GetScrewed

Going up to my girlfriends uncles farm and was asked to throw a rolled bale of hay in my bed weighing around 600lbs and bring it back down with me. Question, should I remove my tailgate when loading and unloading?

Thanks for any insight.

smurfs_of_war

As long as the full weight of the bale won't be sitting on the tailgate, I wouldn't bother. But if it's sticking too far out and bouncing around, might be a good idea.

KR Kodi

iTrader: (1)

I think the OP is perhaps not concerned with the bale once it's loaded (although some of it may be resting on the tailgate), rather he's probably wondering about resting a ramp on the tailgate and rolling the bale up the ramp and into the bed.


I have a 2013 as well, and if you look in the online Owner's Manual linked below, you can see on page 260 that the load limit for the tailgate step is 350 lbs (so obviously the tailgate is rated for at least that), and on page 263 it says that when the tailgate is down the load limit when the truck is in motion is 150 lbs:


http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo.../13f12om3e.pdf




However, take a look at the thread below (and there are dozens of pictures, maybe hundreds, on the forum like the one of the ATV in the truck):


https://www.f150forum.com/f4/how-muc...upport-181573/




I've seen many, many pics of 850 lb Harleys or Gold Wings with a 170+ lb rider going up a ramp to load the bike in the truck.


Bottom line - I know the rated load limits in the Owner's Manual, but have seen pics of lots of heavy objects (including hay bales) rolled up ramps resting on the tailgate to load, and then with part of the heavy load on the tailgate to be transported like that.


So....I think you shouldn't have any problem at all with a 600 lb bale, either loading it or transporting it with some of the weight on the tailgate in the down position.


Butt....don't blame me if you have a problem - I'm just going on all the pics I've seen in the forum of heavier loads than that in the bed!!
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smurfs_of_war

Oh man... I guess I was WAY to far into the rum last night to be reading with any acceptable level of comprehension.

KR Kodi is right. Ignore my inane babbling above. Lol!

KR Kodi

iTrader: (1)

Take a look at these posts.


First one shows a heavy load of hay bales in post# 1228:


https://www.f150forum.com/f82/using-...3/#post3726945




Second one talks about a damaged tailgate from rolling a hay bale out of the bed and off the tailgate:


https://www.f150forum.com/f38/tailga...3/#post3360426


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GetScrewed

Thanks for all your replies guys. I should have been more specific, I was planning on tossing a round bale of hay in the bed and figured I'd roll it off the tailgate. Turns out I'm not going to do so anymore but if I was I assume I'd just pull the tailgate off to be safe.

Thanks again guys.