Tailgate Down - extended time with weight load

[Brockb10]

New truck owner here and have a reassurance question - I have to go pick up this old solid wood liquor cabinet this weekend, probably weighs 300-500lbs.

Unfortunately I have the 5’7” bed and this thing is approx 77” long and 44” wide, so the tailgate will have to be down for it to fit flat. For added security I went ahead and purchased a AMP Bed Extender (74840-01a) might be overkill but don’t necessarily feel confident just strapping around the part on the tailgate.

Anyways my question which I’m needing some reassurance on: Will I be okay driving the 6 hours home with the tailgate down and the roughly 10” of the top of this wood cabinet on the tailgate (the top is arched too so it’ll be 10” on the tailgate in the center and less on the sides) I’d be strapping it down on top and around the area that’s on the tailgate.

I know people have Bikes and ATVs in their beds, but I guess just looking for extra piece of mind. Thanks for any insight and apologies in advance If this is a “dumb” question, first time truck owner haha.


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[SpeedyV]

If that weight is distributed across your bed and tailgate, and it's not a "point load" on your tailgate (sounds like that won't be the case), there's not much to be concerned about.

 

[JDBob35a]

You'll be fine be just fine. Make sure it's strapped down safely and go for it.

 

[Moparian]

Yea I had a completely full 110 gallon cooler sitting on my tailgate for about 3-4 hours over the weekend and no issues. You will be fine.

 

[jkm312]

Once you get it strapped in and start back. After 30 miles or so, check your straps. They can loosen up sometimes because the cabinet might shift a little. The straps can stretch with the stopping and starting at the stop signs. IF you have to stop hard it will push against the front of the bed, avoid that it you can. If you cover it with a tarp, do it such a way to avoid letting the wind get under the tarp and billow it up. A loose tarp depending on the material it is can do some damage to the finish blowing around in the wind. I would put a moving pad on it first, then the tarp. Somewhere I read in the manual these tailgates are rated for 450 lbs. You will only have a fraction of that on the tailgate lying flat as you describe.

No such thing as a dumb question if you don't know the answer.

 

[RamLink83]

New truck owner here and have a reassurance question - I have to go pick up this old solid wood liquor cabinet this weekend, probably weighs 300-500lbs.

Unfortunately I have the 5’7” bed and this thing is approx 77” long and 44” wide, so the tailgate will have to be down for it to fit flat. For added security I went ahead and purchased a AMP Bed Extender (74840-01a) might be overkill but don’t necessarily feel confident just strapping around the part on the tailgate.

Anyways my question which I’m needing some reassurance on: Will I be okay driving the 6 hours home with the tailgate down and the roughly 10” of the top of this wood cabinet on the tailgate (the top is arched too so it’ll be 10” on the tailgate in the center and less on the sides) I’d be strapping it down on top and around the area that’s on the tailgate.

I know people have Bikes and ATVs in their beds, but I guess just looking for extra piece of mind. Thanks for any insight and apologies in advance If this is a “dumb” question, first time truck owner haha.


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Only thing you need to be worried about is rock chips on your tailgate. Not saying you will get them, but you have a good chance of getting stones flying up from the highway and your tires when driving. My previous truck I drove a few miles with the tailgate down and ended up with a few small rock chips since it is now facing downward on the road.

 

[WXman]

Over on the Jeep forum we actually got FCA representative to pick the brains of the engineers and give us actual load capacity numbers for the tailgate. It will shock you how much weight those are rated for. In fact, the evenly distributed static load rating with tailgate down is higher than the payload rating for the truck, in excess of 3/4 of a ton.

Specifically:

"Good Morning,

Sorry for the delay in response, per the Jeep team:

Up to 500 lbs payload can be carried in the bed with the tailgate in the mid position. This payload rating is dependent on the sheet cargo being properly supported with 2x4s positioned in the bed as specified by the owner's manual.
Ramp load at end of down tailgate
Single ramp = 600lbs
Dual Ramp = 425lbs/ramp or 850lbs total
Distributed load across down tailgate: 1850lbs
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Lamar
Jeep Social Care Specialist"

I'm sure the Ram can handle even more weight. Don't worry about the tailgate. It's not going anywhere.

 

[LimitedGRR]

New truck owner here and have a reassurance question - I have to go pick up this old solid wood liquor cabinet this weekend, probably weighs 300-500lbs.

Unfortunately I have the 5’7” bed and this thing is approx 77” long and 44” wide, so the tailgate will have to be down for it to fit flat. For added security I went ahead and purchased a AMP Bed Extender (74840-01a) might be overkill but don’t necessarily feel confident just strapping around the part on the tailgate.

Anyways my question which I’m needing some reassurance on: Will I be okay driving the 6 hours home with the tailgate down and the roughly 10” of the top of this wood cabinet on the tailgate (the top is arched too so it’ll be 10” on the tailgate in the center and less on the sides) I’d be strapping it down on top and around the area that’s on the tailgate.

I know people have Bikes and ATVs in their beds, but I guess just looking for extra piece of mind. Thanks for any insight and apologies in advance If this is a “dumb” question, first time truck owner haha.


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You could always take the tailgate off and put a small piece of plywood under the item where it extends out of the bed. This way you can protect the tailgate from road rash


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[Granite2WD]

I thought the 1500 tailgate is rated for 2,000 pounds.

 

[Biga]

The tailgate should be able to handle that weight just fine, biggest thing as mentioned earlier is that the tailgate can get hit with the stones kicked up from the back tires when it is down.

 

[Yogi217]

This has me wondering, how many grown men can sit in the tailgate? 3?

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[Le_Slacker]

3 for sure but they’d be shoulder to shoulder

 

[Brockb10]

Thanks for the responses/reassurance.

I’ll have it securely strapped down and a tonneau cover that’ll go over the cabinet since it’s only about 18” deep (height when laying down on its back).

Appreciate the comment on the rock chips, didn’t even think about that. I will use some 3” wide blue painters tape and just tape up the whole tailgate side that’ll be facing down with 2 layers which will create a cheap protection barrier and will be easy to remove. Again, thanks for the replies.


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[Aseras]

I just drove 700 miles with a bookshelf taking up my whole bed with the tilgate down. Stapled tarp to bookshelf and ratchet strapped and cargo netted it. Never even budged, and I probably got some free tolls too.