Solid review of the best tailgate pads ...

I am looking for the best and most cost-effective way to carry a few bikes in the back of my new 2020 TRD OR. Been looking at reviews on line, watching some YouTube videos and checking some of the forums here (I didn't post this in the Bikes and Tacos because it is specific to tailgate pads -- but that is one serious group of bike experts!).

I find the reviews at Outdoor Gear Labs very informative and helpful. They recently updated their Best Overall Tailgate Pad review and found the Race Face to be the best one. I am leaning in the direction of getting that pad based on a few of the key features. Hope this helps anyone who is in the same boat that I am. The more I think about it I prefer this approach to having the trailer mount.

Link:
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/biking/best-tailgate-pad

 

The RF T2 pad is the best for the third gen imo. Fits the wider tailgate and secures the bike properly. Before this pad, I ran the Dakine DLX which was great, but didn't secure the bike as good as the RF T2.

 

I like tail gate pads for shuttling, quick and easy to load/unload multiple bikes, only issue I ran into is now I have a spot on my frame where the paint is completely gone.

 

Is that the new one? Sorry, hard for me to tell. My challenge will be to find them. The two bike shops that I called were out of stock.

 

100% need some protection on the down tube. These are great for $5: https://www.yeticycles.com/gear/parts/downtube-shuttle-guard

 

Yes, it's the newest one. I ordered it directly from Race Face -- looks like they're in stock: https://www.raceface.com/products/t2-tailgate-pad

The previous model.. I had one my third gen taco, but it didn't fit right over the tailgate. The frame strap became useless if you lined the pad up correctly. The older version fit the 2nd gen tacos perfectly.. I am glad they made the new verison.

 

Thanks. I appreciate the info. I appears they also fixed it so that it works with the backup camera as well.

 

Yea -- no issues w/ the back up camera. The pad is great and I'd highly recommend it. I went through at-least 3-4 over the last 2 years lol.

 

Can I ask what tailgate pad you have? I am assuming that the rubbing came on the inside of the bed (not the forks going over the bed)? If you happen to have a picture I would appreciate it. Trying to avoid that if I can. With my luck, however, I will not.

 

Where the frame rests on the pad is where the paint got rubbed off, I have a dakine pad but its like the gen 1 pad I bought it roughly 8 years ago, don't have a pic on my phone, but also what vsyntax linked could of prevented it.

 

Got it -- that makes sense. Thank you. I wonder if the new Race Face Pad will stop that from happening. I could go with those Yeti guards (super useful) or maybe even cut a strip of soft micro fiber / cloth and velcro it to the inside of the pad where the frame sits.

 

once I re-spray my frame I think ill be picking up one of those yeti guards haha. I find no matter how well the bike is secured to the pad there is still some movement.

 

Any pad will do it.. I'd recommend the Yeti shuttle guard I linked above, these:

$27 Lizard Skins Unisex's Large Frame Protector Bike, Carbon

https://www.amazon.com/Lizard-Skins...efix=lizard+skin+frame+pr,sporting,392&sr=1-2, or even some mastic tape or invisiframe will help. I personally have my bike invisiframed with the Yeti shuttle guard on top.. it's clean looking, cheap, and protects the bike.

 

All over those Yeti guards -- thanks for the link.

Side note: Good example of the value of these forums really. I have been looking for a way to carry three bikes in my truck -- I am a novice not an expert. Went to the bike store and they all suggested Yakima / Thule roof racks or a trailer hitch that looked like an octopus (nothing wrong with any of those but I wanted something less complicated). Found out about the tailgate pad (did not know it existed) and now have a way to avoid a problem with paint rubbing thanks to the Yeti solution noted by you.

Sometimes amid all of the personal attacks -- and some rather crazy / bonkers behavior -- we forget how valuable this forum is for people like myself who are just trying to learn and find solutions to the things they want to do.

 

There's always good people/advice.. you just gotta sift through the bullshit from time to time haha.

The tailgate pad is my favorite.. and honestly one of the reasons I got a pickup (I ride a ton).. the ease of throwing the bike(s) in the back and not worrying about a hitch or roof rack is sweet.

 

Honestly, I had no idea about tailgate pads until I started reading here. My kid is now really into biking and I always avoided throwing the bike in the truck because taking off the tire and mounting it seemed like such a hassle. This just solves my problem, it not that expensive and makes everything super easy and convenient. Plus, we will most likely bike a lot more because of it. Win win !

Thanks for your help !

 

Another good tip for tail gate pads is too add some clear mastic tape on the fork over the decals so those don't rub off either. I like this tape:

$55 ISC Racers Tape HT2314 ISC Helicopter-OG-HD Surface Guard Tape: 2" x 30 ft., Transparent

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QC6H90/ -- you can cut pieces and put them anywhere for additional protection.

Between the shuttle guard and covering your fork decal you'll avoid some annoying issues and you'll always be ready to throw your bike in the back of a truck.

Excuse the bike being dirty, but here is where I put the mastic tape on my fork. You'll want your rotor facing outward when on the truck so I only did this on the right side of the fork.

 

I own a RaceFace T2. Perfect fit. No issues. No damage to bike fork including decals and no damage to the truck. I've carried 5 bikes with no issues.

The center window pad I folded in half and put on the top half of the window to protect the little backup camera protrusion.

 

Just had this issue on my new 3rd gen. Took my previous dakine size small and noticed you can't use the straps on the downtube. Total bummer. I guess it's the t2 or dlx dakine for me. Although I feel like the OG raceface pad might still work on the wider tailgate?

 

I prefer the dakine dlx. Tried a fox one but didn't work too well with my camera. I'm still waiting for sensus to come out with a bachelor pad for Tacoma.

This I'd a fun thread too https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mtb-tailgate-cover-w-working-rear-camera.497507/