2016+ Tailgate Weight Rating

I am getting ready to help a buddy move with my 2016 Tacoma and wanted to make sure I didn't mess my brand new truck up. I was thinking of building a ramp to roll stuff up on to the tailgate and into the bed, so I turned to the manual to see how much weight the tailgate was rated to hold. Turns out that is not mentioned anywhere in the manual, so called Toyota to inquire. Their answer? "The 2016+ Tacoma tailgate is rated to support only its own weight."

That's right, you supposed to put literally no weight whatsoever on the tailgate! I attempted to clarify and said "I'm a bit over 200 lbs, are you saying I can't sit on the tailgate?" The Toyota rep responded "it is rated for nothing, so I certainly wouldn't put 200 lbs on it."

Needless to say, I was disappointed in the revelation that I can't have beer on the tailgate and left the conversation feeling like a bit of a fat ass.

If you are moving something that requires a ramp, my recommendation is to remove the tailgate and ramp straight to the truck bed.

 

Sub'd

I'm curious if anyone has input

 

Hope I can use ramps and drive my 500 lb Honda Rancher plus my 200 lbs onto the bed and haul it to my deer lease..

wee

 

You can. It's some of the new stuff that is NOT plastic.

G.

 

This seems a bit crazy. I'll have to make a wood platform for when I haul a motorcycle that covers the bed and the tailgate.

 

They obviously are going to say that. Does any manufacturer specify tailgate weight limits? I sat on mine and not gonna lie I was worried! But no issues, it held my 170lb ass no problem.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to use my tailgate as needed. I won't be jumping on it or anything but I've been in and out plenty and never been worried.

 

it's 150lbs stack weight, more and you can damage it


do not ask me for documentation 'cuz there ain't any I have


you want to load more than that, you (almost certainly will) need a beefier cover plate and fatter cables

I have laid +500 lbs of bagged rock on it, no problems... so it is all
about square inches of pressure and where you put it. 150lbs of human foot
will not bend or break any part of the tailgate. more than that you start
to bend the inner supports.

 

I stood on mine and I weigh 225 and nothing happened - FWIW.
I think it is a case of "we don't have an official number, so we aren't going to confirm anything". Toyota has been so burned by lawsuits they are afraid of their own shadow now.

 

When my truck arrives I'll put a 500 pound atv on it.

wee

 

Hmmm I jump down off of and onto the tailgate all the time, at 205 lbs no problems, it feels as solid as the rest of the bed when your walking on it. Interesting never thought of babying the tailgate not to break it... def not going to start

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tailgate-mod.398052/#post-11030407

I have been using the tailgate as a fulcrum point to load heavy equipment in and out of the truckbed for the last 22k. only problem so far is a plastic bushing broke on the right side. thing looks like it was made to break after so many opens and closes though.

 

Does anyone know of stronger aftermarket cable supports?

 

22k on a 2016 already? Nice!

 

I've never heard of them breaking, though I don't know what they're rated for and doubt Toyota would divulge that info.

 

The owners manual for my 15 Nissan Frontier said this in the section about the bed extender.

Do not overload the bed extender.
Maximum load on the open tailgate is
200 lbs (890N).

 

yes sir! 3k more and i think i will be the first '16 out of warranty. see if any planned obsolesce comes into play...

 

Just sold my Frontier Nismo 4x4, drove up ramps on the tail gate many times with my Honda Rancher,

wee

 

Really anyone should be able to judge what might break their tail gate just by standing on it and testing it. Common sense can go a long way here.

It's one quote from one uninformed Toyota employee, it may not of even happened.

Just kidding, in reality, the reason for the tonneau cover on the long beds IS to keep the force of the wind from bending the tailgate when traveling over 65 MPH.

It's the OP's recommendation to remove the tailgate, not Toyotas.

 

I should add, it would be nice to see a rating on what the tail gate can handle which is what I think was the intention of the OP's post.