We review the year’s best tailgate bike pads for your pickup truck from top brands like Race Face, Fox, Thule, Yakima, Dakine, and more
Author: Erik Nilson / Last Updated: December 22, 2024
Tailgate bike pads are quick and simple to use, can carry up to seven bikes at a time, and are relatively inexpensive. These traits make them the ideal choice for shuttle days with friends, family camping trips, or for riders who are on a budget. But with so many options on the market, finding the best tailgate bike pad for your needs can be overwhelming. Thankfully, we’ve been using tailgate pads for over 15 years and have tested the best (and worst). Whether you’re looking for the ultimate pad for shuttling, aiming to save money, or a solo rider who appreciates simplicity, there’s something for you below.
The Best Tailgate Bike Pads
- Best Tailgate Bike Pad: Fox Mission
- A Close Second: Dakine Universal
- Best Budget Tailgate Bike Pad: Demon Tailgate Pad
- Best Tailgate Bike Pad for Electric Bikes: Thule GateMate PRO
- Best 2-Bike Tailgate Bike Pad: Race Face T3 Half-Stack
- Best Single Tailgate Bike Pad: Bomber Strap
Looking for a regular bike rack for your pickup? See our guide to the year’s best bike racks.
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Best Tailgate Bike Pad
Fox Mission Tailgate Pad
Price: $130 – $259 MSRP
Sizes: Half-Size, Mid-Size, Full-Size
Bike Capacity: 2 – 6
Backup Camera Compatible: Yes
Pros:
– Features the thickest padding of any tailgate bike pad we’ve tested.
– Adjustable design fits thick, thin, and curved tailgates.
– Flip-up padding works with tonneau covers.
Cons
– One of the more expensive options.
– Given the modular design, installation is a bit more involved.
Why it’s Great
The Fox Mission and Race Face T3 (same pads, simply different logos) take top honors as the best overall tailgate bike pads on the market. What sets the Mission and T3 bike pads apart from the competition isn’t one single thing, but rather it’s the entire package.
These brand new tailgate pads from Fox and Race Face have a number of noteworthy features that make them our top pick, including exceptionally thick padding that protects both bikes and tailgates, as well as moveable downtube straps that easily adjust to different frame sizes and shapes. Also worth mentioning is its modular design, which after a quick flip of the padding, easily lets tonneau covers and truck canopies close in place.
Another smart feature that we’ve really come to appreciate is how well the Fox and Race Face pads work with a wide variety of tailgate styles. The six adjustable straps that run along the top of the pad adjust to accommodate straight tailgates, like those found on older Tacomas, as well as curved or thick versions that are common on trucks like the Ford F150 and RAM 1500 series.
Rounding out the package are built-in metal bike lock loops, an adjustable panel that allows for backup camera and tailgate handle access, and a soft microfleece lining that protects your truck’s paint. Finally, the Fox Mission and Race Face T3 come in three different sizes, including a 2-bike model, a mid-size model (5 bikes), and finally a full-size pickup model (7 bikes). If you’re looking for the best tailgate pad on the market, it’s impossible to beat these identical truck pads.
Shop the Fox Mission / Race Face T3 at:
A Close Second
Dakine Universal Pickup Tailgate Pad
Price: $300 – $320 MSRP
Sizes: Small, Large
Bike Capacity: 5 – 7
Backup Camera Compatible: Yes
Pros
– Modular design works with thin, thick, and curved tailgates
– Flip-down padding allows tonneau covers and canopies to close
– Securely holds bikes in place no matter the road conditions
Cons
– Padding isn’t as thick as our top pick
– One of the most expensive options
Why it’s Great
Similar to the Fox Mission and Race Face T3 mentioned above, the Dakine Universal Pickup Tailgate Pad sees a host of welcomed updates and improvements over the outgoing model.
Like the Fox and Race Face, the Dakine features a modular design that works well with a wide range of tailgate shapes and thicknesses. And the Dakine’s flip-down padding plays nicely with tonneau covers and truck canopies–a nice feature not often found on tailgate pads.
As for securing bikes, the Dakine Universal Pickup Pad uses Velcro straps that adjust up and down the pad and they easily cinch down most types of bikes–we successfully used everything from gravel bikes with small diameter downtubes to extra bulky electric mountain bikes. For padding, downtubes and fork stanchions rest on thick EVA foam panels that adequately protect both bikes and trucks, and the soft microfiber lining helps fend off scratched up tailgates.
Other thoughtful features of the Dakine include a removable cover that allows access to the tailgate handle as well as backup camera and a built-in metal ring for locking the pad to your truck. We also like the subtle branding used throughout.
So why isn’t the Dakine our top tailgate pad choice? Really, it comes down to padding and price. The Race Face and Fox’s padding is about twice as thick as the Dakine’s and offers better peace of mind, and protection, when busting out shuttle laps on rough roads. Furthermore, the Fox and Race Face pads are about $40 less than the Dakine. Having said all that, the new Dakine Universal Pickup Pad is still an excellent tailgate pad and a smart choice for carrying bikes on the back of a truck.
Shop the Dakine Universal Pickup Pad at:
Best Budget Tailgate Bike Pad
Demon Tailgate Pad
Price: $109.99 – $119.99 MSRP
Sizes: Small, Large
Bike Capacity: 5 – 7
Backup Camera Compatible: Yes
Pros
– Includes everything you need for carrying bikes
– Hard to beat the price to performance ratio
Cons
– Quality of materials used is lacking when compared to premium options
– Doesn’t work well with curved tailgates
Why it’s Great
Everything you need to haul bikes on the back of a pickup truck and nothing you don’t, the Demon is the best budget tailgate bike pad on the market. Priced at about $90 at time of publishing, the Demon comes in two different sizes for mid-size and full-size trucks, can haul anywhere from five to seven bikes, and uses a heavy-duty waterproof vinyl outer fabric. The foam padding does a good job of protecting both bikes and tailgates, and the soft microfiber lining prevents paint from getting scratched.
Despite its budget price, the Demon has a number of noteworthy features. We found the storage pockets on the inside of the pad to be particularly nice for keeping pre-ride essentials handy, and the flip-up flap made for quick and easy access to pickup backup cameras and handles. And while it doesn’t match the overall build quality or adaptability of our top choice above, it’s a great option for those who need a no-frills tailgate pad at a great price point. For the occasional bike hauler, the Demon pad makes a lot of sense.
Shop the Demon Tailgate Pad at:
Best Tailgate Bike Pad for Electric Bikes
Thule GateMate PRO Tailgate Pad
Price: $199.95 MSRP
Sizes: Small, Large
Bike Capacity: 7 – 8
Backup Camera Compatible: Yes
Pros
– Extremely long straps easily fit around bloated e-bike frames
– The thick and dense padding can handle the extra weight of electric bikes
Cons
– Long straps are too long for bikes with thinner downtubes
– When at max capacity, bikes are a little crammed
Why it’s Great
The Thule GateMate Pro is a premium tailgate bike pad for any type of bike with a few subtle features that make it especially great at carrying large and heavy electric bikes.. There are two traits that make the Thule the best tailgate pad for e-bikes: one, the padding where the frame rests is exceptionally thick and more dense than any other model we tested, making it the perfect option for the extra weight that it must support. Two, the tie-down straps that come with the Thule pad are extremely long and fit perfectly around the larger diameter downtubes of electric bikes (they’re actually too long for most non-electric bike frames).
In addition to these standout features that cater to electric bikes, we found the Thule to be a pretty amazing tailgate pad in general. The thick foam bumpers do a great job of holding bikes in place and keep them separated on rough roads, and the mesh pockets are great for stashing smelly shoes and gloves after a ride. Further, the exterior material is tough yet easy to wash, and the fleece-lined interior helps protect paint from scratches.
And just like most premium tailgate bike pad options, the GateMate Pro is available in two sizes that fit both mid-size and full-size trucks. Finally, the clean lines and subtle branding of the Thule simply look good and will appeal to a lot of riders.
Shop the Thule GateMate PRO at:
Best 2-Bike Tailgate Bike Pad
Race Face T3 Half-Stack Tailgate Pad
Price: $109 MSRP
Sizes: One Size
Bike Capacity: 2
Backup Camera Compatible: Yes
Pros
– A really well thought out bike pad with loads of features
– Padding and modular design work with just about any style and size of bike
Cons
– Can only haul 2 bikes, but they also make 5- and 6-bike versions for those with more friends
– Really hard to find another fault
Why it’s Great
Half-width tailgate bike pads are a great choice for riders looking for a smaller and less expensive option when compared to their full-size counterparts. For cyclists who only need to haul two bikes at a time, then we highly recommend the Race Face T3 Half-Stack.
The Race Face pad stands out for four main reasons; one, the T3 features very thick and soft padding that does a great job of protecting both bikes and tailgates. Two, the adjustable mounting straps work well with a wide-range of tailgate styles and thicknesses. Three, the tie down straps can be moved to different locations and easily accommodate a wide variety of frame sizes and shapes, working well with almost any style of bike. Finally, the padding that the bike frame rests on can be flipped back to accommodate closed tonneau covers. As you can see, there’s a lot to like with the Race Face T3 bike pad.
As for the construction, the high-quality Race Face remained problem free throughout testing, showing no signs of wear. The PVC tarpaulin material is easy to clean and sheds anything mother nature can throw at it. The Velcro straps still work flawlessly and the fabric hasn’t faded in the slightest. Finally, priced at about $100 at the time of publishing, the Race Face T3 is less expensive than most other offerings.
Shop the Race Face T3 at:
Best Single Tailgate Bike Pad
Bomber Strap Tailgate Pad
Price: $159.99 MSRP
Sizes: One Size
Bike Capacity: 1
Backup Camera Compatible: Yes
Pros
– High-quality construction and materials used throughout
– Well thought out set of features
Cons
– Pretty expensive for a one-bike tailgate pad
– Publicly lets everyone know you don’t have any riding buddies
Why it’s Great
One final take on the best tailgate bike pad is the Bomber Strap, which is designed to carry one bike. At first glance, this simple pad might seem ineffective or pointless, but we found ourselves surprised by its versatility. Furthermore, the tough construction and quality of materials used throughout the pad really impressed us.
Standout features of the Bomber Strap include both downtube and fork stanchion straps that can be adjusted to work with a variety of bike sizes and types, and magnetic buckles that are quick and easy to latch. There’s also a small storage pocket that can fit a couple of small tools for pre- or post-ride maintenance. You’ll also find soft fabric at all bike, fork, and truck touchpoints, which helps keep everything scratch free.
In terms of use cases, the Bomber Strap is the perfect tailgate pad for someone who is looking for something significantly less bulky than a standard model. It’s extremely quick to attach and remove from a truck and it takes up almost no space when stored–we often left it in the back of our pickup when not in use. The Bomber Strap is a well-executed tailgate bike pad for a niche group of riders who only need to haul one bike.
Shop the Bomber Strap at:
