Advice for winching ATV into box...

I'm in an '08 and I've loaded/hauled my quad more times than I can count with zero issues.

 

Not to thread jack, but there's a misconception about the weak tailgates. Most of them don't bend bad enough that you see the damage. If you pull the tailgate plastic cap and skin off, there are a bunch of sheet metal fins that are the internal support behind the skin. These are what bend. If these are badly bent, then weight centered on the end of the tail gate can fold the gate.

OP, I wouldn't trust a headache rack for this. Not on a Taco. When you're winching from the ground, you have some funny angles and I'd be concerned about what might give. I too would just drive it up on properly secured ramps.

 

I installed a set of D rings in the front of my box. Removed the front bed mounting bolts and removed a washer and reinstalled the D rings do not rotate but make for very strong mount. Use some type of strap to both D rings and fasten to winch.

Doug

 

Exactly the answer I was looking for.

I loaded and unloaded it tonight (ramps)...badly stretched the tailgate cables and damaged the (passenger side) bolt (and/or tailgate itself) where the cable hooks to the tailgate. I will examine closer in the daylight.

At least the machine will be 200lbs lighter without me on it should it be winched.

Before anyone asks, the entire wheelbase was inside the box.

 

What's the weight of the quad?

 

Buy a small utility trailer. Best thing I ever did. I did not like loading my Polaris even in to my F150. Bought the trailer and sold my ramps.

 

Quad weighs almost 800lbs with a full tank... Which it had plus my 200lbs on it. I am getting a trailer. I am disappointed that this did not go as well as I thought it would.

 

Good deal. Once you load on a trailer you wonder why you even considered putting it in the back of a truck, especially a Tacoma

 

And such a service bulletin would do nothing besides updating older parts to new, which newer vehicles would come with from factory.

Luck has NOTHING to do with ANYTHING.

 

I've loaded my much smaller and lighter Grizzly 350 in my bed many times without issue. I bought it on purpose to fit between the wheel wells and be easy to transport without messing with a trailer. Just toss up some ramps and drive it up. It weighs almost 300lbs less than that Can-Am though.

 

I have a Polaris 300 and still prefer messing with the trailer. To me it is just a lot easier plus I need the bed for other things.