Titan loaded and no Tailgate issues!

dcwinters · 07-06-2004, 06:52 AM

I took my first trip in the Titan this weekend. I have a couple of Harleys that I wanted to carry along with the boat. I had read on this board about the tailgate ratings (200lbs???). Just wanted to let everyone know that both bikes sit on the tailgate and on a 200 mile trip, no problems! I did add a saftey cable, just in case.

Optimist · 07-06-2004, 07:00 AM

Now were talking!

Um, can I go?

I’ll ride the blue one.

On 2nd thought perhaps the yellow.

Well 1st the blue & then the yellow.

cardesigner · 07-06-2004, 11:46 AM

200 lbs? Man, I think the tailgate itself weighs that much, heh!

I weigh 220 and I've been standing on the gate a lot to load the bed. No probs so far...

mytitan · 07-06-2004, 11:56 AM

where did u get them?

i want them....

dcwinters · 07-06-2004, 03:38 PM

I actually made them. I went down to the local Home Depot and bought 3/16 coated cable and ends. After the first try, cut cable to short to allow for looped ends, things went well. I extended the upper tailgate latch bolt and used a nut and nylon bushing around the bolt where the looped end sets. The other end of the cable loops around the latch anchor. I just put them on before I load the bikes, then take them back off when I want to shut the tailgate.

The tricky part was making the cables the correct length. I wanted them to help out the existing cables, but I did not want them carrying the whole load.

I can make more close up pictures if you are interested.

Titan4x4Aggie · 07-06-2004, 04:39 PM

i know it says that, but it can't be right. there are two circular flat spots for drinks (beers cans, i presume for tailgating). no, unless i'm double fisting and shooting to get drunk fast, that means two people can sit on the tailgate and drink together. it also implies that the weight limit should be more like 400-500 lbs.

smoketitan · 07-06-2004, 04:54 PM

I weigh 300 and I stood on my tailgate--and it was cool no flexing

HDRocketman · 07-06-2004, 05:44 PM

Been trying to gauge if another bike will fit beside mine ( Road Glide ) Looks like you have a Sportster and a Deuce fitting ... is this correct and is there ANY additional room ?

harper · 07-06-2004, 06:06 PM

had at least 600 on it and no problem

tnbowhunter · 07-06-2004, 06:08 PM

I put the ramps on the tailgate when loading my Polaris 500 Quad, I'm not sure what the weight is but it's got to be around 500 lbs not counting me on top of it.
I figured if I could do it on my other truck {Toyota} this one would be up to the task. So far so good!!!!

pciley · 07-06-2004, 08:12 PM

There was another thread about this exact topic, the rating seems to be BS. Most manuf. always under rate things if they are smart, it just seems like the tail gate load carrying capacity is under rated by a power of 10

I have loaded quads, carried a quad upright with most of its weight on the tailgate (3 in the bed) for over 300 miles, and had 3 or 4 guys standing/jumping on the TG and nothing has happened.

I really like those extra cable supports! They look store bought, great job!!!
Couldn't hurt to have some insurance. Yeah, could I trouble you for a close up so I can reproduce a pair of these myself?

dcwinters · 07-07-2004, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDRocketman

Been trying to gauge if another bike will fit beside mine ( Road Glide ) Looks like you have a Sportster and a Deuce fitting ... is this correct and is there ANY additional room ?

Actually, it is a Sportster and a Superglide that I have spent way to much time on. Paint, chrome, rear duece wheel, wide front forks, 21 in front wheel, racked, etc.. The wheel base of my Superglide is just an inch short of the Deuce. As for the room, plenty. I was able to us the track system to mount the Pingels. So each bike lines up with one of the tracks. With this, there is even enough room to load the ramp in between the bikes. If you have a Road Glide, things whould be a little tighter. But I am sure you could still fit a bike beside it.

redrock4x4 · 07-07-2004, 10:25 AM

I've had a lot more than 200lbs on my tailgate and have no problems. I've had several 1,000lb+ pallets loaded in the back of my Titan now (not at the same time of course, one at a time) and whenever you're loading a pallet into a fork lift they have to set the pallet down on the tailgate, back up further since the fork lift arms don't extend far enough forward to push the pallet all the way into the bed, and then lift it again and go forward a few feet. For each pallet they repeated this process of setting it down, backing up, moving forward, etc for about 3-5 times, and I've moved 3 pallets with my truck, so the tailgate has seen a LOT of weight so far.

On another note, I can say the Titan sure drives well with a 1,000lbs+ load in the tailgate, it didn't create any handling or braking issues and the power wasn't really affected at all that I could tell.

dcwinters · 07-07-2004, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pciley

There was another thread about this exact topic, the rating seems to be BS. Most manuf. always under rate things if they are smart, it just seems like the tail gate load carrying capacity is under rated by a power of 10

I have loaded quads, carried a quad upright with most of its weight on the tailgate (3 in the bed) for over 300 miles, and had 3 or 4 guys standing/jumping on the TG and nothing has happened.

I really like those extra cable supports! They look store bought, great job!!!
Couldn't hurt to have some insurance. Yeah, could I trouble you for a close up so I can reproduce a pair of these myself?

Here are the close ups. The cables measure 23 7/8 from outside of loop to outside of loop.
Good Luck!

HDRocketman · 07-07-2004, 06:33 PM

Thanks dcwinters ... I'll try it on that next venture out of Oregon in the winter with my bud's softail custom...