Tailgate weight.

[RideSlow2004]

Not how much it weighs, but how much weight you can put on it. I have a Harley I would like to carry in the back of the truck. A couple of companies make power ramps, to load the bike into the truck. Although the Rampage brochure shows the tailgate down, as it loads the bike, when I talked to them, they said it is 'NOT' recommended to do so.



Rampage Power Lift Ramp



I also hope to be able to close the tailgate, since I will also be pulling a travel trailer.



The following folks say the tailgate can be left on, but again, a full dress Harley can easily weigh 900lbs.



Cruiser Ramp Pickup Loader

 

[steved]

Probably not the same, but I have a walk behind tractor I load with ramps... dressed with the snow blower, it weighs around 800 pounds. Its never caused any issues with the gate.



The only thing that I have did that WILL damage the gate is dropping weight on it... about 100 pounds from about five feet will cause the internals to start to bend... causes dimples at the edges of the gate, and cracked paint.

 

[DCreed]

The first one shows the frame of the lift to be full bed length, so the tailgate doesnt have much load at all. I dont think the bike will fit with the tailgate shut though.

 

[S.Morris]

Check out bike ramp.com IIRCC> you can get back arched ramps 12 feet long that fold in middle. I have been using the 9' ramps with a onboard 2500lb winch to load my 800lb bike for about 3 years now.

I made up straps to latch into tailgate latches to help take some weight off of the cables(and as safety backup if one were to break).

Bit of a pain (1/2 hr to load once you get your procedure streamlined)



I put a wheel chock in front of box welded to a 2x2 that has anchors at each end to fasten bike down.



Have travelled several thousand kilometers with this setup pulling my travel trailer. (am in florida now..... 2500km from home)

Steve

 

[KSears]

I have a set of 10 ft arched aluminum folding 3 piece ramps , I have loaded many bikes into my truck with no problem, they are rated at 1500lbs, I wouldn't hesitate riding my harley dresser up them into the truck, they rest on the tailgate, never had a problem.

 

[TFucili]

Not how much it weighs, but how much weight you can put on it. I have a Harley I would like to carry in the back of the truck. A couple of companies make power ramps, to load the bike into the truck. Although the Rampage brochure shows the tailgate down, as it loads the bike, when I talked to them, they said it is 'NOT' recommended to do so.

Rampage Power Lift Ramp

I also hope to be able to close the tailgate, since I will also be pulling a travel trailer.

The following folks say the tailgate can be left on, but again, a full dress Harley can easily weigh 900lbs.

Cruiser Ramp Pickup Loader

We are a Rampage dealer in AZ. Bear in mind that the subframe is bearing the load and is bolted to the bed. It's just that if you set it up to work with the gate down the gate stays down, unless you remove the Rampage. Our shop truck is set up so we remove the tailgate to use the Rampage, and then put it back on after loading/unloading.

 

[bighammer]

My bike (SV650) is probably a lot lighter, but I thought I'd share how I load it.

I find a hill or retaining wall about bed height and back up to it. I've loaded the bike with nothing other than the tailgate, but a scrap of plywood makes the transition smoother. doing it this way, I really don't think you will do anything rolling your bike over the gate. It is just one wheel at a time so the full weight is never on the gate.

The guys who buy or make long ramps that hang on the gate have a lot of stresses going on. Dealing with the steepness and fighting gravity, (while dealing with the height) where to store them, and the stress on the cheapo sheet metal tailgate.

 

[RideSlow2004]

We are a Rampage dealer in AZ. Bear in mind that the subframe is bearing the load and is bolted to the bed. It's just that if you set it up to work with the gate down the gate stays down, unless you remove the Rampage. Our shop truck is set up so we remove the tailgate to use the Rampage, and then put it back on after loading/unloading.

Good info, when I called the 1-800, they were not clear on that issue. So, if I use the Rampage, I could remove the Dodge tailgate, install the Rampage, and build a drop in style tail gate, similar to the Air Gate.



My state, and several others require at least 6" freeboard above the bed, if you are carrying anything, and I just want to keep stuff from rolling out.

 

[RideSlow2004]

Check out bike ramp.com IIRCC> you can get back arched ramps 12 feet long that fold in middle. I have been using the 9' ramps with a onboard 2500lb winch to load my 800lb bike for about 3 years now.

I made up straps to latch into tailgate latches to help take some weight off of the cables(and as safety backup if one were to break).

Bit of a pain (1/2 hr to load once you get your procedure streamlined)



I put a wheel chock in front of box welded to a 2x2 that has anchors at each end to fasten bike down.



Have travelled several thousand kilometers with this setup pulling my travel trailer. (am in florida now..... 2500km from home)

Steve

Well thot out set up, good idea on the latch safety.



Still wondering how that tailgate holds up in the middle, where the weight is concentrated, or do you keep to one side or the other.

 

[RHaight]

Tailgate is weak...

My experience: ran my Road King up the ramp and into the bed, no problem fitting with the 8' box. However, the tailgate now has a nice little "valley"where the wheels traversed - which really sucks because I now have a nice little 3/4" gap at the bottom where it's supposed to meet the bottom of the bed.



Since then I now place a piece of plywood over the tailgate to spread the load and the damage hasn't gotten any worse... just ticks me off that a tailgate that feels like it weighs a ton can't handle a relatively minor point load. Typical "lightweight" construction of most things these days I guess.

 

[RideSlow2004]

My experience: ran my Road King up the ramp and into the bed, no problem fitting with the 8' box. However, the tailgate now has a nice little "valley"where the wheels traversed - which really sucks because I now have a nice little 3/4" gap at the bottom where it's supposed to meet the bottom of the bed.



Since then I now place a piece of plywood over the tailgate to spread the load and the damage hasn't gotten any worse... just ticks me off that a tailgate that feels like it weighs a ton can't handle a relatively minor point load. Typical "lightweight" construction of most things these days I guess.

Thanks for the heads up. gotta go do some work now

 

[TFucili]

Good info, when I called the 1-800, they were not clear on that issue. So, if I use the Rampage, I could remove the Dodge tailgate, install the Rampage, and build a drop in style tail gate, similar to the Air Gate.



My state, and several others require at least 6" freeboard above the bed, if you are carrying anything, and I just want to keep stuff from rolling out.

Yessir, that is a common install.