Bikes over the tailgate

Has anyone figured out a good way to carry bikes over the tailgate of a 1st Gen? The bed is so shallow they just tip over. I was thinking of splitting a pool noodle and putting it on top of the tailgate with one of those tailgate pads with the straps on top. I'm not sure if that will be tall enough. Has anyone done this? Or have any better ideas?

 

If you want to drop the funds, Dakine makes some nice tailgate pads

 

For my vehicles with a tow hitch, Yakima Hitch.

For my cars without a tow hitch, suction cups.

 

I've never really been a fan of the tailgate style. I prefer a rack.

YOu might as well just throw them in moto style, it's not like that system save you any bed space.

But maybe something like this:
https://www.expocafeperu.com/

 

tailgate pad and 1 ratchet strap across the frame was what i did before. Worked fine.

 

Not related to the tailgate question but if anyone has a canopy and is looking for a way to get ur bike on board!

 

Check out the Bomber Strap. Like a tailgate pad but more minimal. Your fork straps to the outside portion of the pad so your bike won't shift or tip over.

 

That bomber strap is a great idea! I always would roll with my bike just leaned over on an old blanket on my old first gen. It doesn’t necessarily have to stand straight up. It didn’t seem to bother anything. We’d have five six bikes in at a time in that truck back in the day. I have a Kuat Sherpa 2.0 now that goes on the hitch. Love it

 

Yep! I've heard of a lot of people just using moving blankets, etc with success. I'm super anal about scratches though (just ask all of my ex girlfriends lol), so I liked this minimal design (minimizing potential scratches across the tailgate from the pad compared with larger pads) and the ability to secure the fork to keep the bike upright.

Edit: I've not used this product (I have a bed cover and bed bars), but I've had my eye on the product for years.

 

Yah I’ve always just thrown it in the back on top of a blanket. Never had any scratches or anything bad happen. You really don’t have much bed space left whether it’s in the back or hanging over the tailgate.

 

I haul mine like this.


Ive since moved it over to the right some more to get more bed space. Was able to cram a ton of stuff in there next to it on my big camping trip last summer. I suppose if I had another trap I could get two in there like that.

 

I used t ouse a pool noodle (split) with a towel and two bungees to keep it all in place. push the tire towards the bedside/wheel well and put in inboard pedal down to "lock" it in place.

 

my pad wore right through my 3m wrap through the paint right down to the bare metal, ide get a legit bike rack next time around.

 

lazy and strapped to corners

 

I was using just a dakine tailgate pad for awhile but with the tailgate being so short they would tip over and slide around all the time.

I eventually built this for the bed for the rear tires to slot into and it works great. I don't even need to use the frame straps on the dakine pad anymore.

 

Made this on my old truck (still have the rack though)

 

Google PVC bike racks. So many ideas and plans on building one. I have a couple (sorry...no pics). One of them doubles as a rack for the truck and the garage.

 

Do you have any diagrams with sizing for all the box tubes?

 

I use a hitch mounted bike rack similar to these

Ironton Hitch-Mounted 4-Bike Rack | Northern Tool

Yakima FullTilt 5-Bike Hitch Rack | REI Co-op