Tailgate weight capacity

I have searched online and owners manual.
Can anyone tell me the maximum weight that is safe on the tailgate of a 2018 SR5?

 

I’ve searched aswell. I don’t think Toyota puts out a number from what I’ve read. But I have read multiple threads somewhere around here that say that it can hold 2 fully grown adult men with no issues. So It seems it can hold at least 400 pounds. Maybe more depending on where you specifically rest the weight on.

 

There's an older thread on this already. Still no real answer, but some of the posts are kinda funny.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-much-weight-can-our-tailgate-handle.504830/

 

Look under the plastic shell, the metal structure is not exactly bombproof.

Toyota isn't going to put out a number, it would just make them look bad if they had to say "90 lbs rated".

 

The fallacy of a manufacturer listing tailgate load capacity is the definition of the load. Is it single point of evenly distributed load? Is is a static or dynamic load?
My point is, no matter what Toyota rated the load there would be "super smart people" who did something stupid and demand warranty.
For example, Me and a friend were sitting on my tailgate last week. We combine to weigh 500 lbs and it held no problem. In that case it was evenly distributed and static loaded. I guarantee you though that if I had a 500 lb bar 2" in diameter and dropped it from six feet above the tailgate then it would just pass right on through the tailgate like it wasn't even there.
See what I mean?
And, if Toyota tried to define the "evenly spread and static weight" would very many people even understand?
This is why there is no definition lol.

 

So, you mean like a stupid Chevy commercial?



As far as point loads and everyday uses, a 600lb motorcycle would seem reasonable. 300lb point load rolling along the tailgate. Considering dynamics and such, if I was hauling a 600lb bike regularly in a DCSB, I'd get one of MobCity reinforcement plates, though I know that it has been posted the folks have hauled bikes in SBs with no problem. Just thinking of longevity.

 

Me, my wife, and my daughter combine to weigh 375 and it holds no problem. I would imagine it could hold up to 700 or 800lbs, maybe even more. My bed mat makes for a nice relaxing seat while on the trails tho so the tailgate is a afterthought now.

 

I agree on the motorcycle analogy for sure. If I were rolling something heavy across the tailgate on a regular basis, I would just mount something that would distribute the load better and add some stiffeners. As far as Chevy rating them versus Toyota, then that just means Chevy doesn't mind writing lots of fine print!

 

At least a heavy, wide steel angle for the lip. I need to snag one of those and a set of ramps for the next time the bike shits the bed.

I was referring to the aluminum versus steel BS:



And, there was always the tailgate cable recall.

 

I never use my tailgate after my custom paint job.....

 

Bumping this old thread, anyone know the answer?

 

Don’t have a number but 8 concrete blocks no issue.

 

I’ve had 780lbs on mine, no issue. Granted it was only for a few minutes. I wouldn’t want to leave it like that all day.

 

I remember seeing Toyota saying the tailgate wasn’t a structural item when they were getting bent. They would show to load the bed you took the tailgate off and used ramps directly into the bed.

 

When the straps break, you are overloaded.

 

I sealed the ends of my tail gate support coated wires on each end with grease. With the gate closed the ends are up and can allow moisture to travel down into the cables and rot the cables. Right where the attachments crimp on to the wire ends I pushed some grease in to prevent water flowing in .... (My cables rotted on an older truck and broke when I stepped on it ...). JMO

 

When i stand on the end of it i can feel it flex a bit

I weigh 145lb so i’d say its pretty flimy. Prob two adult max as said above

 

I haul bikes often, the rear wheel usually focuses 150-200lbs into a small oval shape in the middle of the gate. Even with an aluminum tailgate skin, I managed to bend the inner tailgate after bottoming on a bump, which is easy to do with a lil weight in the back. Easiest fix is to distribute the load with a piece of plywood across the tailgate and maybe even across onto the bed itself.

 

here is a tip concerning loading: if you hold a 100lb weight just touching the tailgate (but not loading, ie. tailgate sees 0lbs) and release it, the load will be instantaneously 200lbs. (actually rapidly rising initially to 2x and falling off to static 1x) this is a degenerate case of some mechanics equations i have long forgotten but remember the cute collapsed case. and if you let the load drop from a height, all hell beaks loose in terms of what the tailgate sees on first contact.

point is, big difference between static and dynamic load. if you are going to drive the load down the highway, better think what a speed bump will do. plan on more than double the static load seen by the tailgate.

 

I can tell you that I bent the shit out of my long box Tacoma Tailgate with my 640lb sled in the bed.