If any of you went past your warranty period and are in need of a means to strengthen your tailgate before it bends, I am resurrecting a thread I posted way back when before Tonka came up with its strengthened tailgate from the factory.
I don't know just how much you can weigh it down using this mod but I can say I loaded a Honda VFR (550 LBS.) up a cycle ramp that hooked over the leading edge of the gate with no problems. I was on the sister ramp walking the bike up and that added another 150 LBS. to the mix.
Here is the link from the past post. http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170754&highlight=tailgate
You could use a square box beam in lieu of the 3/4" inch angle piece I used for even more strength.
I don't know just how much you can weigh it down using this mod but I can say I loaded a Honda VFR (550 LBS.) up a cycle ramp that hooked over the leading edge of the gate with no problems. I was on the sister ramp walking the bike up and that added another 150 LBS. to the mix.
Here is the link from the past post. http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170754&highlight=tailgate
You could use a square box beam in lieu of the 3/4" inch angle piece I used for even more strength.