Bikers: Can a wet towel substitute for a tailgate pad?

I want to transport my bike but I have no mounting options other than throw it in the bed and letting it roll around, or setting it over the tailgate, like you would with a tailgate pad.

Problem is, I don't have a tailgate pad.

Can I just use a wet towel, or will that end up in my tailgate paint getting chipped?

 

I use a small couch throw blanket for my bike, one towel is better than none but probably not gonna prevent rub/scratch.

 

I just used a regular towel for my surfboard so i wouldn’t get wax all over the tailgate. Worked fine. But after a while I decided to spend the 20 dollars and buy a tailgate pad.

Just a regular towel will work fine in a pinch

 

I used the cardboard box that my bike came in...just cut it to size and good to go...that is until you leave it back there without bikes on it and it goes flying away

 

I just stand my bike up against the inside of the bed and use ratcheting tie-downs on the front and back of the frame to keep it planted. You can also rotate the pedal to rest right on top of the rail cleats and tie it there if it seems like it's going to move.

Driven a few hundred miles like that including washboard trails and it has never budged.

 

Tacoma beds aren’t that big. The bike will stay put. I’ve had my bike laying in the bed, no tie downs, many times.

And why a “wet” towel?

 

Harbor freight sells the moving blankets/pads, I would imagine that would work. Sometimes you can get for free or near free. I get them when free for dogs to lay on.

 

I use a towel under a section of cardboard box that fits over the tailgate just like a real pad would. It’s ghetto but so effective—I won’t ever be able to justify a “real” set-up.

 

Moving blankets are perfect for transporting bikes, I use two if needed. Try to find one of the large super thick ones if you can.

 

cardboard works great.

 

Well, maybe, but you don't tell us why you don't. Something in the way?

Mine





@PinnacleChris's, very solid option

 

It’s a pick up truck, with a composite bed. Are you really that worried about the bed getting scratched? I would be more worried about the bike I guess but as other have said, why not ratchet strap it standing up, if you’re worried. You can get a set of 4 cheap ratchet straps for like $15 dollars from Walmart. Or if you have to lay it down use cardboard or a blanket like others said if your worried.

 

I got a set of 4 ratchet tie-downs from Harbor Freight for $8-9. Catch them when they are giving the blankets away free with any purchase and knock out two birds with one stone.

 

You sir have it all figured out lol.

 

I have been using a moving blanket with 1 ratchet strap for years. And I have not had any trouble. You just look cheap at the trailhead.

 

raceface/dakine/insert brand here, tailgate pads are like 100-150.00, quit being cheap, go buy one.

 

Just use a Yakima blockhead bolted in the accessory track. No straps no strange mat to get wet.

Yakima BlockHead Bike Fork Mount

$47 YAKIMA, BlockHead Bike Mount for Transporting Bikes on Trucks and Trailers With Flat Beds

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012SA4I2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FLrqBb1CP7FPF