I am considering getting a Maverick to haul my motorcycles, but with my larger bike, one of the tires would sit entirely on the tailgate. Is this safe?
My Z900 weighs 450 pounds with a full tank, and the distance from the front wheel to the center of the rear wheel’s contact patch is about 70 inches. This would put roughly 225 pounds on the tailgate. The bike is slightly front-heavy, but only by a few percent.
I am confident the tailgate can handle 225 pounds, but I am concerned about the difference between 225 pounds static versus that weight going over bumps and being strapped down tight.
I really don’t like driving larger trucks, so I would prefer the Maverick if it can handle the job. Apologies if this is a silly question. I am not very experienced with hauling things in trucks.
I placed a 1,500 lb electric pallet jack on mine, with the battery and drive wheel resting over the tailgate (22 Lariat). Your 500 lb bike will be just fine.
I mounted three KTM 500s to the rear gate. This truck is fantastic, I bought it only for dirtbikes. Easy to load and low to the ground. They even produce a kit for lowering. I am incredibly happy. It has been mine for a year.
It was a key factor in my decision between this and the F-150. I searched for Maverick hauls motorcycles and dirt bikes on YouTube, and that sold me. I got the tow package, the Rhino liner, and added a cheap Amazon bed liner on top just to protect the bottom of the bed from the kickstands. I also installed the track system for tie-downs, which comes with one tie-down point on each track, and I added a cleat to each track, giving me four in total. I can fit three full-size dirt bikes, but it’s definitely a tight squeeze.
I love my Maverick and use it for my dual sport, but when I need to transport any of my larger bikes, I rent a U-Haul motorcycle trailer. At $15 a day, it’s convenient, and I don’t have to worry about storing it when I’m not using it.
My hybrid had a motorcycle in the bed. It handled it nicely. Although it worked great for me twice, you might want to strengthen the metal strings securing the tailgate.
Indeed. I will investigate getting reinforcements, but if none are available, I will probably just get the longer-beded access cab Tacoma. Still, I would much rather be in the smaller maverick.