I'm thinking of getting an ATV at some point down the road and was wondering if anyone here has one that they haul in the back of their short bed truck?

I have a 2011 Ecoboost crew cab with the short bed.

My other questions are...
1) How well does the average ATV fit?
2) How much weight can the tailgate hold safely? Thinking of getting some ramps to drive it up into the truck of course.

Pictures would be great to see!

Thanks

 

No pics, but you'd be perfectly fine doing it. Just don't forget to secure your ramps too with the tailgate down. More of the wheels might be in the bed of the truck if you back the atv on, especially if you have extras hangin' on the front of it.

 

Depending on the size of your ATV, if you don't have a tool box, you may be able to get it in there with the tailgate up... If not, then you will be just fine with the tailgate down. If you have a bed extender, it is good insurance against a strap coming loose or breaking and the ATV rolling out of the bed. I have fit my wife's Grizzly in the bed of her '00 SCAB short bed with a tool box. It hangs out on the tailgate, but I have had no problems at all and the the newer tailgates seem more robust.

 

I had my quad in my f150 and f250 same for both I had to leave the tailgate down, I had the 5.5 box on the 150 and the quad would hold the gate down. On my 250 I have to tie the gate up so it's not banging up and down on the bumps.

If you have the 6.5ft box, probably be the same as this......sorry no pics of it in my f150

 

Lots of variables, first I am assuming you mean a 5.5' box and not 6.5'. I can fit some in my 6.5' with the gate up (Polaris 500) and some are just a bit too big (Polaris 700). Backing them in helps if they are close to fitting, most have a protruding front bumper, that will go through the back window before the tires hit the front of the bed, but nothing in the rear that will do that. The tailgate can easily handle the weight of an ATV and person riding it, we load them that way all the time. I wouldn't back one up the ramps though, need a loading dock for that.

 

Another trick is to use car ramps under front tires. It just might give you the extra to close the tailgate on a 6.5 bed.

 

IT depends on the size of the 4 wheeler. I have an old bayou 220 that fits in the back of mine with the tailgate down. I have a toolbox. But I know for sure my old 07 Polaris 700 wouldn't fit. The rear tires wouldn't even sit on the tailgate. And the truck was barely wide enough for it also. It was lifted with tires, snorkels, radio and a bunch of other goodies.

 

Thanks everyone. Sounds like it should work no problems depending on the actual size of the ATV of course. Appreciate the feedback. Thx

 

The tailgate should hold, but if you wanted some additional security/assurance then you could run the ATV up ramps and onto two 2x12"s or 2x10"s (heck 2x8"s might even be fine) and let all 4 tires rest on the boards. That way the weight of the tires on the tailgate is partially distributed through the board and not solely on your tailgate.

 

That's a pretty good idea...thanks

 

My pleasure, but now you need to buy that quad and post pics.

 

this is why WHEN/IF i buy a new truck it will be a 8ft bed! I hate my short bed F350 SO MUCH because of the bed length, dirt bike, ATV, plywood, etc etc etc on and on never fits. I should have took my first thought and ordered my 2004 with a 8ft bed but.......

 

I put my 50" race quad in the back, cant close the tailgate, but i dont worry about it much. I know i have had 3 people sitting on my tailgate before, so thats 5-600 lbs easy. More than my entire quad.