Weight on the TailGate?

I've been packing two dirt bikes with the rear tires on the gate of my SB TRD 4x4. I believe the gate has a 200lb cap. The two bikes weigh 150lbs and 250lbs. But only the rear wheel is on the gate.

Should I be concerned?

 

I have had a sb350 long block sitting on the edge with no issue and my 1600cc bobber loaded and unloaded several times with all the rear tire weight on the tail gate.

You should be fine just be easy on it and use common sense

 

Disaster is about to strike......

I have an 05' LB that I have beem hauling dirtbikes in since new (reason I bought it - new bike). Stock tailgate has held up just fine, but I also dont abuse my truck either.
Some people have creased/bent their tailgates loading bikes or other stuff. So naturally a "Weak tailgate reinforcement solution" has been found....

Roll the dice.

 

I'm 205lbs and I've jumped up and down on mine. That's probably recommended. But it can withstand more of that. Had a few friends sit on it as well at once, probable upwards of 400lbs. You should be just fine

 

You should be careful, they are weak tailgates. I would be more worried when loading them. Once they are in and tied down there isn't much weight on the rear wheels.

 

That's a good point. With only the rear wheel, static weight and really only half the weight. It's fine. But the chance is when I'm loading as the whole weight of the bike is on the edge of the gate. As I'm rolling the bike up the ramp, that could be an issue.

I've seen that aftermarket tailgate reinforcement plate. But doesn't that only reinforce the mid section, not really the edge, which is where the weight is with the loading ramp resting there as I roll up the 250lb bike? But I guess the plate reinforces as it spreads the load out over the whole gate.

I also wonder about the cables holding the weight of the gate AND the bike while loading on the ramp.

 

I regularly load and unload my 800+lb 4 wheeler with my 240lb self and I haven't had a problem with the tailgate yet.

 

The Relentless tailgate reinforcement adds strength to the entire tailgate. I just bought one on his group buy because I too ride dirt bikes and don't want to bend my tailgate loading or unloading.

 

Lots of examples of bent tailgates out there. Just got in on the Relentless Fab tailgate group buy. Seems worth the money to me.

 

Just an FYI Toyota upped the reinforcing in the Tacoma gates in 2008 , most bent gate pics are from earlier model trucks

 

If a bike's back tire is on the tailgate while driving, avoid any bumps to minimize bouncing.

There is a member here that bought a new truck from the dealer. The buyer asked if the gate is strong because he puts his bike (street bike) in the bed of pickups. Salesman said he'd have no problem. It turns out that the gate was severely bent from his first haul.... back to the dealer he went. The dealer did remove a tailgate from another truck on the lot to replace it.

I wish I could find the picture the member posted, it was bad, but it was a street bike.... dirt bikes are much lighter.

 

I too saw the bent tailgates, so I made my own reinforcement. That was before the companies listed on this forum started making reinforcements.

Someone above (tacomtn), mentioned that they only reinforce the center of the tailgate. Not really, even though the center is where the damage usually occurs, if you reinforce the entire width of the gate, you will be OK.
The ends don't seem to bend. And the cables seem to work OK also.

Anyway: Once it is bent, Too Late!

oldracer

 

It would take a lot to bend mine....

 

Yea, I get nervous every time I bang around back there. The only solution on the market isn't appealing to me though since the lip doesn't align correct. There is a member with talks of a reinforcement that does not have a lip. I've been eagerly watching his thread.

 

No lip on the back = little to no added strength.

 

Can you explain how the overhanging lip adds strength?

 

How do you suppose that? A full sheet of metal bolted on top of the tailgate would definitely help support any weight put on it.

 

Not completely true, the other bends should add a lot more strength than the factory tailgate. True, bends do add rigidity; 2 out of three bends will be sufficient for the majority of applications. Yes, for ultimate strength, that outside lip would help.

I agree with the post above, That outside lip just does not appeal to me.... I like the idea, just not the execution (what is available thus far).

Jesse

 

If the flat sheet uses the factory bolts , they're just mounted into plastic

 

Multiple attachments though. I looked at his drawing, his measured forces, and measurements he took with the sheet of steel. So I trust that he'll R&D it with weight to see how the screws hold up. If I put something on there that weighs enough to bend the sheet of metal enough to rip all of those screws out, then my tailgate was doomed anyway.

Like TacomaTruckParts said, I know the bend would help, but in my opinion they don't look good. The absence of the bend is obvious, and they rarely sit level with the rest of the bed caps. I like the way the OEM stuff looks, and don't want to mess with it. If the potential vendor doesn't come through, then I'll just continue to tip toe across the bed.