My wife just bought a 05 Supercrew 4x4. The problem is when we loaded our Honda Rancher ATV, the back tires rest a little bit on the tailgate. Is is possible to haul like this without damaging the tailgate? I have a trailer I haul the ATV on a trailer, but thought it would be nice to just load in on her truck.

Also, is there a problem riding with the tailgate down? I know it feels pretty light and I am thinking hitting a pothole would not be good with it down.

Thanks

 

All I know is that the owner's manual says cargo load on the tailgate should not exceed 100 lbs. That being said I climb in and out of the bed on it and I weigh 180 lbs.

 

If you are going to ride with the tailgate down and put the load on it, cut a piece of 5/8 plywood the length and width of the bed including the tailgate.

Reduces tailgate 'bounce' and distributes the load off just the taligate.

 

Thanks for the info. I didn't see the tailgate load restriction in the manual, but I was skimming through it.

The plywood idea sounds good, but I think for the time being, I will just tow around the old trailer. God forbid I put a scratch or ding into her bed before I get a Line-X bedliner.

 

That's the best time to scratch the bed. It will be covered by the Line-X anyway.

Thanks for posting the question regarding the ATV. I have carried my Prairie 700 in my S-10 bed and on the tailgate without any problems. One thing to watch for is frayed tailgate cables. I've seen someone loading an ATV in an old truck when one cable broke. It put a small dent in the tailgate where it hit the rear bumper. The cable clearly showed it was rusting out so I did not have too much symapthy for the owner. Luckily no one was hurt.

Tom

 

I think Ford is covering their rear with the 100 lb cargo rating. That's probably set low so that any bouncing weight is covered. I've had 4 people that weigh (well) over 150 lbs. each sitting on the edge of the tailgate. Granted, I'm not driving, but if the thing can take that much near the edge, it can surely take an ATV axle near the beds edge.

SL

 

I have had a bad experience driving my 04 supercab with the tailgate down. Went over a set of railroad tracks....and with the tailgate being so light with the liftassist feature, the tailgate bounced up.

Problem lies here, the tailgate comes off when you pull it twords you when it is at a 45 degree angle or so. Unfortunately, when i bounced, it bounced quite a bit, and the passener side came off the hinge, and i drove 100 miles (with a paddleboat in the rear end - not touching the tailgate).

It bent the hinge, and hit the bumper and rubbed off the paint on the exterior of the tailgate. Brought it to the dealer for warranty work, surprisingly, they covered it, and fixed it back up.

But, also, out hunting, i have had 4 full size guys riding onthe tailgate numerous times with no problems.

I have an 05 Sportsman 500 ATV i was wondering the same thing about. Tempted to trade my 04 for an 05 longbox in Nov/Dec so i can carry the ATV with the tailgate up.

 

I've hauled my brother ATV with the gate down. It certainly isn't a weight issue. I did have the bed externder out which holds the tailgate down.

No problems at all.

 

I haul my Sportsman 700 in my `03 s`crew on the gate all the time and have had no probs at all.