Flat, Comfortable Aluminum & Foam Panel Upgrade With Cupholders
Stock Tundra tailgates are built tough, but anyone who uses their truck bed knows that ribbed plastic or bare corrugated sheet metal is brutal on the knees and turns every flat tool into a sliding hazard, not to mention spilled beer. The BillieBars setup completely swaps out that factory panel for a rigid aluminum plate topped with durable, closed-cell marine foam.
At first I wasn’t sure of the toughness of the foam till I used it on a week long trip in Moab. I literally threw everything at it from dirt and gear to cookware – it still looks brand new.
Let’s take a closer look…
Find It Online
- BillieBars 2G Tundra Tailgate Cover: Check Price
Features & Specs
- Gives you a flat, non slip work surface (stuff doesn’t slide easily, no more unstable ridges)
- Durable laser cut 1/8″ aluminum base with high quality 1/4″ foam (easy on the knees)
- Two recessed cupholders
- Fast and simple installation (hardware included)
- Custom colors (61 varieties) and logos/designs are an option (see custom panels here)
- Works with all 2007-2021 (2nd Gen) Tundras
- Made in the USA
- Two year warranty (stock version)
- Free shipping to lower 48
My Favorite Benefits
No More Knee Pain: Massively improves comfort whenever you have to scramble into the bed to grab gear.
Grippy, Flat Surface: The foam holds onto tools, cutting boards, and gear even when wet or dusty.
Bolt-On Simplicity: Installs right into the factory tailgate bolt holes, no drilling required.
Built Tough: Closed-cell marine foam shrugs off rain and spills without soaking up moisture like a sponge.
Integrated Cup Holders: Simple, dialed-in spot to set your beverage without thinking about it.
Installation
As I already mentioned, BillieBars provides all the hardware you need. Screws for available holes and 3M tape at the top. Make sure you clean everything well so the tape adheres properly.
Install cannot be any easier. You remove one OEM piece and put the new BillieBars panel on. Took me about 5-10 minutes to get the new panel on. It took me longer to open the box than it did to install everything.
BillieBars Vs. OEM
A quick side by side of the old panel, and the new one. The piece on top is the only thing you need to remove. The new panel covers the rest of the existing OEM pieces/ridges.
Plenty Of Usable Space
This upgrade finally makes it feel like you can get the most out of your tailgate space. The tailgate is fairly large on a full size truck too.
We like to throw down on a good meal at camp. I can fit two camp stoves side by side if I wanted to really maximize the space. Just note that the foam has a melting point of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so if your camp stove gets warm, use some kind of cooking mat to isolate it from the material.
What To Expect
The Ultimate Camp & Trail Bench
Whether you’re firing up a camp stove, setting down an impact wrench, or prepping food, gear actually stays planted instead of sliding off or tipping into the factory grooves.
Saving Your Knees
If you run a bed cap, camper shell, or tonneau, you know the pain of crawling inside on all fours. The dense marine foam takes all the sting out of reaching for bins shoved up against the bulkhead. Its finally comfortable!
Trailhead Hangout Spot
Built-in recessed cup holders mean your coffee mug or cold drink won’t vibrate off or tip over when you’re kicking back at camp.
Real World Use
Out in the wild, the usability upgrade hits immediately. When you drop the tailgate at a trailhead or camp spot, it instantly turns into a legit prep bench. Staging an impact wrench for a trail repair, firing up a single-burner stove, or chopping food actually works because items stay planted on the grippy, non-slip foam instead of sliding off into the dirt. For anyone running a camper shell, bed topper, or tonneau cover, crawling inside on all fours to grab storage bins goes from a knee-bruising chore to totally painless cushion. Plus, having built-in recessed cup holders right on the edge means your morning coffee or post-trail drink won’t vibrate off and take a spill.
If you use it super heavily (like any panel, even the factory one) just be mindful when dragging things like sharp metal, super heavy objects, or a pallet of concrete mix for the weekend backyard projects. The panel is certainly durable, but it does have a softer foam top layer focused on comfort. But in general, feedback I’ve seen around the internet is good and there aren’t any reports of issues with durability with regular use.
These panels are made to order and take about 10-14 days to ship. Pretty reasonable.
Final Thoughts
If your truck bed serves as your mobile basecamp, workbench, and hangout lounge, the comfort and utility gains are an absolute game changer.
If you’re tired of spilling drinks and banging up your knees, this is a no brainer. A solid product that’s made right here in the USA.
After running the cover for a few months, I’m stoked on the added function and experiences so far. A simple mod that makes a huge difference.
