I ride around three 200 lb mexicans on my tailgate all the time. No problems so far. Btw, we are on a jobsite and not on the open highway. Also, I have loaded a lawnmower and a 4- wheeler into the back via the tailgate w/ no problem.

 

After reading this thread, it got me wondering:

Can the tailgate still hold the same amount of weight if you have the loose passenger side strap like me???

 

Why wouldn’t it? If anything, it might level out the strap problem for you.

 

Be VERY careful loading a riding lawn mower in the back of your truck! A friend of mine tried this (by himself), the lawn mower slipped and fell on top of him.

By the time someone found him, he had died of a heart attack!

Use extreme caution.

 

GM has just announced a recall on some of their trucks - the tailgate cables are failing.