Tailgate Weight Rating?

Old International · December 13, 2009

i know they dont usually rate tailgates but im wondering how much my 2003 2500 HD silverado would hold approximately?

jro909 · December 13, 2009

500 lbs MAX i would not exceed a hundred pounds, those cables will snap right the hell off, i've seen 2x4s take a tail gate clean off

GasHog369 · December 13, 2009

Well im a big guy @ 300+ , and it feels very secure with me up there standing ... Biggest thing is to inspect the cables for rusting , insulation tears , broken strands of wire... etc... If there are any signs , replace them.

Actually ive been looking for the replacement straps that are like the old P/U's.... Stainless steel flat stock style ... Ive seen them before ..

Old International · December 13, 2009

if i was ever to haul something heavy that needed some weight on the tailgate id probably rig it up to have a 3/8 inch chain helping support the tailgate

hockeypro1411 · December 13, 2009

Well im a big guy @ 300+ , and it feels very secure with me up there standing ... Biggest thing is to inspect the cables for rusting , insulation tears , broken strands of wire... etc... If there are any signs , replace them.

Actually ive been looking for the replacement straps that are like the old P/U's.... Stainless steel flat stock style ... Ive seen them before ..

They make stainless cables too. I know there's a few people on here that have them.

97SierraGMC · December 13, 2009

i would probably say safely about 300 pounds, people leave the back of their 4 wheelers hang on them all the time

salden77 · December 13, 2009

iv had to haul lots of equipment and materials in my truck before and i think the most i ever had on my tailgate at one time was a 475 pound electrical transformer that i had to bring out to a job i was working on, it wasnt on there for more than 10 mins but i didnt have any issues but i def. wouldnt have gone a long distance with that kind of weight on the tailgate lol.

KMGZ400 · December 13, 2009

i always load and unload a 600 pound atv in and out of my truck with the tailgate on and it has held up fine so far

98silvz71 · December 14, 2009

It's not the cables I am worried about. On my bedside where the cables attach, they sheet metal has bent out. I wouldn't be concerned with the weight that they can take either. I load and unload my 1200 pound atv on it and don't have any problems. Also since my atv is a 2-up and is longer, I leave the tailgate down when I am towing it to the trails. I use straps hooked into the tailgate and tie them to the bed pocket for support so the bouncing doesn't tear the bolts out of the bed. I wish I had some pictures to show what I was talking about. Long story short, it should be fine.

Roofer · December 15, 2009

I have broken two sets of cables loading atv's. The load rating is 500 lbs. but not if the cables are rusting away.

KMGZ400 · December 15, 2009

i had the cables snap on my 1999 sierra 3500 while loading my 600lb atv... they were rusted to hell though..

Steveman · December 15, 2009

1200 pounds? What ATV is it? Or is it a SXS? My 2 up CanAm Outlander weighs something like 700 pounds and my Polaris Sportsman is close to that too.

lvlagnum · December 15, 2009

LISTEN UP, PEOPLE!

Tailgates are NOT meant to be ramps or work platforms! Neither the cables, hinges nor the tailgates themselves are engineered to hold more than a few pounds! And even then only for short periods of time and certainly not while the vehicle is in motion! Anyone who uses their tailgate as a ramp to load and unload or as a platform to carry the weight of ATVs, dirtbikes and other heavy objects is courting disaster!

The safest way to load and unlaod ATVs and dirtbikes in the cargo bed is to remove the tailgate and then use a proper ramp or ramps. There are also platforms called bed extenders available on the market which mount to your trailer hitch and support the weight that way. GM dealers sell them and so do many other autoparts stores.

Stop being foolish and lazy! Load and unload your trucks properly and stop putting your lives and health and that of others in danger!

Trust me on this one, folks! HOSPITAL STAYS AND FUNERALS ARE NOT FUN!

Cheers, lvlagnum.

PS: If you don't believe me, ask yourself why there is such a big market in stollen tailgates and why we need to resort to such measures as tailgate latch locks and tailgate hinge shields. Well.....ummm, could it be because so many foolish pickup truck owners need to replace their dammaged ones?

PPS: If you GMT-400 & 800 guys and gals haven't had your tailgate cables replaced under warranty yet, for heaven's sake do it now! There was a safety recall few years ago to replace the originals with stronger stainless steel cables for free. If you're not sure if it was done, drop by your nearest GM dealer and have them check your VIN with their records to find out.

98silvz71 · December 15, 2009

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98silvz71 · December 15, 2009

1200 pounds? What ATV is it? Or is it a SXS? My 2 up CanAm Outlander weighs something like 700 pounds and my Polaris Sportsman is close to that too.

It's an Arctic Cat 700 Diesel which is on a trv (2-up) platform. It weights in 900+ dry and somewhere near 950-1000 pounds with fluids and my gear. Plus the weight of me and it is pushing 1200+ pounds. I did not bend the bed sides with this atv, they were bent before I got the truck.