New member question: Motorcycles in short bed

I'm gonna be buying a truck in the next week or so, and the Tacoma has caught my eye after driving my brother-in-law's 2014 crew cab. Since I work at home, I need the back seat and doors to haul the kids to and from school and the other parenting type activities. My job requires that I haul motorcycles (from scooters to sportbikes to large displacement cruisers) several times a month. Is the gate sturdy enough to handle the weight of a full-sized bike (or two) without issue? Or do I need to beef up the gate with a steel plate or some other method?

TIA,

Evans

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...rced-steel-tailgate-skin-mobtown-offroad.html Id get one of these

 

You may be fine but i would suggest getting a steel tailgate skin.One that replaces the plastic skin and i think there are ones that can be mounted on top of the plastic skin.

 

If you are hauling motorcycles as much as you seem to be, why not just invest in a motorcycle trailer?

David

 

Id recommend the relentless fab full tailgate skin. Unlike the mobtown one, it actually does a full wrap of the top edge and is thus MUCH stronger. I love mine and have zero issues with 2 dirtbikes in the bed with it.

There is a group buy going on for the reletnless fab one

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/group-buys/253751-05-tacoma-tail-gate-reinforcement-group-buy.html

 

I have a shortbed and can haul my Schwinn 49cc in with tailgate shut.

 

I haul my Yamaha 450 around and got the relentless tailgate reinforcement cause the Tacoma tailgate is super weak.

 

I had a hitch hauler for my dirt bike that worked great for travelling (many brands, most run about $150). The hitch carrier probably wouldn't work very well for the large displacement bikes, but then again, a small bike trailer would facilitate easiest loading/unloading.

Example Pic of hitch hauler...

 

I tote my 300 pound XR650L around with no issues. I will be getting a reinforcement plate soon though. Just for good measure. Tailgates are expensive.

 

Do you need more than a foot extra? Did you consider long bed? If anything its just that much less of the bike resting on the tailgate.

 

I suggest that you consider a regular trailer. They are lower to the ground and easier to load and also it can be used for other things. For about 650 dollars new it will also save a lot of wear and tear on the truck.

 

Definitely get a trailer. Hauling a bike in the back of a pickup truck is an unnecessary burden.

If you haul bikes that much I'm
Surprised you don't already have one.

 

The trailer is a space issue for storing it.

 

I've hauled bikes in pickups for 20+ years. So, it's not a big deal to me. Unfortunately, I can no longer have both a truck and a car. So, I'm trying to combine them in a crew cab. I may have to go with the long bed, though.

 

If your hauling full size bikes I'd go with the long bed. I don't think a tailgate "skin" is what you want either. I'd get the tailgate cap made by KBVOODOO. the skin really doesn't give the tailgate much strength because its flat and doesn't wrap around. the CAP however will give you strength where and when you need it, when loading the bikes, its not the tire sitting on gate as you drive that will cause tailgate issues its the weight of the bike putting pressure mid gate while loading.
look at this... http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...der-coated-tailgate-cap-system-kb-voodoo.html

 

Why not get a hitch hauler? It puts the bike horizontal behind the truck and leaves the bed open for more stuff and takes up less room than a trailer. Besides it is much easier to load and unload.

Bacon

edit: Bah! fullerahj beat me to it. Maybe I should start reading all the posts before opening my mouth.

 

A hitch hauler will be too much tongue weight with a big bike. Plus it puts all of the weight behind the wheels and is murder on the springs.

A trailer is a correct way to go for a full weight motorcycle.

 

I have no issues with my 400lb bike in my DCSB even with a tire on the tailgate.

 

This is why you get the relentless fab tailgate skin... its a full skin one piece that wraps around the entire top like the cap.... strongest of all the caps / skins you can get for a tail gate.

And eff a trailer.... more shit you gotta deal with, gotta drive slower, and you cant off road nearly as easy to that cool camp spot.

 

I have a DCSB and haul 2 500cc dirtbikes just fine. I think you'll be fine with everything except the heavy hogs. I'd get a trailer just for them.