Based on individual performance, safety, versatility, durability, quality of the product, and a few other factors, we have shortlisted the best bike racks for your truck tailgate, after having tested them out, firsthand. Thus; we believe these would offer you satisfaction and also value for your money.
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After having considered many factors. We have selected the Demon tailgate pad as the overall editor’s preferred choice. We fitted this bike-rack to our pick-up truck. And it performed its task expertly. Moreover; this rack would secure your bikes perfectly to your truck. Thus; we can assure you, this will be worth every bit of your money.
Sturdy and fits well. Best for carrying MTB | Our Editor’s Choice The Demon tailgate pad is secured and sumptuous. Therefore; this is a tailgate pad that is perfect for holding your bikes in place while navigating on your pick-up truck. Moreover; they have prioritized security while designing this pad. The Demon would provide you with several slots for accommodating your bikes. Also; there are pockets for storing necessary tools as well. The Velcro straps help in securing your bikes. Additionally; it enhanced clarity due to the reflective design of the pad. You can find below, the specification for the Demon tailgate pad. This would help you to judge whether this is a well fit for your truck.
In the following table, we’ve listed the best bike racks that we have selected for your truck tailgate:
| Truck Tailgate Rack | Why we recommend this |
|---|---|
| Demon tailgate pad | Sturdy and fits well. Best for carrying MTB | Editor’s Choice |
| Dakine tailgate pad | Compatible with surfboards | Value Choice |
| Yakima gatekeeper | Secure. Rear-camera visibility. Good for carbon fiber bikes | Premium Choice |
| Dakine DLX pickup pad | Best for carrying MTB |
| RaceFace Tailgate Pad | Secure and extra-padding |
| EVOC Tailgate Pad | Padded for tailgate protection |
| Thule GateMate PRO Tailgate Pad | User-friendly design and pockets for storage |
| Thule GateMate | Ultra-durable |
| Allen Sports Deluxe | Trunk-mount rack. Secure and fold-able |
| Tyger Auto TG | Trunk-mount rack. Versatile and fold-able |
If you’re enthusiastic about biking or surfing and happen to be looking for a carrier for your pick-up truck, to accommodate your bike, then you’re in luck! Moreover; we shall also be discussing in-depth the specialties of individual brands of truck-tailgate pads. Additionally; if you happen to travel around, frequently, on your pick-up truck, along with your bikes or surfboard. Then, all the more reason, as to why you should be investing in tailgate pads for your truck. Generally; people tend to go for either a roof, trunk, or hitch-mounted rack while transporting their bikes in their SUVs or sedans respectively.
Whereas; for your trucks, you can usually go for a hitch-mounted rack. Thus; this is where the option of having a tailgate pad comes into play, for your truck. Also; biking and surfing are getting popular as each day passes by, so you have more reasons to find a tailgate pad to hold your expensive bikes. Hence; we shall try to alleviate your burden of the whole process of choosing your desired product.
We shall be making a comparison illustrating the specialties of some of the efficient and highly-rated tailgate pad out these. Thus; this would hopefully, make your decision to choose your desired rack a lot easier.
10 best bike racks you can buy today for your truck tailgates
We have prepared below, a table, which would demonstrate the specifications of all these 12 truck-tailgate pads. Moreover; we are going to discuss these in detail throughout this write-up.
| Tailgate pad | Preview | Bike Capacity | Rack style | Color | Material | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demon tailgate pad | 5 | Tailgate-mounted | Black along with reflective logo | Mostly heavy-duty vinyl; ¾” foam | Web-cinch and Velcro straps | |
| Dakine tailgate pad | 5 to 7 | Tailgate-mounted | Black or Lava tubes | Durable UV resistant 600D polyester, Soft fleece backing | 2-straps securing pad to tailgate | |
| Yakima gatekeeper | 6 | Tailgate-mounted | Black | Rugged nylon | Velcro straps | |
| Dakine pickup pad | 5 to 7 | Tailgate-mounted | Black or field camo | 1000D Polyester with UV/weather-resistant coating | 5 to 7 straps | |
| RaceFace tailgate pad | 6 | Tailgate-mounted | Black or In-ferno | 600D + PVC | Hook and ladder style buckles, Velcro straps | |
| Evoc Tailgate Pad | 6 | Tailgate-mounted | Black or olive camo | Tarpaulin, EVA | Metal hooks | |
| Thule GateMate PRO | 6 | Tailgate-mounted | Black | Nylon | Tailgate pad and extra padding | |
| Thule GateMate | 6 | Tailgate-mounted | Reflective-logo within black-pad | Heavy-duty vinyl | Tailgate pad and extra padding | |
| Allen Sports Deluxe | 2 | Trunk-mount mast style | Black/Silver | Steel rims | Unavailable | |
| Tyger Auto TG | 3 | Trunk-mount mast style | Black | Solid molded plastic/polymer | Available |
1. Demon tailgate pad: Sturdy and fits well. Best for carrying MTB | Our Editor’s Choice
- Easy to install: Yes
- Bike Holding Capacity: 5
- Security: Web-cinch and Velcro straps
- Color: Black along with reflective logo
- Type of Mounting: Tailgate-mounted
- Material: Mostly heavy-duty vinyl; ¾” foam
- Dimension(inch): S:(54” wide), L:(62” wide)
- Additional feature: Pockets for trail-gear, individual straps for holding bikes, tailgate handle access flap, web cinch, and Velcro straps
Features & Considerations:
- Size: You’d be able to purchase this pad in two different variants. The small one, coming in at 54″. Whereas; the larger one is 62 “. However; make sure you measure your tailgate properly before you buy a pad for your truck.
- Color: The Demon tailgate pad is available in black color with a reflective logo of the brand in the center of the pad. Thus; this would aid in providing visibility in low lights.
- Straps: Web cinch secure straps would help in securing your pad firmly into your truck’s tailgate. Moreover; the Velcro bike frame holders ensure that your bike is safely in place.
- Pockets: There area tool pocket in place. Thus; this means, you can easily store your bike’s tool inside this pocket. So, you won’t have to worry about an additional storage facility.
- Material: Constructed from 3/4” foam pad along with a heavy-duty vinyl cover on the outside. So, this is done to protect both your bikes and truck’s tailgate when you’re navigating around.
- Ease of installation: It would be very easy for you to install this in your truck’s tailgate. Rather; it’d fit perfectly on the rear of your truck.
- Types of bike: This pad is capable of housing a total of 5 bikes. Moreover; you can easily store your mountain bikes or everyday bikes that you use for commuting.
Some drawbacks:
- Fit differently on trucks of different models: While you go for buying a Demon tailgate pad, make sure you take measurements properly. Since there were times when pad did you fit properly either on your compact smaller sized trucks or trucks of bigger sizes.
The Demon tailgate pad has 3/4″ foam padding covered by durable vinyl. Also; it has soft backing to keep your paint job from getting damaged. Moreover; the Velcro pockets are very helpful for storing your bike’s tools. There is a handy flap that opens up for your tailgate handle. Therefore; you can easily open the tailgate when the pad is installed to your truck. Lastly; the flap has a Velcro seal, which remains closed when you are not using your tailgate handle. Additionally; this pad has a reflective logo on the back of the pad which would offer you enhanced safety while hauling your bikes.
Demon tailgate pad
The video shared below would give you a demonstration of the Demon tailgate pad.
2. Dakine tailgate pad: Compatible with surfboards. Fits well and robust | Our Value Choice
- Easy to install: Yes
- Dimension(inch): 28″ wide
- Shipping Weight(lbs): 1.5
- Bike Holding Capacity: 5 to 7
- Color: Black or Lava tubes
- Type of Mounting: Tailgate-mounted
- Security: 2-straps securing pad to tailgate
- Material: Durable UV resistant 600D polyester, Soft fleece backing
- Additional feature: Surfboard compatible, larger design for multiple long-boards, soft fleece backing, contoured raised foam with padded flaps
Features & Considerations:
- Design & material: This can buy this bike pad in two different colors, black and lava tubes, with the Dakine logo in the center. Moreover; the surface is constructed from long-lasting UV resistant 600D polyester.
- Security: The pad has contoured raised foam along with padded flaps, which fits a wide variety of your tailgate shapes. Additionally; the two built-in straps help in securing your pad to the tailgate.
- Surfboards: Dakine built this pad, to help in protecting your surfboards while you transport them in your pickup bed. Also; the large design means, you can easily transport multiple longboards or a single SUP board. Lastly; it can fit two of your SUPs easily.
- Dimension: This pad has a width of 28″. Whereas; the board straps that come along are 98″.
- Warranty: Dakine tailgate surf pad comes with a limited warranty of two years.
Some drawbacks:
- Positioning: The pad at times tends to roll slightly out of position from the apex of tailgate while you mount it to your truck’s tailgate.
The Dakine Tailgate surfboard would help you in carrying your surfboards while you are driving from your source to your designated destination. Moreover; this bike pad is 28″ wide. Hence; it is capable of supporting even the sturdiest tailgates. Additionally; the significant length of the board means, the built-in straps can hold your SUP boards, with ease. Besides; if you plan to stack up two nose-riders, one on top of one another, then that would not be too much of a problem either.
Furthermore; this pad has contoured raised foam, along with wadded flaps. This is specially designed to caress over your truck’s tailgate and ensure that it remains in place. The built-in top cam straps help in keeping your boards centered perfectly on the foam. In the meantime; the soft fleece makes sure that your transportation’s paint isn’t scrapped off.
Dakine tailgate pad
3. Yakima gatekeeper: Easy installation, secure, and rear-camera visibility. Finest for transporting carbon fiber bikes | Our Premium Choice
- Color: Black
- Easy to install: Yes
- Item Weight(lbs): 6
- Security: Velcro straps
- Material: Rugged nylon
- Type of Mounting: Tailgate-mounted
- Bike Holding Capacity: M: 5, L: 6
- Dimension(inch): M (53.2 x 17.2 x 5.2), L (62.2 x 5.2 x 20.2)
- Additional feature: Smart design, long-lasting, easy-installation
Features & Considerations:
- Security: SightTight cradles ensures that your bikes remain protected at all times. So, that it isn’t shifted from side to side or sliding away, to prevent your bikes from coming into contact with each other.
- Velcro-cradles: Velcro crib-closure system means, it is kind to your carbon bike’s frames and paints job. Moreover; the integrated straps ensure your truck pad is held tight and securely in position.
- Durability: The robust nylon outer material of the pad means, it is resistant to abrasion or atrocious weather conditions, Therefore; if you plan on traveling long distances then this pad has got you back. Moreover; the super-soft texture aids in protecting your truck’s paint job.
- Smart-design: Its clever design means the rear-sight cover moves out of the way to ensure your rear back-up camera has visibility.
- Type of bikes: It can hold securely and carry a total of 6 of your bikes. Moreover; this can easily hold your mountain bikes, regular everyday commuting bikes as well as kid’s and ladies’ bikes, securely.
- Ease of installation: The Gatekeeper is an easy to use and easy to install pad for your truck’s tailgate. Thus; all you need to do is attach it to your truck’s tailgate, secure it by strapping it up firmly. Lastly; it is compatible with most of the full-sized trucks out there.
Some drawbacks:
- Expensive: The Yakima Gatekeeper is on the high-end price range. Although; if you’re looking for something premium, there aren’t many bike pads that are better than this out there.
In purchasing the Yakima Gatekeeper, you’d be getting yourself a bike tailgate pad that is very durable and functions superbly. Moreover; this secures itself to your truck’s bed using it’s nylon straps and ladder hooks. Additionally; it nylon fabric texture means, it will be able to withstand the scorching sunlight, the heavy rain, and can haul your bikes securely throughout numerous road trips. Furthermore; on its backside microfleece liner ensures your tailgate is kept safe from at forms of potential damage.
This pad comes with built-in Velcro straps. Also; the cushioned cradles means they assist in holding your bike, securely in place, as you navigate. Lastly; the latch flap is large enough and easily moves away to aid you in using the back-up rear cameras. So; if you’re on the lookout for a bike pad for your truck’s tailgate, at a premium price, and having all the features that you can ask for, then look no further.
Yakima gatekeeper
We have shared below, a video that would help to gain a better understanding of Yakima gatekeeper as a whole.
4. Dakine DLX pickup pad: Best for carrying MTB. Easy installation and removal
- Easy to install: Yes
- Security: 5 to 7 straps
- Color: Black or field camo
- Type of Mounting: Tailgate-mounted
- Bike Holding Capacity: S: 5, L: 7
- Material: 1000D Polyester with UV/weather-resistant coating
- Dimension(inch): S (54″ wide, 33″ deep), L (62” wide, 33″ deep)
- Additional feature: Mountain bike compatible, rear-lift gate access, micro-fleece lining, 4 webbing cinch straps
Features & Considerations:
- Security: Dakine has built individual anchoring straps for firmly holding your bike in position. Also; there are built-in web-cinch straps, within this pad.
- Material: This is constructed from 1000D polyester, having a weather-resistant coating. Also; this material is very durable, hence, you won’t have to worry about its longevity.
- Built-quality: The 100-dernier fabric is very long-lasting and is coated with a durable-coating, thus; this provides resistance from weather and UV light damage.
- Compatibility: This pad will be compatible with your large full-sized trucks as well as medium-sized trucks.
- Types of bikes: You can hold bikes having carbon or aluminum frames. Also; if you pick the smaller variant, then a total of 5 bikes can be stored. Whereas; for the larger variant you can get to store a total of 7 bikes. Moreover; this pad specializes in carrying your mountain bikes.
- Ease of installation: You would not have to go through a very gruesome process while installing the pad into your truck. Hence; the whole process is very simple.
Some drawbacks:
- Size issues: While purchasing the pad, make sure you get the size right. Hence, you must measure the length and width of your truck’s tailgate and choose the pad accordingly.
The Dakine DLX pick-up pad is specially designed to provide you with a storage solution for transporting your mountain bikes. Moreover; this rack allows you fast and secure hauling of a total of 7 bikes, for there larger, full-sized truck pad and 5 bikes, for a smaller, mid-sized truck pad. Also; for securing each bike, individual bike anchoring straps are used. Additionally; the pad is made from fleece-lined, thick twin-density foam. Thus; this helps in creating a secure and protective medium between your bike and the tailgate. Besides; the big hook straps would anchor your bike very securely to your pick-up truck. Lastly; because of the tailgate handle flaps, you’d easily able to access the full functionality of your truck’s tailgate.
Dakine DLX pickup pad
5. RaceFace Tailgate Pad: Top features. Secure and extra-padding
- Easy to install: Yes
- Material: 600D + PVC
- Color: Inky or Inferno
- Bike Holding Capacity: 6
- Type of Mounting: Mounted-on-tailgate
- Dimension(inch): S/M (57” wide), L (61” wide)
- Security: Hook and ladder style buckles, Velcro straps
- Additional feature: Water repellant, micro-brushed liner, raised pads, Velcro webbing loop, and strap system.
Features & Considerations:
- Security: This pad uses hook and ladder style buckles to secure itself to your truck. Moreover; this has Velcro straps as well as molded foam bumpers to hold bikes in position.
- Construction: The outer lining of this pad is built from 600D + PVC with DWR treatment, whereas; the inner lining micro-brushed has been used.
- Attachment: Race Face‘s pad will be connected to your truck’s tailgate using three nylon straps. Moreover; each of these doubled through a plastic ring. Also; there is an opening within the pad that would help you to access the handle of your truck’s tailgate.
- Bike retention: It has raised bumpers, facing the truck bed. So, these bumpers would do an outstanding job holding your bikes in position. Also; there are individual straps installed within the pad to secure each of your bike’s downtube.
- Types of bikes: You can hold a total of 6 bikes. So; you can easily include adult mountain bikes and conventional bikes.
- Inner material: There is an interior micro-brushed lining which is very soft. Moreover; even after heavy usage, you won’t have abrasive damage to your truck’s tailgate paint.
- Outer material and wadding: Outer layer of the pad is constructed from 600D Cordura with a DWR treatment. So, this pad is resistant to rainwater and is very suitable for atrocious weather conditions. Also; this pad is cut-resistant. Moreover; this pad is sufficiently wadded for your usage.
Some drawbacks:
- Design: The straps are only attached to the pad via the velcro thus these are prone to easily be lost while you are driving.
The Race Face tailgate is one of the most widely used, mountain bike compatible tailgate pads you’ll find there. So; this pad has a built-in hook and ladder styled leashes to secure this pad to your truck. Moreover; it also contains Velcro straps and there are well-mounded foam-bumpers, this helps in holding your bike in position.
Thus; this system works admirably well. Additionally; the smaller variant also has molded foam blocks on the outside of the pad, hence this helps in securing your bikes’ forks. Although; if you pick the larger model of this pad, then you won’t be able to avail of this feature.
RaceFace Tailgate Pad
6. EVOC Tailgate Pad: Best for ease of attachment and removal. Padded for tailgate protection
- Easy to install: Yes
- Security: Metal hooks
- Color: Black or olive camo
- Material: Tarpaulin, EVA
- Bike Holding Capacity: 6
- Type of Mounting: Mounted-in-tailgate
- Dimension(inch): M: 53.15 x 33.08 x 1 XL: 63.4 x 38.98 x 1
- Additional feature: Polyurethane coating, molded foam separators, padded pickup tailgate protection, quick access to tailgate release handle, fold-away flap for the rear camera
Features & Considerations:
- Material: EVOC Tailgate Pad is admirably well constructed and features a 600D tarpaulin finish. Moreover; the inside of the pad uses a microfleece liner to help protect your tailgate.
- Fold-able: When you are not using the pad, you can easily get to fold it for easy storage, this process of folding the pad is way easier if you compare this with other brands of pads.
- Metal hooks: For securing the pad to your truck securely, metal hooks are used. Therefore; if compared with other pads. This works more effectively.
- Types of bikes: EVOC would outstandingly well with your mountain bikes. Moreover; it can hold a total of 6 of your bikes at a time.
- Wide area pad: So, the wide-area pad means, you won’t have to worry about the pad moving out of position while it is holding your bikes.
- Loading & accessing bikes: This pad is designed in a way so that it’s very easy for you to load, access, and unload your bikes.
Some drawbacks:
- Interior finish: If you look very closely, you’d find that the pain job for this pad isn’t perfect. Although; this should not be a deciding factor while purchasing the pad.
EVOC tailgate pad would efficiently carry out the task of protecting your bike. Moreover; one very helpful feature of this pad is, it’d be very easy for you to load, access, and unload your bikes. Also; on top of the pad, there are molded foams. So, this helps in keeping your bikes separated, hence, you don’t have to worry about them, coming into contact with each other, while you navigate through rough terrains. Provided that you own a truck, which has a shallow bed, thus; in this sort of scenario, your bikes can flop around and get displaced when placed on the pad.
The EVOC would bee held to your truck’s tailgate using three retaining straps. Additionally; these straps are secured and firmly tightened using conventional ways. Although; most of the EVOC pads you’ll find out there, uses a metal tightening adjuster. Lastly; while this pad is connected to your truck, you won’t have to worry about it sliding from side to side, as is the case for some other bike pads.
EVOC Tailgate Pad
