Sled hauling bent tailgate

Anyone else hauling a sled in their bed figured out how to keep from bending the tailgate when loading? I have a trailer I usually use but with spring riding I’ve been putting it in my bed so it’s easier to get up the roads. And now I’m getting a curved tailgate


Hoping to flatbed it soon so won’t have to worry about this much longer

 

I use a piece of 5/8” plywood cut the size of my tailgate, plus enough to cover the gap to the bed. That edge is screwed to a length of 2x2, which drops into the gap, so the sled holds the plywood securely in place.

The rear edge of the plywood is also notched so my aluminum tri-fold ramp sits down in it, so no issues with the carbides catching when unloading, and sliding the ramp under / out from under the track is easier.

 

When I had a Crewmax and the mini bed, I would haul quite a bit with the tailgate down. I ran a sheet of plywwood the full length of the bed, out to the edge of the tailgate ( I believe it was a little over 7') for precisely this reason.
Replace the tailgate and use a sheet of plywood for future use. I'd find a way to secure the plywood to the bed, too, so the sled doesn't shoot it out of the bed.

 

That sounds like a pretty good idea. Do you have a picture of it?

and because threads are better with pictures here’s from loaded up last weekend, probably should up the icon leaf pack to “option 3” as I was rubbing my mudflats a lot

 

I like the simplicity, knowing myself I’d probably over do it and end up building it to the height of the wheel wells with storage underneath