Best MTB Tailgate Pads for 2026: 6 Picks for Wasatch Shuttle Laps

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A Wasatch shuttle day lives or dies on the drive up. Getting four or five bikes to the top of the Wasatch Crest, or back down to Corner Canyon for another lap, without a scratched tailgate or a bike leaning on its neighbor, is where a good tailgate pad earns its money. A pad drapes over the tailgate, straps down, and lets each bike hang by its front wheel with the frame strapped to the pad.

Pick by truck first, then by bike count, then by the details that matter on your truck, like backup camera access and tonneau cover fit. Prices below are typical list prices and move with sales, so check the link before you buy.

How to pick a tailgate pad before you buy

Measure your tailgate, not just your truck badge

Tailgate width and height vary more than truck names suggest. As a rough guide, small and midsize pads suit midsize trucks and carry five bikes, while large and full size pads suit full size trucks and carry six or seven bikes, depending on the brand.

Check the camera, handle, and tonneau cover

Most modern pads include a flap or opening for the tailgate handle and backup camera. That only helps if the opening lines up with your truck. The RaceFace T3 is the standout here, with padding designed to fold away so many flat tonneau covers can close with the pad fitted.

Count bikes honestly, and check e-bike straps

Published capacity is a maximum, not a comfort rating. Five bikes fit far more happily than seven on a rough shuttle road, especially with wide handlebars and mixed wheel sizes. For e-bikes, confirm strap length fits thick downtubes before ordering.

Comparison table

The 6 best MTB tailgate pads for 2026

1. RaceFace T3 Tailgate Pad: Best overall

The T3 is the most adjustable pad in this group. Its straps move along the pad width, so you can space bikes to avoid contact. The headline feature is foldaway downtube padding, which swings out of the way so many flat tonneau covers can close and lock with the pad still fitted.

Pros: Movable straps for mixed bike sizes. Tonneau friendly foldaway padding. Strong fork placement on rough roads.

Cons: Premium price. Tonneau fit still depends on your specific cover and tailgate shape.

Check price on JensonUSA

2. Dakine Pickup Pad: Best classic value

Dakine invented this category, and the original Pickup Pad is still the value pick. The small size carries five bikes on midsize tailgates and the large carries seven on full size gates. Three cinch straps fasten it over the tailgate, a built in flap keeps the tailgate handle usable, and a security grommet lets you lock the pad to the truck with a cable lock. The black version uses tougher 1000D polyester, It is a simpler pad than the Universal below, with no dedicated camera cutout, so check handle and camera placement on your truck before ordering.

Pros: Proven simple design. Lowest price in this group. Lock grommet included.

Cons: No dedicated camera opening. Fit is best on traditional flat tailgates.

Check price on JensonUSA

3. Dakine Universal Pickup Pad: Best for modern trucks

The Universal is Dakine’s answer to current trucks, with sculpted gates, cameras, shells, and tonneau covers. It is built from 100 percent recycled 900D polyester with a UV coating, with soft EVA foam panels that protect fork stanchions and frames. A removable cover keeps the tailgate handle and backup camera reachable, and the pad is compatible with truck shells and tonneau covers that can still lock with the pad fitted. Four cinch straps with spring loaded cam locks hold it down, and individual anchor straps carry five bikes on small and seven on large. A PE board keeps its shape, and it is cable lock compatible.

Pros: Fits a wide range of current tailgates. Shell and tonneau compatible. Camera and handle cover included.

Cons: Premium price. More pad than a solo rider needs.

Check price on JensonUSA

4. Fox Shox Mission Tailgate Pad: Best for midsize trucks

Fox’s current tailgate pad shares the two panel, foldaway design of the RaceFace T3, and it is the Fox badged option for riders who want that adjustability. The midsize size carries five bikes and suits Tacoma, Ranger, Frontier, and Colorado style trucks, while the full size carries six and a 2 bike size covers solo trips. Foldaway downtube padding lets many flat tonneau covers close with the pad fitted,

Pros: Adjustable two panel fit. Tonneau friendly foldaway padding. Midsize size done right.

Cons: Premium price. Tonneau fit still depends on your specific cover and tailgate shape.

Check price on JensonUSA

5. Yakima GateKeeper: Best cradle system

Yakima takes a different approach to holding bikes still. The GateKeeper uses SitTight cradles, raised pads with G hook straps that cup the downtube, plus a vinyl coated nylon exterior and a soft felt inner lining to protect paint. The cradle system helps on washboard shuttle roads, where bikes otherwise walk sideways.

Pros: Cradles hold bikes steady on rough roads. Felt lining protects paint. Large camera and handle flap.

Cons: Straps can run short on some e-bike downtubes. No curved tailgate specific version.

Check price on Amazon

6. Dakine Pickup Pad Halfside: Best for solo riders

A full width pad is overkill if you almost always ride alone or with one friend. The Halfside covers just 29 inches of the tailgate, carries two bikes, and leaves the tailgate handle and backup camera exactly where the truck put them, with no flap to line up. It uses the same 1000D recycled polyester as the bigger Dakine pads, with two anchor straps and two cinch straps, and at well under a kilogram it goes on and comes off one handed. The trade: anything on the uncovered half of the gate is on paint.

Pros: Leaves handle and camera fully clear. Light and easy to store. Lowest price in this group.

Cons: Two bikes at most. Half the tailgate stays unprotected.

Check price on JensonUSA

Wasatch shuttle tips that save paint and frames

Load the heaviest bike first, closest to the cab side of the pad, and stagger bikes so a wide bar does not sit directly over a neighbor’s top tube. At the end of the day, shake dust out of the pad before folding it away.

For the rest of the kit, see our guides to full suspension mountain bikes, mountain bike lights for night riding, and dusty trail traction setup tweaks for the Wasatch.

Frequently asked questions

Will a tailgate pad scratch my truck?

Yes, if grit gets trapped between pad and gate. Choose a soft lining, keep it clean, and wash the pad after dusty weeks.

How many bikes can I really carry on a tailgate pad?

Use the published number as a maximum. Five bikes ride comfortably on most midsize pads, and six on most full size pads.

Do tailgate pads work with tonneau covers?

Some do. The RaceFace T3 is designed for it, with foldaway padding that lets many flat tonneau covers close, but fit depends on your cover.

Can I carry an e-bike on a tailgate pad?

Yes, if the straps fit your downtube. RaceFace, Dakine, and Yakima offer straps or extensions for thick e-bike frames, but measure first.

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