tailgate pads for bikes?

[A 2]

I think I just figured out a really good option, the fox overland tailgate pad. It measures 53” and the gladiator is listed in the fitment guide. Just ordered, I will share pics when it comes. Had to go direct since LBS could not get it. https://shop.ridefox.com/collection...oBG4GnhHpbu_vBCWin7zMsh2omiwm3FIaAuJtEALw_wcB

How does the Fox overland fit the gladiator. I bought and returned the Thule mid-size pad. It fits the tailgate but you can’t close it because the sides get pinched.

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[DamonSD]

It fits the tailgate very well, you can open a And close the tailgate. My only complaint is that it obstructs the rear view camera.

 

[MOJAVEC22]

It fits the tailgate very well, you can open a And close the tailgate. My only complaint is that it obstructs the rear view camera.

do you have a picture with no bikes mounted? im debating on the fox full pad or the Evoc half pad. this would be for around town purpose. long trips would be hitch ratch. i think id prefer the full pad but i like the use of the camera. and realistically would only carry 2 bikes max.

 

[Thisxguy]

It fits the tailgate very well, you can open a And close the tailgate. My only complaint is that it obstructs the rear view camera.

I'm having trouble visualizing but the camera is blocked by the Fox Factory logo right? About how much material is needed to be cut off if we want it exposed?

 

[Artax]

I have the race face that I original bought for our tacoma before selling and buying the gladiator. It sorta worked on the gladiator but was way too wide and tailgate couldn’t shut.

I had a local upholstery shop shorten it to cut off the end lugs to fit the width. Then I cut out a notch at the bottom for the camera and removed a portion of the window pad to have easier access to the tailgate handle and to expose the 3rd brake light. With this setup I can still haul 4 bikes and if needed I could move the window pad up and haul a 5th if needed. Here is what it looks like now.

Not the cheapest solution since I paid the shop $50 to shorten it but I already had it and I prefer to re-use rather than sell and buy new.

 

[Cshadow2]

I use a bathroom rug with the shag side down the rubber side keeps my forks from slippng off the rug. I tie down with a long bungee with a full wrap around the down tube hooked corner to corner its rock solid in traffic and at over 80 on the freeway.
the Da kine seems really nice but I already have the rug so….

 

[DamonSD]

I have the race face that I original bought for our tacoma before selling and buying the gladiator. It sorta worked on the gladiator but was way too wide and tailgate couldn’t shut.

I had a local upholstery shop shorten it to cut off the end lugs to fit the width. Then I cut out a notch at the bottom for the camera and removed a portion of the window pad to have easier access to the tailgate handle and to expose the 3rd brake light. With this setup I can still haul 4 bikes and if needed I could move the window pad up and haul a 5th if needed. Here is what it looks like now.

Not the cheapest solution since I paid the shop $50 to shorten it but I already had it and I prefer to re-use rather than sell and buy new.

That looks awesome, great idea.

 

[Mac]

Doesn’t the tailgate paint get scratched from those pads? My tailgate is always dusty and has fine sand on it, I would think that would get between the tailgate and pads and even a little movement would cause the pads and dust/sand to scuff the paint.

 

[Ray Howrad]

I just ordered this Fox Overland Split tailgate pad. Looks promising.

I'll update if anyone is interested. Bonus, it matches my Mojave accents. I got the black and orange one.

 

[Ray Howrad]

Fits and works great!

 

[AP Double]

I just ordered the new (2022 release) Yakima Gatekeeper size Medium. I’m hoping that it works the way I expect.

Every other pad I considered has some downside. Some of them block the camera or the third brake light. Others block the tailgate handle! Some of them are “tall” meaning that there are bulky pads on top of the tailgate, which might lift the edge of my (Mopar roll up) tonneau. Others (DaKine DLX) are just a little too wide for our Gladiators and have extra fabric hanging over the edges (left and right). The old Yakima had crappy hook/loop “Velcro” that wasn’t all that secure, and wore out over time.

Some of us on this forum solved all of this by getting two “half” pads (EVOC, FOX). That seems to be a great solution, but is limited to five bikes. I’ve got three kids and a wifey. Why not have a tailgate pad that holds as many bikes as the gladiator holds riders? Five riders, five bikes.

The new Yakima seems to cover the bases. It has an enormous opening that tucks out of the way, to accommodate the gate handle, brake light, and backup camera. It’s got new “G hook” straps for the bikes that look solid. It takes five bikes. And it’s not too bulky, so I am hoping I can leave it on and still close the tonneau reasonably well.

I researched the heck out of this. I can’t wait to install it and let you all know how it works out.

 

[AP Double]

Well, that Yakima Gatekeeper is good, but not perfect. The width is just right; it’s a little wider on the outside of the tailgate as compared to the inside. There is no extra fabric to deal with. The “g-hooks” that hold the bike down tube work great. But here’s the weakness: the pad’s flap / window is not big enough to expose the brake light, gate handle, and backup camera all at the same time. The pad can be advanced toward the back so that the camera is exposed, but then the brake light and gate handle are partly covered. I suppose that would be okay since the handle might not be used with bikes on there. But that pad position also puts the bike straps pretty far back. I have not tried to load bikes in that position. The best position for the bikes, I think, is with the camera blocked and the brake light and handle exposed. The bikes can kind of block the camera anyway.

 

[COmtnbiker]

Has anyone had to cut their bedrug tailgate connector to put a pad on?

@Ray Howrad I have the Fox Pad and it is superb!I see you have a bed liner, did you have to cut the connector that connects tailgate pad to the bed liner?

 

[Ray Howrad]

Has anyone had to cut their bedrug tailgate connector to put a pad on?

@Ray Howrad I have the Fox Pad and it is superb!I see you have a bed liner, did you have to cut the connector that connects tailgate pad to the bed liner?

I purchased the bed rug that doesn’t connect to the tailgate, two separate pieces.

 

[Daa03c]

I just purchased the fox overland half pad. I bought two of them so that I could transport 4 bikes. It does not obstruct the camera when not in use but it does when I put bikes on it. The other thing I wanted was a pad that worked with a bed cover. I bought the armis trifold hard bed cover. And it closes with the pads on the tail gate! There is one caveat. There is a thin unpadded area on the pad and you need to line it up with the lip of the tail gate that interacts with the cover. When I load up the bikes I roll the padded part back into position to protect the down tube of the bikes. It takes two seconds. One of the pictures has one pad positioned for bike transport and the other so that you can close the cover.

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