Mountain bike tailgate cover/pad

[Gerder]

??? Just throwing it in the bed. That is what I have a truck for…

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[Jrel209]

??? Just throwing it in the bed. That is what I have a truck for…

I have a cover, also, iono bout you but ive taken the front wheel off and put it in back to bring it home. I dont like the way its layed out with components being leaned on. I have to drive 1 hr to either duthie or galbraith and all that jostling around could dmg some of the components it may end up leaning on. If the mtb wasnt overpriced i wouldnt care but alas an entry level mtb is like 4500.

 

[mtbikernate]

??? Just throwing it in the bed. That is what I have a truck for…

my bike cost enough that I don't want it just bouncing around back there. I'll put it back there in a pinch, but it's not pretty. it almost doesn't fit in the bed of the ranger, anyway. it's snug and will pretty much only fit one way. can't fit any other bikes back there at the same time unless I stack them on top of each other, which I'm especially not doing given how much they cost to purchase (and repair).

I'm going to spend a little bit extra money and put on some kind of attachment that holds the bike more securely, which is especially relevant for accessing remote trailheads down rough gravel forest roads, and also gives me a way to transport multiple bikes without the bikes banging/rubbing against each other in the same driving environments.

 

[Jrel209]

my bike cost enough that I don't want it just bouncing around back there. I'll put it back there in a pinch, but it's not pretty. it almost doesn't fit in the bed of the ranger, anyway. it's snug and will pretty much only fit one way. can't fit any other bikes back there at the same time unless I stack them on top of each other, which I'm especially not doing given how much they cost to purchase (and repair).

I'm going to spend a little bit extra money and put on some kind of attachment that holds the bike more securely, which is especially relevant for accessing remote trailheads down rough gravel forest roads, and also gives me a way to transport multiple bikes without the bikes banging/rubbing against each other in the same driving environments.

yup i found this out quick taking the bike home. Crazy to think my old mtb sat nicer in my jetta with the backseat’s down haha. But i bit the bullet and just got this yakima gatekeeper pad. Comes in wed hopefully it works out well.

 

[Gerder]

my bike cost enough that I don't want it just bouncing around back there. I'll put it back there in a pinch, but it's not pretty. it almost doesn't fit in the bed of the ranger, anyway. it's snug and will pretty much only fit one way. can't fit any other bikes back there at the same time unless I stack them on top of each other, which I'm especially not doing given how much they cost to purchase (and repair).

I'm going to spend a little bit extra money and put on some kind of attachment that holds the bike more securely, which is especially relevant for accessing remote trailheads down rough gravel forest roads, and also gives me a way to transport multiple bikes without the bikes banging/rubbing against each other in the same driving environments.

I see. And got u.
So difference is: I got a SuperCab so the size L/XL trail-downCountry-ride (don’t know what the actual marketing name of a light touring enduro with less suspension travel is) sits perfect in the bed, I don‘t ride a carbo bike with a frame like a beer can, I throw that bike frequently in the woods when I missed the jump/corner so it looks „used“ anyways and finally I start end my tour at home mostly because its kind of outback how I live.
And if; such a carpet for the tailgate would be the thing I would use Cause I don‘t care much about the paint of a truck.
cheers! ??? ??

 

[Synfulz]

My roll up tonneau cover has the T channels. Eventually for me I can setup crossbars with bike racks. This will allow being able to still open cover with bikes mounted.

 

[Mostly Harmless]

My current setup:
Retrax One
Rhino Rack Towers and Vortex Crossbars
Yakima Highroad Bike Racks

This setup is ideal for me. It provides much need protective space in the bed with the Retrax cover and secure spots for bikes. I like that I still have access to the bed and don't have to worry about putting a hitch rack on and off. The cross bars also provide an alternative method to carrying other cargo too. While this setup was somewhat pricy it added functionality to the truck and a secure way to firmly hold $20k worth of bikes. My only complaint is with the way the Yakima highroads hold the rear wheel. The strap is prone to scratching carbon wheels. My temporary solution is to pad it with some packing styrofoam.

 

[AdamHarris]

Exercise caution when using these. I put two little dents in the top edge of my tailgate using a bike pad w my porky 40lb Marin Hawk Hill. I have a hitch rack now.

 

[mtbikernate]

I see. And got u.
So difference is: I got a SuperCab so the size L/XL trail-downCountry-ride (don’t know what the actual marketing name of a light touring enduro with less suspension travel is) sits perfect in the bed, I don‘t ride a carbo bike with a frame like a beer can, I throw that bike frequently in the woods when I missed the jump/corner so it looks „used“ anyways and finally I start end my tour at home mostly because its kind of outback how I live.
And if; such a carpet for the tailgate would be the thing I would use Cause I don‘t care much about the paint of a truck.
cheers! ??? ??

it has less to do with the frame material and more to do with the parts attached. my particular frame is of little concern. I have a steel hardtail that would cost over $6k new. it's meant to be used hard. but, plenty of nice parts attached to it. last thing I want to do is trash a 12spd shimano xtr derailleur because the bike was rattling around in the bed (not only from the cost to replace, but availability limitations of a lot of shimano stuff right now), or my brake rotors from the same.

I spent far more on my Ranger, so I care even more about keeping it in good shape. dings happen but throwing a bike over the tailgate is a recipe for unnecessary ones.

 

[Gerder]

it has less to do with the frame material and more to do with the parts attached. my particular frame is of little concern. I have a steel hardtail that would cost over $6k new. it's meant to be used hard. but, plenty of nice parts attached to it. last thing I want to do is trash a 12spd shimano xtr derailleur because the bike was rattling around in the bed (not only from the cost to replace, but availability limitations of a lot of shimano stuff right now), or my brake rotors from the same.

I spent far more on my Ranger, so I care even more about keeping it in good shape. dings happen but throwing a bike over the tailgate is a recipe for unnecessary ones.

ok. 6k steel hardtail is quite royal. Breezer, Marin or something a guy from europe never heard about? tell a nerd more details, man? i spent over all 4K for my custom top end frame more than a decade ago and will keep it till I need electric support?
I am so happy with the 14Kg bike and the 3/9speed rocket shifters that I dont care about „modern“ geometries and the other inventions since than.
No XTR here. Never get over XT and Hope parts because of … shred. The bike sits tight in the 6“ bed no rattling or so. If u put it to top nothing could happen to that parts. But with the shorter bed u dont have that opportunity, of course.
cheers!

 

[EJH]

$6k USD is nothing these days on a mountain bike, even hardtail. Never mind that prices seems to have gone up 20% the last two years. My current 2019 Santa Cruz would be $1,900 more to replace today with the same build kit

 

[Jrel209]

$6k USD is nothing these days on a mountain bike, even hardtail. Never mind that prices seems to have gone up 20% the last two years. My current 2019 Santa Cruz would be $1,900 more to replace today with the same build kit

ya i bought a transition scout, the cheapest version still 4600. Gonna just upgrade components lil by lil as the next few yrs go by. Its insane how expensive mtbs are now because of the dumb pandemic.

 

[EJH]

ya i bought a transition scout, the cheapest version still 4600. Gonna just upgrade components lil by lil as the next few yrs go by. Its insane how expensive mtbs are now because of the dumb pandemic.

I demoed the Scout in Moab about 1.5 years ago. Nice bike ?

 

[mtbikernate]

ok. 6k steel hardtail is quite royal. Breezer, Marin or something a guy from europe never heard about? tell a nerd more details, man? i spent over all 4K for my custom top end frame more than a decade ago and will keep it till I need electric support?
I am so happy with the 14Kg bike and the 3/9speed rocket shifters that I dont care about „modern“ geometries and the other inventions since than.
No XTR here. Never get over XT and Hope parts because of … shred. The bike sits tight in the 6“ bed no rattling or so. If u put it to top nothing could happen to that parts. But with the shorter bed u dont have that opportunity, of course.
cheers!

Guerrilla Gravity Pedalhead steel frame. Made in Colorado
MRP Ribbon Fork, 140mm. Made in Colorado
Industry Nine Hydra hubs. Made in North Carolina
DT Swiss XM481 rims and DT Swiss double butted spokes. Laced the wheels myself during a wheel building class.
RaceFace Turbine CINCH crankset & OneUp Components Switch chainring/spider system for Shimano 12spd
Shimano XTR M9100-GS rear derailleur
Shimano XTR M9100 shifter
Shimano XTR M9100 chain
Shimano XTR M9100 10-45T cassette
Hayes Dominion A4 brakes. 203mm rotor front, 180mm rotor rear.
OneUp Components V1 dropper w/Wolftooth Light Action lever
Industry Nine A318 stem. made in North Carolina
Cane Creek 110 headset. Made in North Carolina
Spank Vibrocore bars
SDG saddle
MRP AMg bash guard/chain top guide. Made in Colorado
WTB Vigilante 2.6 front tire
Specialized Purgatory 2.6 rear tire
Huck Norris foam insert in rear
tubeless setup
a few mostly irrelevant odds & ends in addition

There's certainly opportunity to spend a lot more money on the build. Especially with the wheels. Could have spent 10x as much on the cranks for locally made Ti cranks. I also could have spent a lot more to have electronic shifting if I wanted that. I sure didn't spend retail on most of the stuff. Bought the frame used. I work in the outdoor industry, so I have access to better pricing on most of the rest. The most expensive parts I spent retail on were the hubs. I bought those the day they were released at full MSRP.

It's a pretty long bike and would be a fairly tight fit in a 6ft bed, too. In my 5ft bed, it only just fits. I'll put it there if I'm doing a short drive on all pavement by myself and have done so a few times. But I usually ride with my wife, so with 2 bikes, tossing in the bed is a nonstarter. Her bike is tiny, so I have less to worry about with fitting it somewhere. Some trailheads I access require driving several miles of occasionally very rough gravel forest roads. I also won't just toss my bike in the back if I'm going to those places. Also if going camping and I have other gear to put in the back.

Easily the most cost-effective mounts are fork mounts attached to a piece of wood. There are ways to solidly secure those so they hold bikes securely on rough roads. I rank these as much higher for day-to-day bike transport than tailgate pads. Tailgate pads I see as for more occasional use when shuttling buddies with lots of bikes, especially on an old beater pickup. And honestly I think that was their intended purpose when invented. Not to be left on a new truck full-time as a primary bike transport method.

$6k USD is nothing these days on a mountain bike, even hardtail. Never mind that prices seems to have gone up 20% the last two years. My current 2019 Santa Cruz would be $1,900 more to replace today with the same build kit

Yeah, I built this bike well before the pandemic. I don't wanna know what it would cost for the same build today. I've bought some extra parts in the past year well before actually needing them, just because availability was terrible. Bought some tires when there was a tire shortage for awhile. Bought a spare Shimano 12spd chain when I saw it available, because those are hard to get even now. Bought spare brake pads in addition, because availability.

My wife's mtb is a midlevel Santa Cruz that was about $4500 new. Carbon frame. She won an Industry Nine wheelset in a raffle as her only real upgrade to it since buying it new.

 

[Deleted member 15875]

Exercise caution when using these. I put two little dents in the top edge of my tailgate using a bike pad w my porky 40lb Marin Hawk Hill. I have a hitch rack now.

I'm frustrated these 5' beds don't allow MTB's to fit with the front wheel off. Just need a few extra inches, then I could use a folding bed cover with my bike secured underneath. It's close but no cigar.

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