Tail gate weight rating

[Barryh]

Have you carefully checked the owners manual that came with the truck to see if it has any information about allowable loads on thetailgate?

No but I will be doing that in the morning. I'm also wondering about the tongue weight on the trailer hitch.

I believe I have a class 3 hitch. I will be double checking that before I do any loading also. My thoughts are to put a jack stand under the trailer hitch for extra support if need be when loading the PT.

 

[Barryh]

Barry,

Have you determined how you'll tie the PT in? I tow a fifthwheel with my shortbed and run 4 straps from the PT to the rails in the bed that the fifthwheel hitch pins to. Works well, seems plenty strong. If I were to roll the pickup the straps likely wouldn't hold. But under those circumstances I'd have other things to worry about. This is one of the rare times I use the parking brake on the PT.

Oh..... be sure and use your parking brake on the truck when you load/unload! I didn't one time and the truck drivetrain allows quite a bit of movement -- too much. I heard of one guy's cousin who had a friend who knew someone that broke a ring gear tooth while loading equipment without putting on the parking brake (actually it was a post on another forum).

I also keep the PT front wheels ON the tailgate (there's enough room to move it BARELY back off of it) which keeps the tailgate from bouncing and banging. The ramps slide under the PT, with some strap ends tying for extra security, then I drop the bucket or hoe or mower down til it touches the tailgate and I'm off.

Phil

No I haven't really gotten that far yet. I have 4 tie downs on the insides of the bed, but they don't look all that heavy duty, may have to go buy some D-rings. Thanks for the info on the broken ring gear, I'll make sure not to forget the parking brake.

 

[MossRoad]

If you put some 2x12's down the length of the bed of your truck and parked the PTs on them, that would help distribute the weight more towards the bed of your truck than on the tailgate.

 

[Barryh]

If you put some 2x12's down the length of the bed of your truck and parked the PTs on them, that would help distribute the weight more towards the bed of your truck than on the tailgate.

I was thinking along those lines too, as in a heavy piece of plywood, but 2x12's might be a easier to deal with and much better support for the tailgate. Good thinking.

 

[MossRoad]

Just be sure and chain that sucker down, as the wood will act like a skid and slide very easily.

 

[Barryh]

Just be sure and chain that sucker down, as the wood will act like a skid and slide very easily.

Good point.. before I use this setup I'm sure I will have some more thinking, drilling and bolting to do. Can't have my baby falling off the truck.

 

[VA_Joe]

If you are worried about it - you can buy stainless steel straps that replace the cables. They are claimed to be stronger than the OEM cables (and rust free). Don't know what the weight rating is on them.

One company that I found quickly through google is ken-co.com - but they only make them for the chevy/gmc pickups. There are other companies that I've seen mentioned on the pick-up truck forums (been a while - don't remember who they were). You might want to look at those sites.

Joe

 

[Barryh]

If you are worried about it - you can buy stainless steel straps that replace the cables. They are claimed to be stronger than the OEM cables (and rust free). Don't know what the weight rating is on them.

One company that I found quickly through google is ken-co.com - but they only make them for the chevy/gmc pickups. There are other companies that I've seen mentioned on the pick-up truck forums (been a while - don't remember who they were). You might want to look at those sites.

Joe

Thanks, I will check that out.

 

[RegL]

If you are worried about it - you can buy stainless steel straps that replace the cables. They are claimed to be stronger than the OEM cables (and rust free). Don't know what the weight rating is on them.

One company that I found quickly through google is ken-co.com - but they only make them for the chevy/gmc pickups. There are other companies that I've seen mentioned on the pick-up truck forums (been a while - don't remember who they were). You might want to look at those sites.

Joe

I don't know. They say their stronger than cables, but I kind of wonder if that rivet through the middle joint really is.

 

[smartguyz]

I've transported the PT425 a few time in a full-sized pickup. I do one of two things:

A) I use the PT ramps, and put one end of the ramps on a sloped surface (my driveway is steep) and the other end PAST the tailgate. That way, the tailgate gets no load.

B) I remove the tailgate and use the ramps.

Sincerely,

Rob