Bent tailgate!!??

My buddy and I were loading his snowmobile in his 2010 Tacoma this winter. As he rode up on the ramps into the truck bed we saw that the tailgate has bent (bowed). Done this many times with other trucks without causing any damage with a 600 lb snowmobile ( or some even heavier)
I'm on the verge of buying a Tacoma but this thing its been bothering me ever since, even though I'll be using a snowmobile trailer. Have a hard time believing the tailgates are this flimsy. Tailgates on trucks normally are designed to bear loads.
Has anybody heard of or had similar problem with the tailgate?

 

Tacoma tailgates are not rated for any real amount of weight. 250lbs<.There are folks who fab tailgate reinforcers.

 

I don't load a lot of heavy items in my bed but was concerned that the one time I did I would bend it so I installed the Relentless Tailgate reinforcement. I went with the smooth aluminum and put the original plastic cover over it. The top cover had to be trimmed because the reinforcement panel is slightly wider.

 

Hi where did you get your reinforcing plate for the tailgate at in your pictures. Noticed you are from Tampa I spend the winters in Largo would be good if I could source it when I am down there .load my Harley Street Glide in the back to bring it down with me for the winter,have a serious bow in the tailgate managed to push it back to almost normal but has left a kink in the metal. Thanks Robert

 

It's from Relentless Fabrication who posts on this forum. Check out this other thread.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/29117-weak-tailgate-reinforcement-solution.html

 

I bend mine on my 06 loading a Yamaha apex snowmobile. Got the rentless reinforced plate and no issues now loading snowmobiles, atvs etc.

 

There is a write up that can reinforce the tailgate with some angle iron.

 

I frequently load & unload my 800lb atv (+another 230lbs of my fat ass) using a tailgate ramp and haven't had a problem yet, knock on wood.

 

I loaded my CBR929 into the back using a ramp (I ride it in hehe). So that's about 600 pounds with me on the bike and never had an issue. It's centered weight too so...

I regularly sit on it with my buddies, so depending if there are 2 or 3 or us eating lunch outside on nice days that could be little over 600 pounds of ass on it.

Never ever noticed anything out of place.
2009 if that makes a difference but I also loaded my bike once on my 2007 in the same way without issue.

Actually the 2007 had about 200 pounds on it all the way from Salt Lake, UT to Portland, OR. Was moving and a few items stuck out the back so I used the tailgate extender so some minor weight there for about 800 miles.