You could load the bike on a piece of plywood. That would take alot of pressure off of the tailgate. I'd use 3/4"+thick PT plywood not OSB crap or MDF as they won't help at all.

Why not buy a small cheap trailer? You can buy those small 4'x8' utility trailers from Home Depot or Tractor Supply for like $800. They have a gate and everything to just drive up onto.

Also, I would NOT use just a length of 2x10 to run your bike up on the truck. it's very hairy and not safe. Plan on dumping your bike if that's all you have. You need a quality set of folding ramps.
Also, the make bike carrier racks that pull your bike up onto the bed using your tailgate as the pivot point, so it's def strong enough to support just the *** end around town and briefly while your loading or unloading.

 

I think you could load a bike with a 2x10 or 2x12 with the ramp ends. But I would NOT ride it into the truck. I don't have a bike but I have used my ramps to load my snowblower, chipper shredder, and tractor in my truck.

I've seen those automatic bike loaders. They cost big $$$.

 

go for the aluminum loading ramps with the hinge in the center, the good thing about them is that that flex downward when you put weight on em so it cuts down on the angle some.

from what ive experienced, seems like the 1500 tailgates are some of the heaviest ive seen. my bosses f350 tailgate is alot lighter then my tailgate so i wouldnt worry about it. and +1 on loading from a slope, thatll cut down on the angle alot too. but if your only hauling the bike a couple times a year, like 1 or 2, a trailer aint worth it

 

ooookkkkk...... to end this topic.....one of the first mods i mad to my truck was replacing those tailgate cords with some more beefy ones. honestly took some needle nose liers and a screw driver and a trip to ace hardware to get the cords. i put one ones that are twice the size of the normal ones. and now im more worried about the bolts breaking than the cords. haha. and it only took a few min to install! haha. try that! about 10 bucks worth of cord and about 4 bucks of shrink wrap to protect the cord. haha. that sounds like a nice bike though man!!

 

i meant "pliers" not "liers" haha

 

Having just got laid off I put my toolbox (well over 800 pounds with tools) on the tailgate with a forklift in order to get it of the old shop. The back of the truck sunk, but the tailgate held without any problems. Getting the thing off when I got home however......

 

Thanks guys, I think I am gonna go look into aluminum loading ramps with the hinge in the center, like V Scapes stated. I just gotta make sure that it will hold the weight of the bike. I wont be hauling it all the time, (not even a couple times a year).

 

Here's what you need! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/7-5-A...spagenameZWDVW

I highly reccomend you have a helper. If your walking the bike up, it will be too heavy. if you are walking the bike up with the throttle(you being of the bike) The bike will get too high for you to reach real quick causing it to fall over. One person on each side until it gets too high to reach, then one person jumps up and the other stays down. That's what i would do anyways.

Big difference between a snowblower, lawn mower or anything that has the ability to stay in the upright position by itself. A bike is a whole nother story,not to mention weighs more than anything you listed. A 2x10 can bend in the middle from the weight making the angle harsher and also it can slide right off the tailgate unless you have cables bolted to it like the folding ramps have to hold it from sliding out.

If you have clearance on the bottom with a ramp like I showed you, i woul just drive it up nice and easy. No harsh throttle or the tire can spin or rip the ramp out from off the tailgate. Enough said.

 

Just be carefull loading it off level ground. I dont know if you have done it before but I have seen first hand what can happen when loading a cruiser in the back of a pickup. I was waiting for my buddies to show up and watched this guy try and load it into the back of his chevy. Just got it back, had some work done to her but not sure what but all i know is hes gonna have more work to be done. His buddy was there to spot him and catch him if he starts to tip well when he went up the ramp he slowed down to quick and just as his front tire touched the tailgate over he went. The opposite way from where his buddy was standing and the bike landed right on him. crushed his pelvis and broke 2 ribs and shattered his wrist. Not a pretty sight. the shop had a spot where they could have took the bike and just drove into the bed instead of up the ramps. if you have a spot like that use it. dont take the chance.

 

yea those are the ramps im talkin about dog, ive only used em twice with my commercial mower but they work well. they seem flimsy at first but are actually really strong.