Are the tailgates / cables really strong?

[cycledrum]

I see they switched to cables instead of the flat folding bars I have on my '88 pickup for securing the tailgate.

I hope those cables are plenty strong. Sometimes I haul a 500 lb motorcycle in my truck ... hate to have a cable give out going up the ramp.

[Cburt]

I would say your tail gate won't support a 500 pound motorcycle and a 200 pound rider.
I have thought about how I might load my Triumph in the truck and concluded that removing the tail gate and putting the ramps directly on the truck bed would be the safest option. Then put the gate back on.
Check your owners manual, because believe I have seen somewhere that the gate will only support 200 pounds or so. Yea, can you believe it?
Mine will flex ever so slightly when I step up on the middle and I weigh 200.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by Cburt

I would say your tail gate won't support a 500 pound motorcycle and a 200 pound rider.
I have thought about how I might load my Triumph in the truck and concluded that removing the tail gate and putting the ramps directly on the truck bed would be the safest option. Then put the gate back on.
Check your owners manual, because believe I have seen somewhere that the gate will only support 200 pounds or so. Yea, can you believe it?
Mine will flex ever so slightly when I step up on the middle and I weigh 200.

I don't own a Tacoma, just looking. If the tailgate won't support a bike going up a ramp, that would be bad. I'd hate to go through the hassle to unbolt/remove the tailgate for every load/unload.

[Cburt]

I have used mine w/ the tailgate down loading a 300 pound lawn tractor w/ my 200 pound carcuss on the seat without issues. If you don't put all the weight in the middle of the gate I don't think it is a problem.
I believe the gate will buckle in the middle with the weight smack in the middle and 700 pounds of motorcycle and rider.
There is a fix that i have seen on another site, but if your aware of it and carefull you should be fine.
The Toyota isn't heavy duty as a full size pickup would be, but then your not getting 10 miles per gallon either and you can get it into your garage.
Depends on what you want or what you can get buy with.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by Cburt

I have used mine w/ the tailgate down loading a 300 pound lawn tractor w/ my 200 pound carcuss on the seat without issues. If you don't put all the weight in the middle of the gate I don't think it is a problem.
I believe the gate will buckle in the middle with the weight smack in the middle and 700 pounds of motorcycle and rider.
There is a fix that i have seen on another site, but if your aware of it and carefull you should be fine.
The Toyota isn't heavy duty as a full size pickup would be, but then your not getting 10 miles per gallon either and you can get it into your garage.
Depends on what you want or what you can get buy with.

My ramp is over a foot wide, so the load is spread. Also, I walk / push the bike onto the truck, never ride it on. I've got a question into a local dude with a 4x4 Access prerunner. He hauls motorcycles all the time.

[Cburt]

cycldrum I'm interested to hear what he has to say.
Does he haul dirt bikes, you know they don't weigh nearly as much to a full size street bike.

[mjp2]

Originally Posted by cycledrum

I see they switched to cables instead of the flat folding bars I have on my '88 pickup for securing the tailgate.

I hope those cables are plenty strong. Sometimes I haul a 500 lb motorcycle in my truck ... hate to have a cable give out going up the ramp.

You'll find the cables to be stronger than the tailgate. Some have pulled apart their gates and reinforced them with additional steel. Might be worth investigating if you'll often be loading/unload from the gate.

As for removing the tailgate, it'll take under a minute once you see how it comes apart. It makes the cost of a locking latch seem pretty cheap considering the possible alternative.

[cvillechopper]

I just picked up an old project bike (~600 lbs) last week and loaded in into and off of the truck without removing the bed. No problem. I didn't transport it with the weight on the tailgate though. I angled the bike diagonally in the bed so the rear was mostly on the bed.

[concrete jedi]

A piece of thick plywood would help displace the weight of the bike, I just wouldn't hang out on the tailgate, load the bike and go on.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by Cburt

cycldrum I'm interested to hear what he has to say.
Does he haul dirt bikes, you know they don't weigh nearly as much to a full size street bike.

I'd think this guy hauls his GSXR1000 in his truck, he goes to trackdays. Haven't heard back from him yet.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by concrete jedi

A piece of thick plywood would help displace the weight of the bike, I just wouldn't hang out on the tailgate, load the bike and go on.

I was thinking of something like that too ... like rolling the bike onto a piece of aluminum channel which would keep the front wheel from turning and hopefully keep the load off the tailgate. Could fashion a crossbar at front of bed to keep the channel in place without having to bolt into the truck bed.

[willard417]

[quote=cvillechopper;56278]I just picked up an old project bike (~600 lbs) last week and loaded in into and off of the truck without removing the bed.


i think that would've been a little extreme if you did that.

[Cburt]

He meant removing the tail gate..........I hope.
Using a plywood sheet sounds to be the best idea. I will keep that in mind if I need to haul my bike someday.

[cvillechopper]

[quote=willard417;56492]

Originally Posted by cvillechopper

I just picked up an old project bike (~600 lbs) last week and loaded in into and off of the truck without removing the bed.


i think that would've been a little extreme if you did that.

Yeh... without removing the TAILGATE. Sometimes my hands don't listen to my brain.

[stucksucksnayota]

Well I've been reading this thread and thought i would chime in. We do alot of 4wheeler riding which means riding the 4wheeler up into the back of the truck on ramps. I have an 01 double cab 4x4 trd and a 2004 yamaha big bear and i think that the dry weight on this bike is around 450 to 500 pounds may be a little bit lighter but I weigh around 250Lbs and i ride the 4wheeler up the ramps into the truck and have never had a problem at all. I dont think i would worry about the cables breaking or your tailgate bending

Heck its a Toyota remember LOL

[WilsonTheDog]

FYI: There is a tailgate TSB for this issue.

[Flycatcher]

The tailgates bend easy, there wouldn't be a TSB if they didn't. I think there is already one member here that bent one loading a bike. I bent mine unloading a ball and burlapped tree. Everyone who is loading gunsafes and 4wheelers and other things like that need to consider that the weight displacement is completely different. A motorcycle puts all its weight in 2 spots the size of your hand. A dirtbike or sportbike should probably be fine. Even the liter bikes are only around 400lbs these days. A cruiser or something plump like that might be too much. It couldn't hurt to take off the gate though or use plywood to disperse the weight. It takes seconds. Even if it does bend you can get it replaced for free.

[Cburt]

Fly, are you saying if I bend my talegate that Toyota will replace it under warrantee?
Are you serious?

[WilsonTheDog]

^That is correct.

[Roland]

Originally Posted by Cburt

Fly, are you saying if I bend my talegate that Toyota will replace it under warrantee?
Are you serious?

Only if it's under the 3 year 36000 limit.