Will my Dodge Dakota tailgate support my Valkyrie while loading?

[Gryphon Rider]

I bought a 2002 Dakota club cab 4x4 last Saturday, and sold my 1981 GMC full-size pickup a day later. Can I load my Valk on the Dakota with an 8' ramp supported by the tailgate? I figure that once loaded, the centre of the back tire will be right at the end of the bed.

[Rams]

My experience has been with other versions but, it tells me that yes, it will support the weight of your Valkyrie.   What I do recommend would be to place a piece of plywood on the tailgate to spread the load out though.   I'd do that after the bike is loaded unless you want to bolt the plywood to the tailgate.   Or use one complete 8 foot sheet in the bed.  One would not want to have that plywood move while loading.

The tailgate will most likely hold the weight without the plywood but, if you can jack the rear of the bike up while it's in the bed, why not.   Once that tailgate gets bent, it won't be easy to straighten up.  Be sure to reverse the process before unloading.  

Edited:  One caution note, that front panel of the truck bed is most likely gonna get pushed forward/bent while loading or tying down.   I know this for a fact, don't ask how.  
I assume you'll back that Dakota into a ditch to load, beats using a steep ramp IMHO.   I'd rather use a tilt bed trailer.   You can use mine if you'll bring it back.   Just come get it. 

[Hook#3287]

The cables holding the tailgate will be the weak spot.

I've loaded my valk(s) into the back of my Dodge 3500 and unless I kitty-corner the front wheel, the gate will not shut.

PITA to do, so I load in straight and let the rear wheel sit on a piece of plywood, that holds the gate down after strapping the rear down.  It also spreads the weight out like Rams suggested.

I would never try to load a large motorcycle with a narrow ramp w/o 2 extra people.

If your planning on motoring up the ramp, you'll need to tie the ramp to the truck, so it won't get pushed off the truck bed, by the rear tire.

Years ago I built ramp out of 3/4 4'x8' sheet of plywood with 3 10' 2x6 rafters.  I would strap tie it to the truck so the plywood was just over the gate end, then add another 2'x4' plywood piece to the bottom.

It was a job to put it together and take apart, but I was able to stuff it under the rear tire when not in use.

It made loading alone a breese.

[Chrisj CMA]

The bed needs to be a minimum of 6.5 ft. Or the footprint of the rear wheel will be ON the tail gate and that is not ideal

[Hook#3287]

Jeff, did you mean 8.5 ft?

Ok, I see what your saying, front tire hitting the front truck wall, the rear wheel centers at about 6.5.

[Willow]

The question reminds me of an insurance advertisement that I see on television.  In the ad a young man holds op a tool toward his friend and asks, "Is this a lug wrench?"  His friend looks back ambiguously and replies, "Maybe."

With all the wisdom of the young man in the ad, I reply, "Maybe."

[Rams]

The question reminds me of an insurance advertisement that I see on television.  In the ad a young man holds op a tool toward his friend and asks, "Is this a lug wrench?"  His friend looks back ambiguously and replies, "Maybe."

With all the wisdom of the young man in the ad, I reply, "Maybe."

Hey, I offered to load the young man a tilt bed trailer.       

[Chrisj CMA]

Jeff, did you mean 8.5 ft?

Ok, I see what your saying, front tire hitting the front truck wall, the rear wheel centers at about 6.5.

Ya I load my Valkyrie in my F-150 with a 6.5' bed.  I do span the gap between the bed and the gate with a solid plywood bridge but the tire rests mostly on the bed but very near the joint.  Most Crew cabs have a 5.5' bed and that would put the rear tire squarely on the tail gate and not ideal as you hit bumps in the road.

[Gryphon Rider]

I'd rather use a tilt bed trailer.   You can use mine if you'll bring it back.   Just come get it. 

My new truck doesn't have a hitch. I'll just ask you to come get me and my bike.  

[Gryphon Rider]

I haven't measured, but published specs are 77" (6'5") bed.

[Rams]

I'd rather use a tilt bed trailer.   You can use mine if you'll bring it back.   Just come get it.  

My new truck doesn't have a hitch. I'll just ask you to come get me and my bike.  

No hitch?   I can't remember ever seeing a pick up with out a hitch.   Are you sure it's a pick up?

Gosh, thought I was being helpful.....

In that I do this kind of thing to make an extra buck or two now and then, I'd be happy to come get the bike and take it where ever.   Reference you ridng along, I don't mind but, you're gonna have to convince Bowser to let you in.    Just so that I can give you the "required" estimate, just how far did you need this bike transported?    Pretty sure I'll need to adjust the cost per mile on this one.  

[Moonshot_1]

I bought a 2002 Dakota club cab 4x4 last Saturday, and sold my 1981 GMC full-size pickup a day later. Can I load my Valk on the Dakota with an 8' ramp supported by the tailgate? I figure that once loaded, the centre of the back tire will be right at the end of the bed.

Put a hitch on the truck. Go rent a U-haul trailer. 6x12 utility trailer is about $35 a day. That is in your neck of the woods too. Might be a bit of a hassle but less of a hassle than picking bike parts off the ground after a swan dive into the driveway.

You aren't going to need to trailer the bike around too often so I'd just rent one as needed.

[Hook#3287]

I bought a 2002 Dakota club cab 4x4 last Saturday, and sold my 1981 GMC full-size pickup a day later. Can I load my Valk on the Dakota with an 8' ramp supported by the tailgate? I figure that once loaded, the centre of the back tire will be right at the end of the bed.

Put a hitch on the truck. Go rent a U-haul trailer. 6x12 utility trailer is about $35 a day. That is in your neck of the woods too. Might be a bit of a hassle but less of a hassle than picking bike parts off the ground after a swan dive into the driveway.

You aren't going to need to trailer the bike around too often so I'd just rent one as needed.

That's a good idea, those galvi bike trailer U-haul rents are sweet.

[Chrisj CMA]

I don't tote my bike around in the back of the truck very often, but when I need to I'd rather have it in the truck than in a trailer.  That's just me

[Alberta Patriot]

You could build something like this out of 3/4" plywood with angle iron to strengthen the sides over the tailgate or this trailer from Lowes:

[Rams]

I don't tote my bike around in the back of the truck very often, but when I need to I'd rather have it in the truck than in a trailer.  That's just me

Personal choice I guess.   Just the difference in height makes me lean toward the trailer and the fact that mine is a tilt version makes it no contest for me.   But, YMMV.   

[Hook#3287]

I don't tote my bike around in the back of the truck very often, but when I need to I'd rather have it in the truck than in a trailer.  That's just me

Personal choice I guess.   Just the difference in height makes me lean toward the trailer and the fact that mine is a tilt version makes it no contest for me.   But, YMMV.   

Back of the truck or trailer, both have their advantages and disadvantages. 

I have a 6x8 Big Tex with it's own gate/ramp, makes loading real easy.   But there's the extra maintenance, registration & insurance costs. 

Truck is already going to have the running costs, but loading and unloading is a challenge.

Six or one half dozen, I quess. 

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

Even with arched ramps, sometimes the bike bottoms out on the crest where the ramps meet the truck. As you can see in this video, it gets many people. Be careful. If it gets out of hand, get out of the way. The Valk ain't light.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcJxI4qqo1o

[Chrisj CMA]

Even with arched ramps, sometimes the bike bottoms out on the crest where the ramps meet the truck. As you can see in this video, it gets many people. Be careful. If it gets out of hand, get out of the way. The Valk ain't light.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcJxI4qqo1o

That dude with the arched ramps created his own problem. My bike never comes close to bottoming out. Just have to be smart with the set up. He was not that 

[cookiedough]

The bed needs to be a minimum of 6.5 ft. Or the footprint of the rear wheel will be ON the tail gate and that is not ideal

I agree, I think the dakota is 6 foot bed and that extra 6 inches being 6.5 feet would be best.  If 6 1/2 feet, then go for it and I would sit at least a 4x4 sheet of plywood over the rear tire covering rear tailgate 2 feet on tailgate and 2 feet inside bed so that would also angle the bike forward just a tad which the front tire would be pushing up against the front bed of truck.  Also would not hurt to buy two 70lb. bags of sand to put in the middle upfront of bed to STOP the front tire from smashing into the front of the trucks bed just resting VERY close to touching the front bed maybe 1 inch tops away.

As you already know,  4 straps will be needed 2 for front suspension and 2 for rear suspension one on each side.  Have two big 250lb. adults stand on your tailgate and bounce up and down to make sure the tailgate side straps do not break first would be a good thing to do. 

[Jess from VA]

This guy has it down.  I'm afraid with a Valk though, it might come out the windshield.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=965SL2iSSmw

[Jopson]

What I have is a wheel chock fastened to a length of 2x12, which I put right at the front of my truck bed, this stops the front of the box bending when you strap down.
Then find a nice ditch and a short wide homemade ramp and just ride on up into the bed. The ramp I made is wide enough for the bike and so that you can put both feet down also.
My truck has a 6.5ft bed and the rear tire sits exactly on the end of the bed, so then I made a wooden wedge that goes under the rear wheel of the bike, this stops the tailgate from bouncing up and down when you go over bumps.

[Rams]

OK, so now you've got all this good advice (maybe), what are you going to do?
 

[The emperor has no clothes]

OK, so now you've got all this good advice (maybe), what are you going to do?
 

He has been patiently waiting for you to arrive with your trailer. 

[Gryphon Rider]

OK, so now you've got all this good advice (maybe), what are you going to do?
 

He has been patiently waiting for you to arrive with your trailer. 

While there's been plenty of advice about how to strengthen a potentially weak tailgate, and a few suggestions to do something else (use a trailer), I didn't actually get an answer to my question. What I was hoping for were reports of someone either succeeding repeatedly at loading a heavy bike using a Dakota tailgate, or having a Dakota tailgate bend or otherwise fail when loading a motorcycle.

I don't have an immediate need to solve this problem; it would just be nice to know either way before it becomes urgent.

[Chrisj CMA]

OK, so now you've got all this good advice (maybe), what are you going to do?
 

He has been patiently waiting for you to arrive with your trailer. 

While there's been plenty of advice about how to strengthen a potentially weak tailgate, and a few suggestions to do something else (use a trailer), I didn't actually get an answer to my question. What I was hoping for were reports of someone either succeeding repeatedly at loading a heavy bike using a Dakota tailgate, or having a Dakota tailgate bend or otherwise fail when loading a motorcycle.

I don't have an immediate need to solve this problem; it would just be nice to know either way before it becomes urgent.

Here's what I would do.  Get a 2X12 board from the lumber yard.  Choose one that is smooth with few or no knots.  Cut it so it butts up to the cab and is long enough to reach exactly to the trailing edge of the tailgate when down. Secure the ramp on top of the board so the bike is always on the board when loading so the weight is spread out.  If the cables are not damaged they should hold fine