Identical bike to mine. Love it. Why not just put the bike in the bed using tie downs to keep it in place.I'm trying to get out on the MTB 3-4 times a week this summer. After works rides / weekend adventures. Trying to decide which kinda bike rack solution to go with. Any frequent Mountain Bikers happy with their rack choice for the Maverick? 99% of the time will be 1 bike. Full Squish 29er. I do like the tailgate pad idea, cheap and easy, but long term damage to the tailgate paint seems inevitable with that route. Guess I could have the tailgate wrapped with PPF. Living with a hitch rack on all summer could be a pain as well. Any thoughts / reviews?
Bike photo for attention
I thought 5 bikes would fit but the riders..I decided to replace my F150 with a Maverick for my mountain biking vehicle. Loaded up 5 bikes on the raceface tailgate pad. Bikes fit fine in the bed and the riders had no complaints in the cab. Obviously it isn't as spacious as the F150, but it worked fine.
To answer the OP, I absolutely love the simplicity of using a tailgate pad.
did everyone have their helmet and gloves in their lap? 
My stuff was all under the back seat. A couple had their stuff with them in the cab and a couple in bags in the back.I thought 5 bikes would fit but the riders..
Sean: I am sure that you have figured out which Way to go by now since your first post was in May. But my answer in arrears for you is to simply get a tailgate pad. It literally takes you 10 seconds to throw your bike in and strap it on in a way you go no fuss no muss very inexpensive and it comes off real easy when you don’t need it..I'm trying to get out on the MTB 3-4 times a week this summer. After works rides / weekend adventures. Trying to decide which kinda bike rack solution to go with. Any frequent Mountain Bikers happy with their rack choice for the Maverick? 99% of the time will be 1 bike. Full Squish 29er. I do like the tailgate pad idea, cheap and easy, but long term damage to the tailgate paint seems inevitable with that route. Guess I could have the tailgate wrapped with PPF. Living with a hitch rack on all summer could be a pain as well. Any thoughts / reviews?
Bike photo for attention
I would definitely switch to a tailgate pad. There's no security in what you have, and removing the front wheel and reinstalling is a nuisance. but the biggest issue by far is the tailgate down with what appears to be little to no load on it. I wouldn't want the tailgate to bounce around and you lose your backup camera. With a tailgate pad if you only have 2 bikes you can position them on the 1st & last positions and point the wheels out so you have a nearly-normal rear view.I did the Ford DIY mount, fork cleats mounted to a 2X6. It was $45 all in. It works well, but I am thinking tailgate mat. Taking the front off and on isn't a big deal, but...
And regarding the security when I throw my bike in over the tailgate that I leave up in place on my tailgate pad, I simply have a very thick padlock with a combination cable that I run through my back tire so no one bike jacks me when I stop at a light somewhere, and it provides extra security in an accident the bike doesn’t fly off
Oh yeah been rockin’ a raceface pad, works perfect.
Exactly what I have …it is the singlestack, good for holding 2 bikes!
looks like it rubs against the fork stanchion, wonder if it would scratch it over time or the padding is soft enough?This 1up is like 4 years old and still looks and works like new
I also have a single 1up (new version) since I decided to go with a bedcover
I had a Raceface pad on my XLT Maverick for 6 months and did zero damage to the paint (Area 51) never got around to putting PPF on it
Both options work great for a single bike
every fork lays on all tailgate pads just like that, and I have never noticed any scratching.
