Truck tailgate trick with bikes loaded in back

casper
Profile picture for user casper
Posts
557
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
San Diego, CA US
casper
Edited Date/Time 8/30/2015 4:56pm
My tailgate wont close with both bikes in the back and I've seen people use straps to hold it semi-closed but has anyone used the tailgate latches to hold up the tailgate? I always thought that some company should make shortened straps for this purpose but I just figured I would try this. The only thing I'm concerned about is the strap on the tailgate is resting on it's stop and it's at an angle. Besides that, I think it should be fine? The bikes rear tires have about 1/2 inch of clearance and are not resting on the tailgate(one is a 250 and the other a 450), so the only pressure on the straps is the weight of the tailgate itself.












|
CarlinoJoeVideo
Profile picture for user CarlinoJoeVideo
Posts
7358
Joined
11/30/2013
Location
Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
Fantasy
2339th
CarlinoJoeVideo 8/28/2015 9:26am
8/28/2015 9:26am
Yeah that method works well. Eventually the cables start fraying which sucks when they poke your fingers. But i've been running that for a few years now and no major issues...

When will someone come up with the tilting reverse camera so you can still use it in that position!?!
Motoxdoc
Profile picture for user Motoxdoc
Posts
2628
Joined
11/8/2009
Location
Steamboat Springs, CO US
Motoxdoc 8/28/2015 9:29am
8/28/2015 9:29am
readyramp.com,,,,I've got one and they are awesome!!!
2slow4u
Profile picture for user 2slow4u
Posts
85
Joined
8/27/2015
Location
Ogden, UT US
2slow4u 8/28/2015 9:39am
8/28/2015 9:39am
get a Gator Gate, the net tailgates, awesome for when you go ride and they're cheap as hell. Or just get a bed extender but they're not so cheap.

The Shop

See All »
imoto34
Profile picture for user imoto34
Posts
3781
Joined
1/28/2010
Location
TN US
Fantasy
3174th
imoto34 8/28/2015 9:43am
8/28/2015 9:43am
I have a short wheel base truck that we use alot. Most of the time its two bikes but sometimes three. With gear fuel food tents and a little grille. I use two traps each bike unless there is three and that bike is tied to the outer two. I have never had a anything fall out cause of a tailgate being down.
GeorgiePorgie 8/28/2015 9:43am
8/28/2015 9:43am
Are your bikes front wheels angled into the corners of the truck bed ? If they're not the tailgate will probably close if you load that way.
Moto Mofo
Profile picture for user Moto Mofo
Posts
857
Joined
1/17/2008
Location
TX US
Moto Mofo 8/28/2015 9:44am
8/28/2015 9:44am
Disconnect the upper end of the cable, run a tiedown from it to the footpeg. Lift tailgate as far as it'll go, then tighten tiedown. Voila!
peelout
Profile picture for user peelout
Posts
17872
Joined
1/6/2011
Location
Ogden, UT US
peelout 8/28/2015 9:45am
8/28/2015 9:45am
2slow4u wrote:
get a Gator Gate, the net tailgates, awesome for when you go ride and they're cheap as hell. Or just get a bed extender but they're...
get a Gator Gate, the net tailgates, awesome for when you go ride and they're cheap as hell. Or just get a bed extender but they're not so cheap.
luckily my F150 came with a bed extender built in, well worth the money in my opinion.
Outsider
Profile picture for user Outsider
Posts
10634
Joined
1/29/2009
Location
Huntington Beach, CA US
Outsider 8/28/2015 10:04am
8/28/2015 10:04am
I'm in the process of trademarking and distributing a revolutionary new product for this purpose... it's groundbreaking, trust me!

2slow4u
Profile picture for user 2slow4u
Posts
85
Joined
8/27/2015
Location
Ogden, UT US
2slow4u 8/28/2015 10:08am
8/28/2015 10:08am
I use an old Nissan Hardbody to get my bikes to the track, it's old and the tailgate doesn't like to stay on when I close it behind 2 rear tires, the nets work great for that.
Jaybird67k
Profile picture for user Jaybird67k
Posts
527
Joined
10/27/2013
Location
Vidor, TX US
Jaybird67k 8/28/2015 10:24am
8/28/2015 10:24am
I put 3 in and close the gate. I can't live with ought an 8 foot bed. I remember my little yota and I had to leave my gate open.....hated that.

Jason

BurtbaC
Profile picture for user BurtbaC
Posts
99
Joined
9/12/2013
Location
North PB, CA US
BurtbaC 8/28/2015 10:27am
8/28/2015 10:27am
Jaybird67k wrote:
I put 3 in and close the gate. I can't live with ought an 8 foot bed. I remember my little yota and I had to...
I put 3 in and close the gate. I can't live with ought an 8 foot bed. I remember my little yota and I had to leave my gate open.....hated that.

Jason

Nothing replaces the ol' long bed. Miss mine but having a 4 door with a long bed in the city makes for one long neck daddy to get around.
DoctorJD
Profile picture for user DoctorJD
Posts
2922
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Somewhere in..., GA US
DoctorJD 8/28/2015 10:32am
8/28/2015 10:32am
MotoGate. I've got a short-bed, and there's no way in hell I can shut my tailgate.



newmann
Profile picture for user newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
newmann 8/28/2015 10:34am
8/28/2015 10:34am
casper wrote:
My tailgate wont close with both bikes in the back and I've seen people use straps to hold it semi-closed but has anyone used the tailgate...
My tailgate wont close with both bikes in the back and I've seen people use straps to hold it semi-closed but has anyone used the tailgate latches to hold up the tailgate? I always thought that some company should make shortened straps for this purpose but I just figured I would try this. The only thing I'm concerned about is the strap on the tailgate is resting on it's stop and it's at an angle. Besides that, I think it should be fine? The bikes rear tires have about 1/2 inch of clearance and are not resting on the tailgate(one is a 250 and the other a 450), so the only pressure on the straps is the weight of the tailgate itself.












That puts your tailgate at about the right angle to lift the gate off on the right hand side. One good pothole in the road and it could fall off. Seen it happen. Easy fix and theft preventative is to wrap a hose clamp around the right side tailgate hinge.
casper
Profile picture for user casper
Posts
557
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
San Diego, CA US
casper 8/28/2015 10:43am
8/28/2015 10:43am
newmann wrote:
That puts your tailgate at about the right angle to lift the gate off on the right hand side. One good pothole in the road and...
That puts your tailgate at about the right angle to lift the gate off on the right hand side. One good pothole in the road and it could fall off. Seen it happen. Easy fix and theft preventative is to wrap a hose clamp around the right side tailgate hinge.
When I bought the truck it had a hose clamp on it like you said, I figured that's what it was for.
K-dubbb
Profile picture for user K-dubbb
Posts
473
Joined
12/10/2013
Location
CA
K-dubbb 8/28/2015 10:53am
8/28/2015 10:53am
+1 on the MotoGate, love mine and a must on a short box.



r.sal923
Profile picture for user r.sal923
Posts
564
Joined
1/25/2014
Location
CA
r.sal923 8/28/2015 11:05am
8/28/2015 11:05am Edited Date/Time 8/28/2015 11:07am


I have been told that amp research makes one of the best ones for moto, I drive a van, but if I had to use my truck for moto I would get this. ( I have also seen them used as a seat on the ground at the track)

Pit Row

See All »
40Plus_922mx
Profile picture for user 40Plus_922mx
Posts
2901
Joined
4/17/2009
Location
High Desert, CA US
40Plus_922mx 8/28/2015 12:24pm
8/28/2015 12:24pm Edited Date/Time 8/28/2015 12:34pm
The steel hook of an every day bike tie down will fit right into the latch part of the tail gate on many trucks. Then hook the other end to your foot peg and snug it up. Do this on both sides as not to warp your tailgate. Then just push the gate forward and yank the release handle and the hooks fall out in order to unload. Been doing this for 30 years.

Or you could go here.
www.dgmtailgatesupport.com
IceMan446
Profile picture for user IceMan446
Posts
4671
Joined
1/10/2010
Location
Sacramento, CA US
IceMan446 8/28/2015 12:28pm
8/28/2015 12:28pm
DoctorJD wrote:
MotoGate. I've got a short-bed, and there's no way in hell I can shut my tailgate. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/08/28/103186/s1200_IMG_1004.jpg[/img]
MotoGate. I've got a short-bed, and there's no way in hell I can shut my tailgate.



Winner. And a guy that rides makes the gates.


Only thing I cannot understand about the photo is, why do guys run the plug in their exhaust until the reach the track???

peelout
Profile picture for user peelout
Posts
17872
Joined
1/6/2011
Location
Ogden, UT US
peelout 8/28/2015 12:47pm
8/28/2015 12:47pm Edited Date/Time 8/28/2015 12:52pm
IceMan446 wrote:
Winner. And a guy that rides makes the gates. Only thing I cannot understand about the photo is, why do guys run the plug in their...
Winner. And a guy that rides makes the gates.


Only thing I cannot understand about the photo is, why do guys run the plug in their exhaust until the reach the track???

i can't tell you how many times i left mine in on accident, then got to the track and then jumped on and kicked until i was blue in the face because i forgot about that damn plug lol

i also put mine in when i left the track because usually i would stop and wash it on my way home
Vegas
Profile picture for user Vegas
Posts
58
Joined
12/9/2014
Location
FM US
Vegas 8/28/2015 12:56pm
8/28/2015 12:56pm
40Plus_922mx wrote:
The steel hook of an every day bike tie down will fit right into the latch part of the tail gate on many trucks. Then hook...
The steel hook of an every day bike tie down will fit right into the latch part of the tail gate on many trucks. Then hook the other end to your foot peg and snug it up. Do this on both sides as not to warp your tailgate. Then just push the gate forward and yank the release handle and the hooks fall out in order to unload. Been doing this for 30 years.

Or you could go here.
www.dgmtailgatesupport.com
Works great on my Tacoma and it looks like it would work the exact same on your tailgate
731chopper
Profile picture for user 731chopper
Posts
4080
Joined
1/2/2015
Location
DFW, TX US
Fantasy
442nd
731chopper 8/28/2015 1:00pm
8/28/2015 1:00pm
I got the Ford one factory installed on my current F150 when I ordered it and I love it. It was only like $200 I think which I thought was a good deal. It's hard plastic and locks in place so it can hold the gate down even if nothing is riding on top of it during transit. When not in use it just folds away with half of it in the left corner and the other half in the right corner. I understand the regular and long beds being more convenient when hauling but there's no way I could live with my truck being any longer. It's a crew cab short bed and is already difficult enough to maneuver around a tight parking area. And I need my back seat for my growing family.
NotCore
Profile picture for user NotCore
Posts
599
Joined
8/9/2011
Location
Alpharetta, GA US
NotCore 8/28/2015 1:04pm
8/28/2015 1:04pm
DoctorJD wrote:
MotoGate. I've got a short-bed, and there's no way in hell I can shut my tailgate. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/08/28/103186/s1200_IMG_1004.jpg[/img]
MotoGate. I've got a short-bed, and there's no way in hell I can shut my tailgate.



IceMan446 wrote:
Winner. And a guy that rides makes the gates. Only thing I cannot understand about the photo is, why do guys run the plug in their...
Winner. And a guy that rides makes the gates.


Only thing I cannot understand about the photo is, why do guys run the plug in their exhaust until the reach the track???

Because in many places it may rain on the way to the track. You may not have that problem in Sacramento.
TailSoHard
Profile picture for user TailSoHard
Posts
1657
Joined
10/18/2014
Location
Beer City, MI US
TailSoHard 8/28/2015 1:14pm
8/28/2015 1:14pm
I always just strap my duffel bag between the two rear wheels and let everything else just sit back there. I have a rubber mat on my bed so nothing really slides around anyway.
Outsider
Profile picture for user Outsider
Posts
10634
Joined
1/29/2009
Location
Huntington Beach, CA US
Outsider 8/28/2015 1:23pm
8/28/2015 1:23pm
40Plus_922mx wrote:
The steel hook of an every day bike tie down will fit right into the latch part of the tail gate on many trucks. Then hook...
The steel hook of an every day bike tie down will fit right into the latch part of the tail gate on many trucks. Then hook the other end to your foot peg and snug it up. Do this on both sides as not to warp your tailgate. Then just push the gate forward and yank the release handle and the hooks fall out in order to unload. Been doing this for 30 years.

Or you could go here.
www.dgmtailgatesupport.com
Exactly!

I don't run it to the footpeg though... if the bike comes loose then so does the gate. I run it to the post where the latch goes. It may not cinch up enough to be super tight but enough to keep your shit in
mx617
Profile picture for user mx617
Posts
1399
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Trail CA
mx617 8/28/2015 1:34pm
8/28/2015 1:34pm
My 05 Colorado comes with a second set of pins so you can actually move the cables and adjust how far the gate closes into three different positions. Makes so much sense I don't understand why no other trucks I've seen have this! We use it all the time hauling bikes around.

Post a reply to: Truck tailgate trick with bikes loaded in back