A Saris Tailgate Pad Large, 6 bike is being used by my riding buddy, Jeremy Newman from Intrinsic Design. After using it for a few months, he shared his review. For my review of the Saris MHS, see this post. The pad and rack both work great. The pad costs $229. Order one from Saris, your local bike shop, or Amazon.com.
Here’s what Jeremy had to say
I’ve been using tailgate pads for the last decade for everything from shuttle laps with friends, to family days on the local trail system, to hauling the local kids to MTB Team practices. It’s safe to say I’ve worn a few out in that time and have strong opinions on what works and what doesn’t.
My initial reaction to the Saris Tailgate Pad was that it was stiff and hard to form to my 2006 Dodge tailgate. However, that initial shortfall has since been replaced with a healthy respect for how well this tailgate pad is made. The difficulty in the initial fit was due to the thick and dense padding, which provides a high level of protection for both the bikes and the truck.
The metal G-hooks on the bike tie-downs were an immediate winner and worked well as expected. No more Velcro getting sunbaked and wearing out. I was worried that the G-hooks would rub against and scratch the bike frames, but after using them with many different bikes, they haven’t touched a frame yet.
The four main straps that hold the pad on the tailgate do a better job than the industry-standard three straps at keeping the pad aligned and straight. Once the pad “broke in” with some time, use, and days in the sun, its initial awkward fit turned into a well-fitted and secure pad.
The Saris Tailgate Pad is a definite step up in the world of tailgate pads. Its thick foam, durable fabric cover, G-hooks, separator blocks, and four hold-down straps really raise the bar and set a new standard for a top-quality tailgate pad. My hope is that the foam will hold up to a couple more years of abuse than the competition. That would make it a top-notch bike hauler.
Saris Tailgate Pad Large 6 Bike Features
- Two 11×6” inner storage pockets provide convenient space for tools, pumps, gloves, and more.
- The G-hook’s curved design protects bike frames and ensures durability over time.
- A fold-up window allows clear backup camera viewing and easy handle access.
- An included web strap routing tool simplifies feeding the straps around the tailgate bottom seam.
- Strategic block spacing secures wider and heavier e-bike downtubes, offering additional shock dampening.
Specs
- Carries 5 or 6 bikes (50lb/bike).
- Bike straps secure up to 4.9” diameter bike tubes.
- Thick padding compresses to downtube shape to distribute hard impacts.
- Multi-density foam provides worry-free padding for fork and fork stanchion contact points.
- High-quality PVC outer face with soft back surface protects vehicle interface.
- Window Opening: Small:12-7/16″ W x 13-18/8″ T; Large: 15 W x 14′ T.
- Minimum required inner Bed Clearance: Small: 51-1/8″; Large: 59″.
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