The tailgate. Because I'm bored.

As I await my truck arrival I'm reading and watching tons of stuff, so I come up with all sorts of things I never even thought about.
Like the tailgate, for instance.
Saw a spec sheet that said the tailgate is rated for 200 lbs. There is no way that can be correct.
I also saw an advisement somewhere (I think it was on a forum here) not to drive with the tailgate down. Which is also weird since you can buy a bed extender. Which needs the tailgate to be down to be used.

Went out and did some looking and, basically, truck tailgates for all the major full size manufacturers are rated between 300 and 1500 lbs. Honestly I've never even thought about it - the tailgate has to be down to load the bed, and I've loaded tons of stuff in both my trucks and never given it a second thought. I also very often haul lumber with the tailgate down.

So, fellow Tundra folks, since I don't have mine yet and have never owned a Tundra, what can I expect? Much ado about nothing?

Cheers,

 

If it gives you any comfort, I weigh 255 and have walked around on and sat on my tailgate and it’s holding up fine

 

well the toyota tailgates are only held up by that small cable, so do your judgement on that. also the sheetmetal covering the inside tailgate isnt very thick so adjust accordingly. if you decide to put a lot of weight on just the tailgate portion and not the bed also to spread the load.

 

I saw some photos here on the forum of dirt motorcycles in someone's bed. Bike and rider have to weigh more than 200, at least on the rear wheel as it passes over. So, the tailgate had to take that... unless they pulled the tailgate to load them.

 

As with most things in life, anything in moderation lol

 

Loading sheets of plywood and drywall into the bed and then attempting to close the tailgate makes no sense. Perhaps all the trims need to come with an 8 foot bed so we don’t put any weight on the tailgate.

 

I’d say 600 to 800 pounds. Never heard of a full-size pickup tailgate not able to seat at least 3 adults

 

600 pound gunsafes on 3rd gen tacos and 2.5 gen tundras no problem. Bent down a little when loading but nothing perminant

 

Tell that to the guy that partially crushed his tailgate hauling his 4 wheeler in his 2.5 gen. There are not a lot of structural supports in the tailgates.

 

You mean broke the cables and hinges or like bent in the flat part?? I’ve done some stupid shit but never actually drove around with that much weight on the tailgate.

 

Bent the sheet metal.

 

The tailgate of my 2004 Honda Element is rated for 440 pounds.