Anyone have any idea how much weight a tailgate can handle? I'm considering hauling may RZR about 1k miles in the bed and the rear wheels are going to be on the tailgate. I've seen it done but that doesn't mean it's a good thing. It's a 157" Super Crew.

 

i bought this for my atv. it should work for yours. it keeps some weight off the tail gate. not sure how much weight the tailgate will hold.
http://www.cabelas.com/ensemble/Auto...uctId%3D746768

 

I do it with my Odessy in the bed all the time and nothing has gone wrong yet. Tailgate is holding up just fine.

 

Tailgates with the man step have a step rating of 300lbs and the is leveraged out past the top of the open tailgate. I was assured by the managers at my dealer not to worry about loading my sled on and into the truck using the tailgate. My sled sits with at least half of its weight on the tailgate (585lbs)

 

I got a pair of these, peace of mind;

http://www.dgmtailgatesupport.com/

 

I heard somewhere Ford won't rate the cables for liability reasons. I guess that's to keep some inbred from loading his John Deere in the back then seriously injuring himself after the cables snap and trying to sue Ford for his stupidity.

FYI I've loaded my ATV 450# several times with my fat 190# self riding up ramps and I haven't had an issue. I've also had 3 two hundred-something pound guys sitting on the back without failure.

However I have heard where a guy was sitting on his tailgate by himself and the cable snapped. Probably just a freak thing but it's something to be aware of

 

I'd lay a sheet of 3/4" plywood in the bed first, and pull up onto that. It will disperse the weight much more evenly on the gate, especially on that 1k mile trip when you are bouncing over bumps.

 

This past weekend I was at the hunting camp. Had a 120qt ice chest with 80lbs of ice and a quartered 8pt buck in it, case of beer while I was standing on it (240lb) so 400lb+ total with no issues.

But I agree a sheet of plywood or 2X10s under the tires to support the weight over the rear wheels. Or the thing that supports it from the hitch.

Wayne