Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives tailgate capacity

What do you consider a maximum load for a standard pickup tailgate? I have an '08 Dodge 2500. I've rolled my Polaris RZR across it many times. Since it's rear engine, I'm estimating the rear axle to weigh 6 to 700lb loaded. The tires just roll across. They're on the bed for hauling.
There are lots of 'opinions' on the web but no hard facts that I can find. I did see that the gate will fail long before the cables will break. I know the gate hinges aren't the strongest looking things on a truck.

Well, according to a guy in the internet, this is what ram says when they contacted them directly…


Thank you for contacting the RAM Customer Assistance Center.

According to available information, when the vehicle is stationary, the
tailgate weight capacity is 300 lbs. and when the vehicle is in motion
the tailgate weight capacity is 150 lbs.

Thanks again for your email.

I read that one. That's like 2 smaller guys sitting on the tailgate.

Or one bigger guy…

All I know is I folded one when I put the back half of a 1 ton tote with fish on one, trying to push it in with a skid steer.

That was a bit of a mess.

My generator is 187 pounds, dry. With fuel and oil, it has to be pushing 200. I have set the generator, two 5 gallon cans of fuel (about 80 pounds, and myself (another 185) on mine with no ill effects. While it stood up to this weight just fine, it did not stand up to rolling into the gooseneck trailer when I didn't raise it enough! GD