I'm like this close || to getting a screw, but I have one worry. I want to haul my bike around on occasion. I don't know its exact length (BWM R100GS, fairly long), but I know that the rear wheel will probably have to rest on the tailgate. The bike weighs about 500 pounds. Is the tailgate capable of handling that weight for long trips? (The dealers all say yes, but I think they would say yes to anything.)

Thanks

 

The tailgate wouldn't be supporting the entire weight of the bike. Just the weight at the rear wheel.
I've had several adults sitting on my tailgate with no problems. It should handle the bike.

 

Someone wrote a post a while back where he had bent his tailgate with his Harley or some such. He ended up putting some contraption back there to stiffen it up. Get the Cabelas automotive catalog it has something for that and everything else as well.

 

bwingate---------I hauled my Harley to Sturgis a few times 1,600 mi ea. way in my Ranger (short bed) and the tailgate started to bow in the center. My rear wheel was only on the tailgate by a few inches. On a Screw it would be back much further to the center or even the edge. You may want to sit the rear wheel on a plank or some other support. Some of the roads up that way have a "wavy surface" and that caused a lot of bouncing with the rear suspension. I dont think smooth road runs will damage your tailgate. My bike weighs 650#

[This message has been edited by Bubbadewsky (edited 04-06-2001).]

 

Pull the bike in front wheel first ,Compress front shocks and tie it down . 80 % of the weight will be held by the front ties.
Just use good ties downs.