How much weight can the tailgate hold?

Hi,
The other day, we got rain which is a rarity in my neck of the woods. So I thought it'd be cool if I opened the garage and the wife, baby, and myself sat on the tailgate to watch the showers come down.

I felt like i was asking the tailgate to hold too much lol. Is there a max limit somewhere? Has anybody ever had problems with this?

Oh, as a side note, we are not very large people either....

 

I weigh 210 lbs, and my cousin weighs at least 300 lbs.... probably more, and it held up...
But mines a 2010, Idk if the tailgate has been reinforced or not, but it didnt budge..
I doubt it'd be a big deal...

 

Depends on the yr model. There was a TSB back awhile about weak, bending tailgates. At some point they started putting reinforced ones on them. Some people were bending them putting motorcycles/atvs and whatnot in the bed. Not sure what yr your truck is but I would error on the side of safety. I even use the tire to climb in the bed instead of the tailgate, tailgate stays locked.

 

I've stood on mind and it seems to be pretty sturdy, although it makes a nasty creek sometimes.

 

I had my a couple big dudes sitting on mine before. I was nervous it was gonna break but it held strong. Ive had a big tree branch fall in it and it didnt hurt it. I had my 4wheeler in the bed this weekend with the rear tires on the gate and it was fine...
sorry I dont have #'s for you though

 

I drive my Commerical walk behind lawn mower into the bed a few times a week via ramps on the tailgate. It weighs around 400-500lbs

 

I put my 78 Goldwing in the bed, the back wheel is fully on the tailgate, no problem. bike is 650 lbs.


I did this at the dealer when I bought the truck, to get my bike home. Used their front end rack, put the bike on the rack. Rasied the rack to tailgate height, pushed bike on to truck, lashed down and off into the sunset.....

 

I'm about 220 and I sit and stand on mine all the time with no worries. I have a 2010 if that matters.

 

Ive had a xr650 with full weight on the tailgate along with a 150 pound guy lifting it. I dont think my tailgate has bent

 

search gatersaver (i believe that is the name). also, there were a few guys reinforcing it on here as well. i plan to do the same thing after installing my 09 rear camera handle this weekend and seeing how weak they really are inside...

 

well i'm 250,my gf about 120= 370

 

Ok, all of this makes me feel better. Its a 2010 DC and together with baby we are not even 350 lbs....

I do want to add the damper thingie that makes the gate come down slower. When the wife opens the gate, sometimes it comes crashing down. I need to look into it (there's even one on the glove box lol).

 

Me(200) two of my friends (150 and 250+) all sat on my tailgate an it held up fine through multiple uses of that. I've also jumped on mine alot and that is how I get into the truck.

 

i weigh around 220 and was carrying a very very heavy hutch into the back i was standing on the tailgate i could really feel it flexing under my weight. though it was going to break. seems to be all good.

 

I was standing on my tailgate yesterday. I heard creaking and was nervous about putting a dent in it, but so far so good...I'm 210#'s.

Glad to hear other folks driving their equipment onto their beds with no problems. I've seen pics and heard stories of folks denting their tailgates because of weight. At what point did Toyota start reinforcing them and how can you tell?

 

I heard the damper thing for the tailgate only works with 07 and down
Plus I heard it was a piece of crap.. just a heads up!

 

Ya .... what he says.

 

Read your owner's manual. It clearly states in there what weight to not exceed on the tailgate. I believe Toyota specifies 250lbs, but I'm not 100% on that. Anyway, it's in there. Reading the manual is a good thing.

Generally speaking, people have far exceeded the recommended capacity and had no problems. It probably just wouldn't be warrantied if there was one.

 

i bent mine. and i reinforced it. ill find the link

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/78315-my-tailgate-reinforce-project.html