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kgard1225's avatar
kgard1225
Explorer
Aug 23, 2019

carrying Atv in short bed truck with TT

Hi all, I am trying to find a way to bring my atv along but the rear wheels rest on the tail gate. I do not have turning clearance with the tail gate down and can't afford a toy hauler !! Any thoughts ??? I was trying to find a half height tail gate but no luck and the atv is too heavy to lift the front up. F-250 TV. Thanks, Ken
  • My TT only has a tongue weight of 500 Lbs. and dry weight 5366. The atv ( weighs 700 lbs. ) tires sit on the crack between bed and tailgate with the back half of the tires touching the tail gate a maximum of 6 inches. My 2012 f-250 SRW crew cab power stroke specs say max gvwr 10,000 lbs, payload weight rating 3290 and 3650 . I'm not sure exactly what that means but seems like the max weight on front and back of truck ??
  • 1) remove tailgate and put two aluminum ramps under the wheels.

    2) Use one of those big racks and load sideways over the bedrails.

    3) build a ramp at the front of the bed to get the front wheels up high enough for the rears to fit on the bed.

    Just three options I've seen used, I'm sure there's hundreds more.
  • I have 5ers so my bed is unavailable so I had a local fabricator build a very stout rack on the back. The supports are "sistered" to the back 3' of the frame.

    That solved the space problem but I still have to mind how much weight I put back there.

    I got to thinking about it when I read your question... I bought my first pickup in 1979. It was a long bed. I've owned pickups ever since. Every one a long bed.
  • Are the wheels supported on the tailgate? If they arent putting weight on the tailgate when it's down, you could simply remove the tailgate. If they are resting on the tailgate, a piece of 3/4 inch plywood, cut so that it only projects out the rear of the bed far enough to support the ATV. With the front wheels also being on the plywood would have plenty of counterweight to keep it from tipping. And you would just remove the tailgate altogether.
    You would have to secure the plywood for when you are loading and unloading, and ensure you have the atv strapped down well.
  • your fight a weight problem you can,t win. just think of all the pounds hanging back there your front wheels might float.
  • Does the weight of the ATV plus the tongue weight of the trailer fit within the load specs of your truck? Perhaps you'd get the best fit of weights and space by putting the ATV in a toy hauler but that's an expensive solution.