Tail gate question
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Tail gate question
I'm wondering what the safe limit is for the amount of weight the tail gate can suppport ?
I need to get some 4x8 sheets of dry-wall and instead of leaving the tail gate down i'd rather have it up and support the pieces, but at 50-60 pounds a sheet I'm somewhat concerned about how many sheets the tail gate can support without causing issues.
I need to get some 4x8 sheets of dry-wall and instead of leaving the tail gate down i'd rather have it up and support the pieces, but at 50-60 pounds a sheet I'm somewhat concerned about how many sheets the tail gate can support without causing issues.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
I'm wondering what the safe limit is for the amount of weight the tail gate can suppport ?
I need to get some 4x8 sheets of dry-wall and instead of leaving the tail gate down i'd rather have it up and support the pieces, but at 50-60 pounds a sheet I'm somewhat concerned about how many sheets the tail gate can support without causing issues.
I need to get some 4x8 sheets of dry-wall and instead of leaving the tail gate down i'd rather have it up and support the pieces, but at 50-60 pounds a sheet I'm somewhat concerned about how many sheets the tail gate can support without causing issues.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis, Mn
Weight
If I'm understanding your question, you want to have 10 sheets of drywall, the front edge in the bed and the back end resting on top of a closed tailgate. First off, how are you planning on not having the drywall crack or break in the middle while transporting? Second is you are subjecting the tailgate and hinges to stress they probably were not designed to take.
I'd either drop the tailgate or most home centers have a flatbed that can be rented by the hour. To me it's not worth the potential damage you could do but that's my opinion.
If you're worried about them sliding, take a strap clamp and hook it to one side on the tiedown bracket. bring it out, under the load then up diagonal over the top and to the opposite side and hook it down. You could even use two and go opposite directions. I've done that in the past several times with bigger loads than that without a problem.
My opinion.
I'd either drop the tailgate or most home centers have a flatbed that can be rented by the hour. To me it's not worth the potential damage you could do but that's my opinion.
If you're worried about them sliding, take a strap clamp and hook it to one side on the tiedown bracket. bring it out, under the load then up diagonal over the top and to the opposite side and hook it down. You could even use two and go opposite directions. I've done that in the past several times with bigger loads than that without a problem.
My opinion.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,329
Likes: 4
From: manchester,ct
My tailgate has held 20 sheets and about a dozen 2x4s in one trip. The tailgate held and I do recommend putting a few boards under the load to prevent cracking. The only problem is the height of the sheets when you need to remove them, I'm 5'18" and I struggled with the first couple of sheets.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,743
Likes: 2
From: Henrico, VA
I do things like this all the time and have no issues what so ever. I look at it as the tailgate can support more when it is closed and locked then when it is lower. I just think that if it was lower it would put more stress on the gate and hinges. Where while its closed and locked it just becomes part of the bed. All I would do is add 3 - 2x4's under the load or even 1x4's would work to support the center for transport.
Trending Topics
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,832
Likes: 2,611
From: The Shenandoah Valley
Yeah, you can easily tote 10 sheest like you want, but buy some 2x4s and place them under the sheet rock.
Better yet, drop the tailgate, lay the sheetrock in, and take a tie down strap or two and run from side to side with the strap running over or under the end of the sheets on the way to the other side.
Just thinking .... when I built my house in 1990-91, I had a contractor do the basement and then I did the sill / floor joists / subflooring before we started with the logs. The 2 X 12s for the double band and joist were delivered from the saw mill, but I hauled 35 sheets of 1/2" plywood propped up on my tailgate just like the OP describes as I had at the time, a 16" wide heavy locking tool box at the front of the bed of my '77.
It worked great that day as when I backed up nearest the band there at the carport end which was then just fill, the height helped in unloading one sheet at a time as I put them down. But no way I'ld try that unsupported with sheetrock.
Better yet, drop the tailgate, lay the sheetrock in, and take a tie down strap or two and run from side to side with the strap running over or under the end of the sheets on the way to the other side.
Just thinking .... when I built my house in 1990-91, I had a contractor do the basement and then I did the sill / floor joists / subflooring before we started with the logs. The 2 X 12s for the double band and joist were delivered from the saw mill, but I hauled 35 sheets of 1/2" plywood propped up on my tailgate just like the OP describes as I had at the time, a 16" wide heavy locking tool box at the front of the bed of my '77.
It worked great that day as when I backed up nearest the band there at the carport end which was then just fill, the height helped in unloading one sheet at a time as I put them down. But no way I'ld try that unsupported with sheetrock.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
I certainly would not hesitate loading 10 sheets of plywood in the bed, with tailgate down so it all sits nice and flat and doesn't break, and securing it all really well so it doesn't move around at all, while underway.
Note: Changed the 7.7 lbs per sq ft 0.1264. Number transposed. This makes it even more do-able. LOL
Last edited by 04fxdwgi; Feb 25, 2012 at 03:55 AM. Reason: Changed the 7.7 lbs per sq ft 0.1264. Number transposed.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 2
From: Seneca, SC
To do some quick math, using my truck as an example, with a 6.5' bed. With tailgate down, 81.25% of the weight will be in the bed, leaving 18.75% on the tailgate. If you load 1,000 pounds worth of sheetrock in the truck, only 182.5 would be on the tailgate. That equates to about 7.7 pounds per square inch over the entire tailgate. 182 pounds is nothing, since when I stand on the tailgate (I'm 185 pounds), it doesn't budge at all, and that weight is concentrated on the two foot prints, not spread across the entire tailgate.
I certainly would not hesitate loading 10 sheets of plywood in the bed, with tailgate down so it all sits nice and flat and doesn't break, and securing it all really well so it doesn't move around at all, while underway.
I certainly would not hesitate loading 10 sheets of plywood in the bed, with tailgate down so it all sits nice and flat and doesn't break, and securing it all really well so it doesn't move around at all, while underway.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post