Question about hauling sled in a truck?

[Wacky Wally]

I have a question for guys that haul their sled's in the back of a truck. Do you leave the tailgate down and have the sled hang out the back, or close the tailgate and have the track on top of the tailgate?

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[Banshee AL]

Tail gate down

and 2 cinch straps at the rear to keep it in.

 

[Ex-Member]

I can't imagine the top of a tailgate is built to stand that kind of loading... hit a few bumps and knock the sled's tail down on top of the tailgate and I'd bet you'd get about halfway through a season and the tailgate won't latch anymore.

Make sure the cables are good to go and keep that tailgate down... that's what I plan on doing anyways. Might see if I can make something that'd fill the bed plus the area over the tailgate, spread the weight over the entire surface, plus give a little more tiedown options.

 

[800HMRK]

I haul mine with the tail gate up. IMO it isn't going to do any damage to the tail gate from the weight of the sled, (Unless you own a FORD). Also you are more prone to get rock chips and stuff to your tail gate if its down.

 

[vancejohnson88]

Tailgate down. Otherwise my 151 would not want to fit in my 99 tacoma very well at all. haha

 

[JesseJames]

When I used to haul my sled in the back of the pickup, I always left the tailgate down. I have never had a problem with rock chips, which I had initially ben concerned about. Just use a couple of straps. Jesse.

 

[BIGSKINS]

To 800 HMRK[(Unless you own a FORD). Also you are more prone to get rock chips and stuff to your tail gate if its down.[/QUOTE]

I bet you drive a chevy, all guys that dog out a ford usually have that stupid kid pissing on a ford emblem. Also since when do real pickup owners give a crap about your tail gate getting some chips on it from road grime. I can see the beer can falling from the sky commercial right now if it already hasn't happened by now.......SALLY!!!!!








JMO





BIGSKINS



P.S. Tail gate up or down, who cares!

 

[mini sleder]

i always have the taigate up and one strap from the bumber to the hitch and sucked it down never had a problem 162 m7- dodge 2500, left it down one time and all the empty beer cans fall out of the back wont do that again littering is bad

 

[800HMRK]

BIGSKINS
Yep I do drive a chevy but I can't really brag about it. Its been in the shop more than I've driven it. Just stating that Fords have weaker tail gates than most trucks.

 

[exman04]

i have put my tailgate up for the last 3 years, and have never tied my sled down. havent had one problem with the tailgate, or with the sled moving around in 15,000 miles.

 

[Cyle]

As long as you don't own a Toyota I think your tailgate will be ok! Honestly, they are rated for like 150lbs I leave mine down all the time, if I was going to haul my sled a lot i'd take off the tailgate and make some sort of support from the reciever, which would be the best option imo. Putting the tailgate up is really hard on it, even worse if it's like a 11' sled in a 6'4" box....

 

[Jaynelson]

Leave the tailgate down.....tailgate up looks so hillbilly

 

[94fordguy]

not trying to start anything, but...

BIGSKINS
Yep I do drive a chevy but I can't really brag about it. Its been in the shop more than I've driven it. Just stating that Fords have weaker tail gates than most trucks.

My FORD is 14 years old with 180,000 miles on it and the tailgate will latch on BOTH sides with merely one finger pushing if I am so inclined...(and it has had a lot of loads on it too, trust me)

Also, whenever I put my sled in my truck, I always leave it down, I would be interested to see how one person would close/open the tailgate at the same time as lifting the back of a sled, aren't they kinda heavy

 

[skibreeze]

I don't know why anyone would waste the time and effort to close the tailgate. Strap the sled in and be done with it.

 

[Cyle]

If your really worried about your tailgate, something like this would work great i'm sure.

 

[Mafesto]

If your really worried about your tailgate, something like this would work great i'm sure.

I bought one of those when I had an Avalanche, but never did put a sled in the back, so I cannot tell you how it works, but it should work great.

My plan was to have it extend just a bit higher than the tailgate.
Therefore the support cables would not bear the weight of the sled.

 

[08rmk]

definatly have the tail gait down.

 

[icr]

I would be interested to see how one person would close/open the tailgate at the same time as lifting the back of a sled, aren't they kinda heavy

Shoulder under the track....lift....close tailgate. Do not attempt with a yammi.

 

[Mountaintech]

Tailgate off!!!

 

[eyeles rmk]

tailgate down w\ straps. Especially if you have a 151 or bigger.