Loading ATV in Bed

[mityike]

I want to load my Polaris 500 ATV in the back of my Sierra using the standard ramps you buy from the local parts store, but am wondering should I take off the tailgate first, or will the tailgat hold the weight of both me and the ATV? Thanks.

[busta]

I wouldnt think there would be a problem w/ leaving the tailgate on...I have had quite a bit of weight on my tailgate working on the farm

[Bart2500HD]

The tailgate can handle it no problem.

[Polak]

I'd err on the side of safety for you and your truck, take it off when loading and unloading. Better safe than sorry.

 

I was loading wheels and tires into my bed once (39" BFG Krawlers mounted on 17" Robby Gordon beadlocks) and the third tire I tossed onto the tailgate broke both of the cables. The gate came down onto the bumper, minor damage but I still cussed like a sailor at it.

 

My $0.02

AJ

[bushhog]

Make sure you have the replacement cables and you should have no problem with the tailgate. I load my 660 griz using tailgate and ramps. I weigh 260 + 600lbs for griz. - no problem

 

Make sure you have good ramps and use the cables on the ramps to secure ramps to the truck so they don't slide off. Mine slide off one time and one side of ramps dropped as I was unloading - Fortunately I was able to jump clear of the grizz as she came down. I needed clean underwear after that one

[Ron J]

A small trailer would cost $700.00. A new tailgate, $500.00. A damaged 4 wheeler $ ????.00. A trip to the emergency room + recovery time...PRICELESS.

[trailrider325]

i have a 2500 hd and load my sportsman 500 all the time with the tailgate on and never had a problem just make sure your ramps have a strap on them to keep the ramps from kicking off from the truck

[asilverblazer]

As easy as it is to remove the tail gate, I would.

[silverado3500]

I'd remove the tailgate. . . better safe than sorry (I've seen tailgate cables fail with far less than a 4wheeler on it)

[Worktruck]

If the Sierra is a short bed the wheeler wont fit with the tailgate off will it? I know my Polaris Scrambler would just fit and the Sportsmans are longer. I load my snowmobiles all the time with the tailgat down.

[ManyCamaroz]

Take Off, Leave On........ What would it cost to refinish the tailgate if it was dropped or fell over while you were loading the ATV? I would leave it on myself.

[asilverblazer]

Take Off, Leave On........  What would it cost to refinish the tailgate if it was dropped or fell over while you were loading the ATV?  I would leave it on myself.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

And what would the cost be to refinish the tailgate, repair the bumper, repair the four wheeler, and repair yourself if the cables fail? Which they do if they haven't been replaced.

 

My truck came with stainless cables but where they attach to the tailgate the bolt bends around due to the thin mounting point. Not very reassuring to put a lot of weight on it.

[gmcjoe]

I want to load my Polaris 500 ATV in the back of my Sierra using the standard ramps you buy from the local parts store, but am wondering should I take off the tailgate first, or will the tailgat hold the weight of both me and the ATV?  Thanks.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Is your truck NBS (99+) pickup?

 

Be very careful doing it with the tailgate attached. I have driven my snowmobile into my bed with the tailgate on and no problems, but others with 99-02 trucks have had the cables fail causing the tailgate to crash down. This is a very well known issue.

 

The older cables were not sealed properly allowing water into the ends and causing the cables inside to rust and break.

[mityike]

I appreciate all the responses. Im actually loading a Scrambler 500 in to the reg bed of an extended cab, which is a 2004, so Im assuming I wont have the cable problems found in earlier models. I just hate taking off the tailgate with the possibility of scratching / dropping / etc, and I was told by my local shop the tailgate should hold.

[asilverblazer]

Tailgate will hold, the cables are the problem. Not sure if the 04's got stainless cables or not.