No. The tailgate's hinges and support cables set that limit, so check your owner's manual before you load it up.
My truck isn't listed. Will a panel fit?
Each TrailGate is cut for one tailgate, so there's no universal size. Email support@xtroffroad.com or call (316) 330-0024 with your truck and we'll check.
Can I make my own tailgate panel?
Yes. Some owners trace the factory plastic cover onto 1/8" aluminum and match its screw holes, which works if you can cut and deburr aluminum cleanly. Ours come cut for each truck and powder coated.
Find the TrailGate for your truck
Pick your truck, tailgate style, color and cup holders. Not sure which tailgate you have? Send a photo to support@xtroffroad.com or call (316) 330-0024 and we'll tell you.
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