Any reason it's a bad idea to drive with a 6.5 bed and the tailgate down to haul a 14 foot jon boat or a couple of 16 foot canoes?

 

Nope, not as long as everything is secured properly and the tailgate can't bounce. Just make sure you flag or light whatever is sticking out the back so someone doesn't run into you.

 

Only if you have an issue securing the load in the bed - or - the tail gate is going to interfere (hit) any part of the trailer/boat being towed. Check to make sure there is room when making a sharp turn.

If you have the backup sensors they will probably beep and no rear view camera.

 

It's the bouncing that worries me. There won't be a lot of weight on the tailgate from such lite boats. Any idea how to keep the bounce out without dragging bags of sand along? If I put the gate up the boats are going to catch a lot of wind.

 

...I'm so curious ....are you putting the jon boat in the bed of the truck?

 

Put your boat in the back secure it and head for the water it's been done since the beginning of time if you worrying about bounce hook a strap to side of gate and down to bumper and go

 

You can run a strap from the chain loops on the receiver around the tailgate behind where the cables attach, and tighten it up to put some tension, but not drum tight. Take some thin rubber pads, like those used for coasters and put them under the straps where they would rub the paint. The cables will keep the strap from moving forward and loosening up as you drive.

 

I dont think I've ever had my tailgate bounce when I've had it down.

 

I would be more concerned about the tailgate getting sandblasted/chipped up by rocks, etc (unless you have 100% coverage with mudflaps...which is almost impossible to do). I would close the tailgate and secure the boat(s) in the box. Just my $0.02.

 

Yes Reason it started to worry me is I thought I read where somebody had their bed down and hit a bump and it sorta came loose from the truck somehow.