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Bike transport - tailgating with a truck canopy?

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Bike transport - tailgating with a truck canopy?

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flag gwandsh
Posted: Mar 6, 2018 at 10:16 Quote
I want to try using a tailgate pad to transport (2) mtbs, using my F150. I have a canopy on the truck, which needs to stay.
Anybody tried using tailgate transport with a canopy in place? Aside from the obvious PITA of getting the bike through the open canopy window, any other gotchas?
Tnx
flag Will1848
Posted: Mar 7, 2018 at 5:18 Quote
gwandsh wrote:
I want to try using a tailgate pad to transport (2) mtbs, using my F150. I have a canopy on the truck, which needs to stay.
Anybody tried using tailgate transport with a canopy in place? Aside from the obvious PITA of getting the bike through the open canopy window, any other gotchas?
Tnx

By canopy you mean like a full camper shell, right?

I've seen Taco's doing what you're describing. Only issue would be making sure the bars and stem aren't hitting the opening to the window. I'd throw your bikes on the tailgate with a rug or moving blanket and see if it clears. If it clears with plenty of room then you're probably fine with the full pad.
flag DugS
Posted: Mar 7, 2018 at 9:07 Quote
I have sometimes left my canopy on the back of my truck and used my tailgate pad for carrying bikes with no issues.

Just keep in mind if you plan to carry more than 3 bikes it starts to get tricky because of the small opening that you have to load through. Any time that I had 3 or more bikes on my tailgate pad with the canopy on, I found that loading the bikes in with the tailgate open worked best. Then when you want to close the tailgate with those bikes resting on it, have your buddies help lift the tailgate and stabilize the bikes as you close it.

You will also want to make sure that the gas struts for the back window still support it or else make a brace to hold the window from bouncing downwards so that it does not hit and smash against the bikes.
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