Tailgate Saver

I'm getting an ATV shortly, getting a good deal on a Foreman 500 from a family member, but it's too long for my short bed. The back tires will likely sit right on the end of my tailgate and I am just not comfortable with that. I also don't want to have to trailer it as I suck at backing them up, not to mention don't want to lose the garage space. I found this tailgate saver linked below, and was wondering if anyone knew of a slightly cheaper option, or any bed extenders that had a 600lbs or more weight capacity so that I could make one of these? Most of the extenders I have found only have a 350lbs capacity and the atv alone is listed at 600lbs.

thanks

http://blueox.com/p-1503-tailgator-tail-gate-saver.aspx

 

relentless is another company I know that has a quality tailgate reinforcement plate.

 

those plates don't protect the hinge and cables, if the tires sit on the very end of the gate, there will be a lot of weight and leverage working against the hing and cables.

 

Your wheeler isnt THAT heavy, though i agree you need to do something. The tailgate reinforcement plate would probably be strong enough. seems like the tailgate itself is strong, just gotta replace the plastic cover with a metal one.

 

Why not just get two metal ramps (maybe a better word would be channels) so the weight will be distributed more evenly? If they are two long pieces, then the bed will take the brunt of the weight and not just the tailgate. Just a thought but am sure someone will discredit it...

 

I hauled my 1998 Yamaha Grizzly 600 in my 06 CCSB short bed without issue. I don't know how much it weighs, but I guarantee its heavier than a foreman.

Also, maybe rethink the no trailer idea. A trailer that would be needed to haul a Foreman would be quite small and cheap.


I hated loading the Grizzly into that Tacoma.

 

I too was gonna recommend a trailer. a little 4x8 would work i am sure, and instead of putting your wheeler in the garage, keep the wheeler on the trailer and it wont take up much more space than the wheeler itself. Backing up is something you will learn, it's not bad. although backing up a little 4x8 is tougher than my 22 ft boat.

 

Trailer. They sell a cheap folding one at Harbor Freight that you put together. You can find similar versions for more money elsewhere. Assuming the more expensive one's are of better quality.

I've done two. Both of mine were bought at Home Depot. Not sure if they still sell it. The first one we pulled 1800+ miles from Florida fairly loaded up with no issue. It was stolen and I replaced it with the same model. I kept it in my garage, folded, against the wall. Could still park car there. Sold it for more than I paid a few years later.

 

I am not comfortable driving a trailer at all, I can't back them up, I barely like backing up the tacoma as it is because I can't see the corners of my bed out the back window. The foreman 500 is listed at 630 lbs, so it is that heavy. I measured it from the forward most point to the rear tires and it was just at the back end of the bed. I would also wager than most of the weight is on the rear tires. I have thought about using extra ramps or 2x12/10's to take the weight off the tailgate, but if the weight is in the rear then it will still be pushing down in the back rather than the front helping to lift the rear. I'd have to bolt the boards down to the front of the bed somehow.

If the hing and cables could hold up to the weight of the atv then one of those plates would be a good option.

 

can you back it in the bed? Might take some of that weight off

 

I've thought about that. seemed like a viable option, as long as it has enough power in reverse to make the climb, needs to be tested obviously

 

when I had a riding mower to load, I would find a low spot, like a shallow ditch, to back my trailer into to make it easier.

 

This. I hauled two vintage Vespas in my Ranger this way with the (very heavy) rears on the tailgate. They're 250 lbs each. Put a 2X4 right at the back edge of the bed, and let the ramps sit on top of that. Keeps it completely off the tailgate.

 

For a simple thought ... Get a 4 x 8 sheet of 1" (or 2 of 5/8" or more etc.) and cut it to slide in when the gate is down and reaches to the end of the tailgate.??