Tailgate strength

[ALyon]

I'm trying to figure out how stout the tailgate on my '06 2500 is. I'll be loading a rather heavy ATV (742#) onto the bed. With my bulk on board the ATV, the total weight is pushing 1,000#. With ramps fixed to the outer edge of the tailgate, am I going to be overloading the gate?

 

[brista]

You'll be fine, I do exactly what you are talking about all the time.

 

[DTroy]

Just as long as you have two straps in good shape.



I was unloading my quad when one of the rusty cables broke. Yes, they're factory coated cables, but they get water inside and rust.



With all of the weight on mine, one strap, and a hit from the skid plate. . it twisted my tailgate.



It doesn't latch right from being bent and it stressed the one hinge area enough to crack the paint in a few places.

 

[steved]

Just don't "drop" or "jump" onto them... they are very weak IMHO... mine is already bowing and I don't use it that hard, and I don't use it anywhere near as hard as I used my 99.



steved

 

[Signal73]

I load my Arctic cat h1 on it all the time no problem 750 lbs plus me 165 lb. my bud with a chebby cant do it his broke twice even after the recall ones were put on

 

[DTroy]

my Arctic cat h1

You never told me that you have a snowmobile to lend me ! :-laf

 

[The patriot]

I had a 900 lb safe balanced on the tip of my tailgate once. It was fine.

Oh mine is a 1998.

 

[midlife crisis]

Well, I'll be the coins flip side here... Why take a chance??? We are talking the weight of the quad + you + the ramps + the impact of you hitting them.

For 89$ Weaver Manufacturing sells a "RampRite"- I bought mine and couldnt be happier (or safer). I dont trust the cables & know someone that had them break. He did a face plant into the trucks bed while loading his quad.

The damage to the gate alone is enough to buy one.

Ramps also require fastening to the TG, so they dont shoot back. This means drilling holes in the TG. With the RampRite-you drill into it instead on the tg.

An added bonus is the ability to secure it all.

With a hitch lock installed & cable lock through the ramps-I know it will all be there when I get back.

This is my . 02-(Not affiliated with any vendor mentioned. . just trying to help)

 

[HOBrian]

Drew, I just looked at the ramp-rite site and I have a question for you.



I load my polaris sportsman 500 putting the ramps on the tailgate and was wondering with the ramp-rite do you get up and down movement from side to side? My ramps are probably to short any way. ( they are about 77" long. The ramps used to fit in my 98 dakota with the fourwheeler and tailgate closed, now nothing fits and the tailgate is down :{ )

I hate to be on the ramp and have the right or left side go down and other to go up right at the wrong time.

 

[midlife crisis]

Hey Brian. . first & foremost. . when are we going riding??? Oo.

Anywho... once the weight is on the ramps/brackets-its very steady. You might notice a little slop from the usual fit in the receiver, but once the front tires touch the ramps- it is rock solid.

If you use the RR for different trucks, you can adjust the height difference between the receiver hitch and open tailgate, as the (vertical) bracket is hitch pinned & sleeved. (I tack welded mine so as it cant be lifted off & ramps stolen with the bracket.

Hope that makes sense-otherwise you can drive down to exit 38 & see for yourself! :-laf

 

[ALyon]

Thanks for the info and advice. I'm taking off Wednesday morning to pick up an Arctic Cat TBX so the post with the H1 was of particular note. I won't have time to purchase any supports before I go, plus once I get the ATV back here and unloaded I'll be trailering it on future trips. The dealership said they'd load the critter, so if it goes on ok I'll be willing to do the one time offload with a friend and his ramps. If I end up bending the tailgate or dropping into the dirt, I'll let you know that I found a limmit.

 

[Dual EE]

I have had a 1500# inflatable slide on my tailgate. Myself and 5 others rolled the slide into the bed of my truck. For a few seconds the entire weight was on the tailgate. This was at least 5 years ago an still have the same cables.

 

[BigPapa]

I load ATV's and motorcycles into trucks everyday and I have yet to see a tailgate bend or a cable (on a well maintained truck) break.



We had one tailgate support break on an old beater truck that a customer drove in that he was loading a Ranger in and that happened when the truck rolled forward and the ramp dropped. He had refused assistance and didn't tie his ramp to the truck. Evidently he had left the truck in gear with no parking brake on and when the front wheels of the Ranger hit the fender wells it pushed the truck forward.



I would wager that the tailgate is stronger than that RampRite. Just my . 02.



Scott

 

[midlife crisis]

"I would wager that the tailgate is stronger than that RampRite. "



Whatever. .

 

[The patriot]

you can drive down to exit 38 & see for yourself! :-laf

You guys going down the parkway?

 

[HOBrian]

Thread topic... I might have to look into the ramp-rite.





Off topic...

Drew any good spots down by you. Mine is up in VT and has been sitting for a long time (summer) and I feel so bad for it and myself that I have not been able to ride it (darn this house stuff :{ ) There is one great spot up here. It is a secret to most but really nice.

 

[NevadaBackroader]

It's simple enough to take the tailgate off, load the ATV, and put the tailgate back on if you don't want to take the chance. I load my Polaris Ranger into my shortbed. I take the tailgate off and use my hitchhauler. The rear wheels of the Ranger stay on the hitch hauler while the front wheels go up a plywood ramp I built in the bed (I mashed a fenderwell loading the Ranger without the ramp).

 

[midlife crisis]

Brian- You could probably tell I aint big on gadgets or gimmicks... that said- 89$ is the cheapest insurance I could find to cure my concerns. I wish the original poster luck with his decision.



Other topic-

There is, but you kinda gotta ride looking over your shoulder. I can go 6 miles straight outta my backyard with no sign of civilization, but anymore to have a more enjoyable time I would make the trip to a "legal" place.

Just last weekend I went to Lynchburg Va & rode the South Peddler trail off Skyline drive with my BIL. We had an awesome time. Worth the drive.

Hatfield Mckoy, Paragon, Lynchburg. . anyplace anytime. . I'll ride... Drew

 

[Signal73]

You never told me that you have a snowmobile :-laf

cant say that I do



H1:

 

[Cattletrkr]

Not strong enough to pull away from a GN and stop the truck.













Don't ask me how I know.