I’m Kayla. I ride a lot. I also haul bikes a lot. So I bought the Fox Racing Tailgate Pad (Small) for my 2020 Toyota Tacoma. If you’re curious about the nitty-gritty specs, Fox lists them on its product page. I’ve been using it for months now. Rain, sun, gravel roads, school drop-off lanes—yep, all that.
You know what? It’s mostly great. But it’s not perfect. Let me explain.
Setup that didn’t make me swear (much)
I set it on the tailgate, fed the straps through, and buckled them. Took me about seven minutes the first time. Maybe five now. The pad is soft on the inside, so my paint didn’t get scratched. The outside feels tough enough for the usual bumps.
One tiny gripe: the buckles are metal, and they clink if you let them hang. I wrapped a little tape on each one. Problem solved.
Also, the pad had a new-gear smell on day one. It aired out after a day in the garage.
First real test: Bentonville, mud and laughs
We loaded three adult mountain bikes and one kids bike. I spaced the downtubes across the top of the pad and used the straps. I aimed the bars left-right-left so they wouldn’t kiss each other. A towel under my brake levers kept marks off the frames. (Little tip: foam pipe wrap on the top edge works too. Cheap and smart.)
We drove 90 minutes on the highway. About 70 mph most of the trip. The bikes didn’t bounce. No rubbing, no scary sounds. It rained hard on the way back. The pad got soaked but dried overnight on two bins in the garage. No funky smell after.
The camera flap thing
The Fox pad has a flap for the tailgate handle and camera. On my Tacoma, the camera sits right there. The flap opens fine, but at night it droops a little and blocks the top of the view. I used a tiny binder clip to hold it open. Super high-tech, I know. During the day it’s okay; at night, clip it.
Parking with bikes on? The camera view is kind of a mess anyway. I just peek around the bars and take it slow.
City errands, dirt roads, and one dumb mistake
- Saturday: grocery run with muddy bikes still on. No one at the store loved that. But the pad kept mud off the gate, so I loved it.
- Sunday: four miles of washboard road to a trail. The bikes wiggled a bit but stayed put. No chips on the paint.
- One dumb move: I forgot to strap one fork leg. Bike stayed on, but I learned my lesson. I now double-check each strap before I roll.
Wear and tear after months
- The big Fox logo scuffed a bit. Doesn’t affect how it works.
- Two strap ends started to fray. I cut them clean and melted the tips. All good.
- Color faded a touch after a hot week in July. Normal sun stuff.
- The inner liner still feels smooth. No sand trapped in it, which is nice.
How many bikes fit, really?
On my mid-size truck, three big mountain bikes fit great. Four works if one is a small frame or a kids bike. Five is pushing it for bar space. On a full-size truck with the Large pad, five is easy.
Watch your rotors and derailleurs when you load. Keep those parts clear of the tailgate edge. I put heavy bikes near the middle.
Quick compare with friends’ pads
- Yakima GateKeeper feels more structured and a bit cushier on the top rail. Heavier too.
- Race Face T2 has beefy straps and nice slots for the downtubes, but it’s pricier where I live.
- Fox is simple, light, and fast. Less fussy. I like that.
Need another opinion? The Loam Wolf put together a thorough long-term review that's well worth a read before you buy.
Before you pull the trigger, check out the comprehensive tailgate pad guide at PDV Racing for fresh reviews and the latest price drops.
Good stuff
- Fast to load bikes. Way faster than roof racks.
- No paint rub on my gate so far.
- Soft inner, tough outer. Works in rain and sun.
- Easy to store when not in use. I roll it up.
Not-so-good stuff
- Camera flap can block the view at night.
- Buckles can clink if they hang loose.
- Strap ends may fray with use.
- Fades a bit with summer sun.
Safety and security notes
The pad itself doesn’t lock. I run a cable lock through the frames and a bed tie-down when I grab coffee. It won’t stop a pro thief, but it slows “grab-and-go.” Don’t leave bikes on the truck overnight. That’s just asking for it.
Sizing and trucks
- Small: mid-size trucks like Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado.
- Large: full-size like F-150, Tundra, Silverado.
If your tailgate has a funky shape or a split design, test fit if you can.
Little tips I learned
- Stagger handlebars to stop bar-to-bar fights.
- Use a towel under levers on fancy paint jobs.
- Clip the camera flap if you back up at night a lot.
- Rinse the pad after beach trips. Salt is sneaky.
- Don’t crank the straps like a gorilla. Snug is enough.
Final say
I bought the Fox Racing Tailgate Pad to make bike days simple. It did that. It’s quick, it protects the gate, and it carries three to four bikes on my mid-size truck without drama. The camera flap bugged me at first, but the binder clip fix was easy.
Would I buy it again? Yes. For the price and speed, it earns a spot in my gear pile. If you want the cleanest camera view or fancy extras, you might want a pricier pad. But if you just want to toss bikes on and go ride, this one gets the job done—and honestly, that’s what I care about.
Off the trails, my gear-nerd curiosity sometimes drifts into lifestyle tech. For example, I recently compared a few “exclusive” dating apps to see if any are worth the hype for busy, adventure-loving professionals. My findings are summed up in this in-depth Luxy review that breaks down features, membership costs, and real-world success rates—handy if you’re curious whether a premium match-making platform can actually keep pace with an on-the-go life. If your road trips ever roll you through Nebraska and you’re keen to meet other adventure-loving adults once the bikes are racked for the night, the North Platte swingers directory is worth a glance—its up-to-date profiles, event invites, and private chat rooms make it easy to connect with local, like-minded couples without the guesswork.
When I’m not hauling bikes, I chase speed in other ways, too. I recently went kart shopping and even put a few to the test—my full verdict is in this hands-on racing kart guide. And if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to squeeze into a tiny Bandolero stock car, I got behind the wheel and shared the unfiltered story right here.