Bike Hauling Options w/ Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover?

[EveryDayNick]

Just picked up an XLT, with the tri-fold Tonneau cover and no Hitch. Will be going for rides on the local trails and such 2-3 times a week with one bike guaranteed, sometimes two. Hard tail & Full-suspension depending on destination.

What are my options? Was considering a half-pad for the tailgate but assume it won’t close. I’ve seen the in-bed DIY solutions but with the tri-fold folded up I assume the front tire will hit/not clear?

Toss a hitch and go 1-up? Thoughts?

Sponsored

 

[skinnyboy]

In the summer the 1 Up never comes off my truck. Can't beat the convenience and versatility of that rack. I bought a tailgate pad, but not my thing, especially with the tri-fold.

In the winter, to try to minimize the salt on the bikes, they go in the bed. If it's only one it goes in diagonally, front wheel off, forks to the passenger side rear corner and rear tire up against the folded tonneau. Only takes one long 1" nylon strap between the front passenger side tie down hook and rear drop out to keep it really steady. Two bikes go on a rack made from old roof trays but the tailgate stays down.

Did this on a couple of road trips to keep the bikes away from prying eyes when we weren't riding. Large Banshee Titan and a L Trek Fuel Ex, tools and a backpack all under the tonneau. A pain to load, but way more secure than parking overnight with bikes on display and better on the highway and in bad weather.

Cheers.

 

[Noahma]

I purchased a set of Yakima low profile cross bars and a highroad bike rack. The cross bars are quick and easy to remove, usually takes about 10 min. I just fold up the tri-fold Tonneau cover, and the cross bars fit pretty darn well.

I went with he cross bars specifically to keep my high end road bike off the back of the truck to keep it from getting rear ended. I have a hitch rack that I can use to put my wife's or other bikes on the truck.

The image is my Gravel bike.

 

[Decayed]

If you have a hitch get a hitch rack.

 

[Speed2000]

My motorcycle fits with the trifold

 

[dcs12345]

Tailgate pad with front tire over the tailgate is what I plan on doing. Maybe it will fit with the last third of the cover down…or I’ll just have to fold it all the way

 

[jilted]

I pieced this 3 bike solution together with scrap wood, joist hangers, tie down anchors, and gear ties.

I already had made a cross piece for the back slot as a "grocery area" type divider and just built out the rest from there.

It's super quick to assemble/disassemble since the boards just sit in the joist hangers.

I do have a question... anybody come up with any good ideas to keep the tailgate from bouncing when you hit bumps?

thanks!

 

[Loneum]

'got a hard roll-up Tonneau cover and tried the bikes with it this weekend... These are 29-ers, one large size, one medium. We also have a One-up but it does make it hard to use the tailgate. This will work for our two bikes.... But if a third joins us will have to put the One-up on now.

 

[DeeZee]

'got a hard roll-up Tonneau cover and tried the bikes with it this weekend... These are 29-ers, one large size, one medium. We also have a One-up but it does make it hard to use the tailgate. This will work for our two bikes.... But if a third joins us will have to put the One-up on now.

Great post! Something to think about because I really like using a tailgate pad. Currently driving a 2002 Tacoma while I wait for my Maverick

 

[LM42]

Just picked up an XLT, with the tri-fold Tonneau cover and no Hitch. Will be going for rides on the local trails and such 2-3 times a week with one bike guaranteed, sometimes two. Hard tail & Full-suspension depending on destination.

What are my options? Was considering a half-pad for the tailgate but assume it won’t close. I’ve seen the in-bed DIY solutions but with the tri-fold folded up I assume the front tire will hit/not clear?

Toss a hitch and go 1-up? Thoughts?

I ended up taking my tri fold off. I have a hitch, so if I even need to put a bunch of stuff in the bed I can do that and then put a rack in the hitch. But for now 99% of the time I just use my Fox tailgate pad and carry my bike that way. It def does not fit with the tri fold in place.

 

[MavrickChris]

I pieced this 3 bike solution together with scrap wood, joist hangers, tie down anchors, and gear ties.

I already had made a cross piece for the back slot as a "grocery area" type divider and just built out the rest from there.

It's super quick to assemble/disassemble since the boards just sit in the joist hangers.

I do have a question... anybody come up with any good ideas to keep the tailgate from bouncing when you hit bumps?

thanks!

That’s a cool set up you built!

I’m considering getting a trifold cover like you have and wondering if other setups might work, like using a tailgate pad in order to fit as many as 5 bikes.

Happy trails!

 

[jilted]

That’s a cool set up you built!

I’m considering getting a trifold cover like you have and wondering if other setups might work, like using a tailgate pad in order to fit as many as 5 bikes.

Happy trails!

Thanks!

If you look up at Loneum's post I don't think 5 would fit unless you really did some squeezing. I picked up the cheap Walmart tailgate pad just to see how it would fit and it was much wider than the tailgate.

This was a fun build but at some point I'm going with a quikrstuff hitch rack.

Side note, part of me wishes I would have went with the Revolver x4s cover but I think the top material on this one will be better for the south Louisiana blistering summers.

 

[MavrickChris]

Nice. Thank you. Which cover do you have?

 

[Gadget Geek]

I pieced this 3 bike solution together with scrap wood, joist hangers, tie down anchors, and gear ties.

I already had made a cross piece for the back slot as a "grocery area" type divider and just built out the rest from there.

It's super quick to assemble/disassemble since the boards just sit in the joist hangers.

I do have a question... anybody come up with any good ideas to keep the tailgate from bouncing when you hit bumps?

thanks!

Love your bike rack. What are the dimensions of the lumber? 2x10?, 2x6? Looks like the inner boards are smaller

 

[jilted]

Thanks! It's getting me by until my quikrstuff one comes in.

The 'tire holder' boards are 2x6 with 2x6 joist hangers. I kinda wish I used 2x4 joist hangers to lift the 2x6's a little higher for more tire bite but it's not worth the trouble.

The bed slot boards are cut at 7" tall because it was scrap pieces that I already had. I think it was originally a 2x10 but with the bakflip rails, it was too tall to put in the slot so I had to rip it down.

Sponsored