Motorcycle caved my tailgate

[Riggsauto]

Hello this is my first thread as a member. So let let me prefix everything real quick. I own a 2019 Ram 3500 Dually Longhorn with an 8ft bed, the motorcycle I am referring to is a 2016 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Low. The curb weight of the bike is roughly 890 and yes the fuel tank was very close to empty and I'm 200lbs so a total near 1100 pounds.

Ok so I purchased a very nice set of ramps to safely load my motorcyle into my truck. I took the extra steps and purchase the DG tailgate support bars to avoid damaging the cable straps, but did not take into consideration the weight of me and the bike would cave the center of the inside of my tailgate. Has anyone had this happen or have a solution? My thought going foward is to just remove my tailgate and leavi it off till I return from my trips but ‍.

 

[Turbo Terry]

I would say you got off lucky that’s all it did. Very minor . I wouldnt do it again that’s a lot of weight on a tailgate. I think I heard 500 lbs limit ??

 

[Riggsauto]

I would say you got off lucky that’s all it did. Very minor . I wouldnt do it again that’s a lot of weight on a tailgate. I think I heard 500 lbs limit ??

Lucky? Yeah I don't think that is luck. And In theory all that weight could not be disturbed in that one spot at the same time as only one tire at a time goes over it, now I can't give you the mathematical equation as to how much weight is in one given area though

 

[Turbo Terry]

You rode up the ramp right. The forward movement also help with the dent

 

[BigPapa]

Did the rear tire ride on the bed or there on the tailgate during the ride?

 

[Topzide]

That dent looks to have been caused when the rear wheel rode across the tailgate from acceleration to finish the loading. Lot of weight with movement involved on the tailgate. Easy fix but next time you'll need a piece of steel channel long and wide enough for the wheels to travel across tailgate into the bed. To fix you'll need to take access panel of and work the dent out. Enjoy the bike and the truck! Riding days are getting shorter if in northern tier of the country!

 

[Riggsauto]

You rode up the ramp right. The forward movement also help with the dent

Gotcha that makes since

 

[Riggsauto]

That dent looks to have been caused when the rear wheel rode across the tailgate from acceleration to finish the loading. Lot of weight with movement involved on the tailgate. Easy fix but next time you'll need a piece of steel channel long and wide enough for the wheels to travel across tailgate into the bed. To fix you'll need to take access panel of and work the dent out. Enjoy the bike and the truck! Riding days are getting shorter if in northern tier of the country!

I did remove the access panel and I am not able to get to the dent because there is a support beam that rum end to end with only small access holes generally for wires but not big enough to get wher the dent is. I may have my body guy pull it if it's possible.

 

[Riggsauto]

Did the rear tire ride on the bed or there on the tailgate during the ride?

The rear tire rides in the bed the only time it's on the tailgate is loading and unloading

 

[Riggsauto]

That dent looks to have been caused when the rear wheel rode across the tailgate from acceleration to finish the loading. Lot of weight with movement involved on the tailgate. Easy fix but next time you'll need a piece of steel channel long and wide enough for the wheels to travel across tailgate into the bed. To fix you'll need to take access panel of and work the dent out. Enjoy the bike and the truck! Riding days are getting shorter if in northern tier of the country!

I do like the idea of the steel plate to distribute the weight but I think I am just going to remove the tailgate when traveling with my bike, mainly because my tailgate doesn't close with the bike loaded and that leave potential for me to back my tailgate into something damaging it worse, plus when it's down it cause the back up warning chime to beep when in reverse. And I am not sure how true it is but I feel like I have heard people say it's not good maybe for the cable straps to ride with the tailgate down

 

[Turbo Terry]

I never hauled my Harleys I rode them to were they went . Problem solved

 

[NIsaacs]

Maybe consider one of these?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/dzz-dz4145/make/ram/model/2500/year/2021

 

[Riggsauto]

I never hauled my Harleys I rode them to were they went . Problem solved

Yeah I always have as well. This is just an alternative to go farther places and not get wore out riding to the place I wanna ride round. But that just me

 

[Diesel85]

I use my 5x8 single axle trailer to haul my Harley Sportster if going far.

I found the furthest I can comfortably ride it is about 6 hours or about 400 or so miles. After that my whole body starts doing weird stuff.

 

[Topzide]

@Riggsauto, As an added note to the comment I posted before, You could get a whole piece of steel channel similar to what's used on a motorcycle trailer to run full length of bed and tailgate to ramp. Then I would get an add on camera that takes the place of the tailgate camera to mount at end of the channel. That way you could carry the bike, and still have camera to protect the rear of the truck! Just a different thought of how to haul it. Enjoy.

 

[bcbender]

FWIW I weigh about 240 and just walking on the tailgate it deflects alot and can be seen moving visibly.. Surely not designed to take much load at all, I have a dent in the top (end) of my gate from kissing it with a forklift loading concrete blocks... No where as sturdy as my old 3rd gen..

 

[EDankievitch]

This is not just a risk with bikes, garden tractors can damage the tailgate also. I use a piece of 3/4” plywood to protect and distribute the weight.