Is tailgate reinforcement required?

Before I spend money that may not be needed. I have a 2021 trd sport. A friend who had a 2015 tacoma recommended reinforcement so I don't damage the tailgate when I load my ATV or Motorcycle. I read a few places say they have strengthened the tailgate since then but I found nothing official. I am going to be loading a large ATV (Polaris 850xp)

Will I need tailgate reinforment plate? If so I will probably order the Snailarmor plate. If not I would rather keep it stock for now.

 

What are the axle loads of the ATV?
Are they greater than your weight?
What kind of damage did your friend experience (if any)?
I'd be surprised if you needed to do anything.

 

I don't think of these tailgates as weak or in need of reinforcement. I have had 300 lbs+ on mine on a regular basis. Shoot, me and my wife sitting on the tailgate are probably 325lbs( not exactly sure, as I'm not going to ask her what she weighs!)

 

The tailgate will hold....but just be sure the 850 will physically fit in the bed.

 

Please post a pic of your 850 in the truck bed, I am on the fence to put my 800 sportsman in the back as I do not think it will fit.

 

Unless you really are looking for an excuse to spend some $$ on a mod .....

 

a sheet of 1/2" Plywood distributes the load better and (used to be) far cheaper than a tailgate plate.

But thats most people. Me, I'd rather trailer it.

 

I mean the rear of the quad will def be resting on the tailgate. And the quad weighs 775lbs.

 

Sounds like you better get a trailer. That's gonna be very hard on all your equipment - not just the tailgate. Better to be safe than sorry plus trailer will be WAY easier to deal with.

 

Ive loaded my 600 pound quad more times than i can count and my tail gate is fine.

Now maybe the 3rd gen tail gates are weaker? I doubt it though.

 

I was told the 3rd gen are stronger. But I think I am gonna get the snailarmor metal plate for the tailgate as well

 

Recently got a call from a buddy of mine with a KTM 890 Adventure R. Flat tire in the desert and needed a lift home. I can tell you the tailgate did not like the weight of the rear tire resting on it. Noticeable dip in the OEM panel. Nothing permanent, went back to normal after we offloaded the bike.

 

Honestly if you break it then go buy a metal tailgate panel save ur money

 

compared to 2nd gen they are way stronger, i noticed that the first day i had my truck.

 

Then you really shouldn't have any issue

 

I'm also on board with the idea of getting a trailer. That is a seriously big and heavy quad. If you are hauling that regularly you'd really want to upgrade your leaf springs or slap in some airbags or your leaf springs are going to be shot in no time at all.

 

So, roughly half will be on the tailgate. Less than 200 lbs at 2 spots.

Starting here is not a bad idea.

It all depends on how often you'll be carting your ATV around. As @YF_Ryan notes, if you're doing this frequently it WILL affect your rear suspension. It will also affect your headlight & sensor aim when loaded. A 1,000 lb capacity trailer probably will cost you less than the suspension upgrades you may find necessary down the road.

 

I have hauled my 853 pound roadglide several times with no issues but I lay a 4x8 piece of 3/4 plywood in the bed to distribute the weight across the bed and the tailgate as the rear wheel sits about 4 inches out on the tailgate.I also carry a 3 piece folding 10 foot ramp which probably weighs close to 60 lbs or more along with the bike.I weigh 190 pounds and ride the bike up the ramp to load it .I have road it up and backed it down probably 10 times with no ill effects ,the tailgate still shuts fine with no visible damage.The truck handles the load with no problems in regards to power and braking,I just bare in mind that I have a heavy load and start my braking early.

 

You don't lay a 4X8 sheet of plywood down without cutting it. Won't fit flat.

 

Your tailgate will hold the weight while loading and unloading, and many people go by static weight (which is 100% wrong). So while you are not moving and you don’t have the vehicle tied down everything will be fine. Now tie down the vehicle (ATV) and hit bumps while driving, that’s when extra force will be applied to the tailgate, both from simply the tacoma moving up and down from its own suspension and then the vehicle weight and it’s own suspension loading and unloading. Those forces are super super hard to predict as there are so many variables in play, and it’s vastly different from a static load like a lumber etc. So while the 3rd gen tailgate is stronger that 2nd gen, with everything in play here no one can predict if you are safe or not, (as simply how you tie it down will have a huge effect).

Personally if the wheels are sitting on the tailgate, I’d use some form of reinforcements, (simple to be safe rather than sorry), if they are resting on the corner of the bed and tailgate I wouldn’t bother.