Slate Tailgate Pad accessory revealed -- with Mountain Bikes carried on pickup bed tailgate

[jwocky]

First look at the Slate Auto tailgate pad for carrying bikes in the pickup bed.

 

[E90400K]

Man, we keep seeing the same 'ole gray truck.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Man, we keep seeing the same 'ole gray truck.

That’s what they may be saying about my Slate when I roll up in my ‘Hood….

 

[AZFox]

Maybe they saw this thread.

https://www.slateforums.com/forum/threads/tailgate-bike-holder-accessory.13190/

 

[bloo]

If it blocks the rear plate you might get a ticket.

(noticed the demo doesn't have one)

 

[E90400K]

That’s what they may be saying about my Slate when I roll up in my ‘Hood….

Prediction... Slate Truck will become the number 1 vehicle in the nation with vanity plates.

 

[OldGoat]

These rear tailgate bike mats are made and sold already by a wide number of makers. But beware of hook and loop straps my friends. There is velcro and then there is VELCRO which is tenacious and secure. Also, the straps and buckles should be bartacked as if you were going to play tug-o-war with the Ohio State offensive line.

 

[Letas]

If it blocks the rear plate you might get a ticket.

(noticed the demo doesn't have one)

This is already an existing product, Slate likely just contracted it out to an existing manufacturer. It blocks the plate when you have a bike over it, in my experience it's a nothing-burger for enforcement.

 

[enigma9o7]

What's the point of that mat, wouldn't the bike fit just as well without it?

I understand the body panels are plastic and unpainted, so it's not like there's a worry of scratching the paint....

 

[AZFox]

I understand the body panels are plastic and unpainted, so it's not like there's a worry of scratching the paint....

Highlighting rather than hiding battle scars is key to the Slate ethos.

The company's head of design, Tisha Johnson, describes the inspiration as a "battle-scarred shark," a motif that embraces visible wear and tear rather than hiding it.

See also:
Embracing Visible Wear and Tear (Shark Battle Scars)

 

[OldGoat]

What's the point of that mat, wouldn't the bike fit just as well without it?

I understand the body panels are plastic and unpainted, so it's not like there's a worry of scratching the paint....

The real reason for these mats are to ensure the bike stays IN the bed. Secondary is protection for bike and vehicle. If snugged down properly the front wheel won’t spin and the tire won’t “sandpaper “ the tailgate and the bike’s brakes won’t rub on the rim and wear the pads. All in all a reasonably priced solution for bicycle transport.

 

[AZFox]

The real reason for these mats are to ensure the bike stays IN the bed.

At the risk of quibbling, I think the purpose is to protect both the tailgate and the bicycle(s) from damage, not to hold the bike down.

Tie-down straps and bungee cords can ensure the bike stays in the bed and the wheel doesn't spin.

 

[sage]

At the risk of quibbling, I think the purpose is to protect both the tailgate and the bicycle(s) from damage, not to hold the bike down.

Tie-down straps and bungee cords can ensure the bike stays in the bed and the wheel doesn't spin.

Many of these tailgate pads have built in straps that wrap around the bike frame. So yes, they also help hold the bike down.

I didn’t realize this was an official Slate accessory. I just assumed they were showing off the fact that bikes can fit in the bed. Pretty cool that it’s an official accessory, as I know first hand the issues trying to find a pad that fits, has a flap in the proper location where your tailgate handle is, and does not block your rear view camera. I’m assuming Slate thought of all of this when designing the pad lol.

 

[Kopsis]

Tie-down straps and bungee cords can ensure the bike stays in the bed and the wheel doesn't spin.

Sure, but if you're just going a short distance to a local trail head or if you're shuttling for downhill runs, that's significantly more work. I'm an avid mountain biker and can say from experience that tailgate pads are *by far* the quickest and easiest way to transport bikes in a pickup (short of a dedicated shuttle rack). If the tailgate pad I currently have doesn't fit the Slate well, I'll buy one of these in a heartbeat.