5 Best Tailgate Bike Pads For Your Truck in 2023

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Are you tired of throwing your bike in the back of your pickup truck and hoping for the best? Frustrated with scrapes and dings from not having proper padding while you bounce down dirt roads? Enter tailgate bike pads!

Mountain bike tailgate pads are the perfect solution for riders who have an open-bed truck and want a quick, easy way to transport their precious cargo to and from the trailhead. They’re efficient, secure, and can carry up to six (or more) bikes – making them excellent for shuttle parties.

My brother and friends have been using tailgate pads for years (sadly I don’t own a truck), and they are a favorite among many riders.

But with so many options out there, it can be hard to know which tailgate pad is the best fit for you. In this post, I’ve put together the best mountain bike tailgate pads for trucks based on reviews and personal experience. Let’s dive in!

Pros & Cons of using a tailgate Bike pad

If you’re trying to decide whether a tailgate bike pad is the best option for you, here are a few pros and cons.

Note that the drawbacks of using a mountain bike tailgate pad typically come down to user error, so don’t let these cons dissuade you from getting one.

If you do your due diligence by installing the pad correctly and loading your bikes securely, these drawbacks can easily be avoided.

Can’t I just use a blanket or piece of foam?

Technically, yes, you can. Some mountain bikers do make their own tailgate bike pads out of old blankets or pieces of foam, but I don’t recommend it unless you’re just driving a short distance to and from the trailhead (and even then it’s risky!).

DIY tailgate pads aren’t as secure or padded as professionally designed and manufactured ones, so there’s a much greater risk of your bike or truck being damaged.

The Dakine Pickup Pad is one of the most popular tailgate bike pads out there because it’s simple, no frills, and effective.

It’s made from tough and durable recycled polyester and has a good amount of padding across the top to protect your down tube from getting damaged.

If you’re worried about theft, there is a built-in security grommet in the top corner that allows you to secure bikes with a cable lock.

The Dakine Pickup Pad comes in two sizes: the large can fit 7 bikes on larger trucks and the small can fit 5 bikes on smaller trucks.

My brother has been using the Dakine tailgate pad for years and it’s still going strong!

It’s important to note that this pad is not backup camera compatible. If you need a backup camera cutout, check out the Dakine Pickup Pad DLX.

Another popular tailgate bike pad option is the Fox Tailgate Cover. This pad has velcro frame anchor straps for securing bikes on bumpy rides and long switchbacked shuttles and it’s made from durable material.

This new version has more padding than previous models, which is great to see, making it pretty on par with the Dakine Pickup Pad above. It kinda boils down to which brand you prefer.

The Fox Tailgate Cover comes in two sizes: the small can accommodate mid-sized trucks and five bikes while the large fits well on most full-sized pickups and can carry six bikes.

The Race Face T2 Tailgate Pad is designed to fit any truck tailgate size and shape. This updated pad has enhanced padding and individual hook-and-loop frame anchor straps to keep your bikes secure on bumpy roads and windy days.

It’s one of the burliest tailgate bike pads out there.

The Race Face T2 also comes with a micro-brushed lining to help protect your tailgate and the adjustable rear camera panel works with most backup cameras.

The small T2 Pad can fit up to 5 bikes comfortably and the large can fit 6 bikes with little risk of them bumping against each other.

Evoc is known for designing and manufacturing top-notch mountain bike gear and their Evoc Tailgate Pad is no exception.

This pad has a 1-inch layer of EVA foam to protect bike frames from getting damaged and the outer layer is made from 600D Tarpaulin, which is super durable.

If you plan on putting your tailgate bike pad through lots of use and abuse, this could be a great option.

The Evoc Tailgate Pad also comes with hook-and-loop straps to keep bikes snug and secure and the large fold-away flap is compatible with most backup cameras.

Both the M/L and XL pads can accommodate 6 bikes.

If you don’t need to shuttle a half dozen bikes, the Evoc Duo may be a great choice for you. This tailgate bike pad is essentially the same as the full Evoc Tailgate Pad above, but it’s designed to haul just one or two bikes instead of six, making it an affordable and convenient choice.

If you’re planning on traveling afar with your mountain bikes, this tailgate pad can be folded up and stashed in your luggage or bike bag so that you’re ready to roll in your rental truck upon arrival.

Tailgate Bike Pad Features & Considerations

When shopping around for the best tailgate pad for you, your bikes, and your truck, here are a few features to consider before buying:

Backup camera compatibility

Most tailgate pads now come with some sort of backup camera compatibility window, but that’s not to say it will line up perfectly with your truck’s camera or sensors.

If this is an important feature for you, it’s a good idea to do more research on your truck’s compatibility or contact the dealer to make sure the cutout will be aligned with your truck’s backup camera.

Padding & lining

Depending on how rowdy you plan on getting with your bike shuttles, tailgate padding is another consideration. If you’ll be doing a lot of rough dirt road driving with lots of washboards and potholes, you may want to invest in a burlier tailgate pad like the Race Face T2.

On the flip side, if you’re just going to drive on smooth or paved roads you could get away with a less padded option like the Fox Tailgate Cover.

How many bikes do you want to haul?

Lastly, think about how many bikes you’ll need to haul. If you only need room for 1-2 bikes, a half pad could be a perfect choice.

If you are going to shuttle lots of your mountain biking friends or groms, then a large tailgate bike pad that can accommodate 5-6 bikes will be a better option.

Final thoughts

Tailgate bike pads are a fast and convenient way to transport your mountain bike(s) to and from the trailhead if you own a truck.

They can be left on throughout the season, but easily removed if it’s in the way.

Personally, I think tailgate bike pads are the way to go if you drive a pickup!

Do you already have a tailgate bike pad? Which one and what are your thoughts on it? What other questions do you have about mtb tailgate pads? Leave a comment below!