?????

"It's not in front of me right now, but I seem to recall that the owner's manual for my truck says something about a 120 pound limit on the pick up tailgate. Good luck."

I don't think that's right at all. I sit on my tailgate all the time with no problem, and I weigh about 210. Time to time, me and a buddy will sit on it and he weighs around 180, and I've had no problem so far.

 

i have had 4 people on my tail gate at one time ranging from 150-260 and it supported all of us with no problem. the suspension however didnt care for it too much as i was tucking about 2'' of tire.

 

My 88 has ittybitty cracks in bed at the back corners, from tailgate weight issue. and a yzf 450 does NOT WEIGH 350 lbs. 260 wet more like it.

 

once you hit a dip that tailgate is gonna fly up and its gonna hit that piece of wood and its gonna leave you a nice little dent in the tailgate

 

If your worried about the gate bending in the middle.
Take it to a welding shop and have them tack a couple of 1" square across the inside.

I know it wont help the hinges holding power. Go crazy and get them to sleeve pipe around the hinges.

 

My wife's Suzuki LT230 can be ridden up into my 4Runner, no problem ever with the tailgate.

 

Anybody else have any input?

 

I think that's a good idea. I would screw&glue a 2x4 rib to the center of it lengthwise for added strength. May want to use mending braces or flat washers on the plywood side to keep screw heads from pulling through - but you'll have to use something to keep them from scratching the paint on the bed/tailgate.

 

I frequently load my sportsman 500 in and out of my 1991 SR5 shortbed. The quad doesnt like fitting into the truck, and the truck doesnt like it much either. The only issue i had with my tailgate was when the ramps slid out and the belly of the quad fell onto the tailgate. I bent the hell outa that tailgate! I also learned to buy a real ramp with safty straps and not use homemade ramps.

The weight of the quad is in the bed, not on the tailgate during transit though. My tires stickout so ican close the tailgate, but the weight is in the bed. I suggest removing the box to get the weight off the tailgate during transport. Or you can get one of those slimline boxes, only 8" wide rather than 12-15"

 

when i pull my quad out i just slide the belly across the tailgate..
it's never dented it at all >.>

 

Well, I guess I'm gonna try it, and see how it goes.

 

Do it!

Ive had 500lbs on my tailgate! Didn't know there was a weight limit

 

my arctic cat 250 4wd bent mine almost in a u shape 1 cold day,which tells me mine is either aftermarket junk or that my 4wheeler was just to heavy that day