tailgate

thinking about buying a 500 lb safe. just wondering if tailgate is strong enough if we lean it against it then lift/ slide it up and into the bed?
thanks

I wouldn't on my 2020 2500. freaking tailgates are light duty for sure. probably easier to pull the tailgate off and slide it in

WOW, U might ding it and/or bend it. They R not made of "solid" steel. I personally find some way to do a lever/fulcrum type of entry, exit ref mass weight like that. I have read, looking numbers between 150 lbs to 2,000 lbs. SO, hmmmmmm, might be interesting. PPL run ATV's on ramps up them, etc, but a big difference between divided weight and mass weight, hmmmmmmm.

Heck of an experiment. The new DT tailgate allegedly rated for 2K, unknown on 2017. "Proceed at own risk", as they say.

I'd test it first, have you and a buddy or two sit the gate. The issue will be make sure you don't add to that 500 as in having someone's weight on it while lifting.

This might shed some light on the subject:

Just as a thought: NE way U can go rent/borrow a friends nice and low mower trailer and move that way, LOL? I have a Big stock trailer that if I need to transport my 2,100 lb MC, I put in there, and also out of necessity, since I have a full tonneau cover. Just thinking out loud.

TSC here rents small trailers for $20 a day, just an alternative.

Once upon a time the owners manuals would state max capacity of the tailgate. It was 500lbs. Doesn’t say anything about it now.

turkeybird56 said:

Just as a thought: NE way U can go rent/borrow a friends nice and low mower trailer and move that way, LOL? I have a Big stock trailer that if I need to transport my 2,100 lb MC, I put in there, and also out of necessity, since I have a full tonneau cover. Just thinking out loud.

TSC here rents small trailers for $20 a day, just an alternative.

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I agree, I'd much rather roll a 500 pound safe into my landscape trailer then lift it into the bed. Unless you have a crane both ways lifting that is a dangerous proposition.

Also, you know you can take the bed off as well yes?

They'll probably have a forklift where you buy the safe. Unloading, you won't have the whole 500 pounds on the tailgate at one time.

Or.....

My motorcycle ramp weighs about 80 pounds. Most of that weight is on the ground, tho. But I ride 400 pound sport bikes up and onto the back of my truck all the time, with no problems. I weigh 185. Heck, I did the same thing with my 1999 Dakota as well no problem.

Or....

Rent a U-Haul truck for $25 and tear up their equipment.

Nothing says Gun Owner like the dude buying a Safe.

It's *probably* strong enough, but please prop your phone up and put it on 'video record' when you're hoisting the safe up. If it folds, I could watch that one 10x in a row ...lol. I've deal with heavy safes and they don't bounce. Keep yer toes clear. But I think the tailgate would handle it. Esp if the safe is at least 2' wide, then you're spreading the weight out closer to the ends and not all of it in the middle. Make sure your cables are 'good'. Or you could take your tailgate off (if yours easily comes off).

Our local hardware store rents trailers for $25/day that I rented from time to time. They'll handle 1000-1200 lbs as I recall. They also have a lot heavier trailer for $35/day. They're real low height. Something like that might be a better way to go. Just lay down some 2x6's or 3/4" plywood and if you have some 1" dowels or short PVC pipe lengths, you can roll it right up with w/o breaking a sweat. (support a metal tailgate with cinder or wood blocks if necessary. Save your back and possibly your tailgate.

Or, maybe the there's a guy near the seller who has a utility tractor or small skid steer with forks who can help you load it. Usually there's some guy nearby with a skid loader (if they're home). I've bought things before and walked down the street a few houses and asked the neighbor if he'd kindly help load something. Its awkward at first but they're always happy to use their tractor for something useful (prove to the wife it was worth buying! lol), and it brings neighbors together.

In fact I helped a guy remove an old-school (heavy) generator installed in someone's house basement, late last fall. Real nice generator ...but very heavy. We took it out in sections. the last section (the heaviest by far) we didn't have a good plan how to get it in the dually. But low and behold the neighbor had a Kubota tractor and that saved a TON of back labor ...lol. Case the neighborhood on your way there.

500lbs isn't much weight. The tailgate should handle it. No diffent than 3 buddies sitting on it

I forklift load my truck all the time and sometimes the forks slide across the tailgate and I am sure it's more than 500lbs.

I like others have mentioned, just go rent a small open trailer.

Why chance it? No doubt a new tailgate will cost more than a rental.

The truck will handle it, the weakest point will be the hinges on the tailgate.

Also, you might get it in with a forklift, but will you have one at the other end?

Safe companies out here deliver, and either do so with a separate trailer, or with a tailgate lift.

Just do it and report back. If it fails, post pics. Thank you.

I would think that the tailgate would handle that weight easily

BUT, those itty bitty cables that hold the tailgate up, i would not trust at all

Sounds like a redneck version of Mythbusters
* grabs a cooler full of beer and a camp chair *

They are paper thin on 4th gen trucks HOWEVER I have loaded jet skis many many times in the back of my truck haven't done any damage to tailgate.

Pop the door off the safe, then load it you will be fine. Plus will a lot easier to load/unload with out the added weight of the door

Dinky said:

500lbs isn't much weight. The tailgate should handle it. No diffent than 3 buddies sitting on it

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This is what I did with a 700# safe. Fairy easy to slide on and off this way it out fear of the tailgate collapsing. Tilt and slide. Peace of mind.

I don’t know about leaning and lifting, but I moved a 700 lb welder from a Silverado and my 2019 1500 Laramie (from tailgate to tailgate) and both held the weight with no problem.