Quick Answer: The Thule GateMate Pro (about $159-$200) is the best tailgate pad for most trucks — its full-size version carries up to 8 bikes, the highest capacity here, with a 54-inch compact option for smaller pickups. Want sizing built specifically around your tailgate width instead of a single universal fit? The Yakima GateKeeper (about $159-$229) splits into a 5-bike medium and 6-bike large. If keeping the backup camera visible while bikes are loaded matters, the EVOC Tailgate Pad (about $170-$200) is the only pick here with a built-in foldable camera flap.
A tailgate pad solves a problem our best truck bed bike rack guide only mentions in passing — hauling several bikes without bolting a rack to the bed or spending a hitch receiver on a platform. Bikes lean directly against a padded, strapped-on cover for the tailgate instead, which is lighter, cheaper, and faster to pack up, but it trades away the frame-mounted security of a dedicated rack. The picks below split on capacity, fit, and backup-camera compatibility; the FAQ above covers the one buying mistake that catches a lot of first-time buyers off guard — not every bike frame actually rests stably against a flat pad.
Tailgate pads by the numbers
- Thule’s GateMate Pro ranges from a 7-bike compact (54-inch) version to an 8-bike full-size (62-inch) version, per Rack Warehouse’s own published capacity spec — the widest capacity range of any pad in this roundup.
- Yakima’s GateKeeper sizes specifically to tailgate width rather than shipping one universal pad: a 5-bike medium for compact and mid-size trucks, and a 6-bike large for full-size beds, per REI’s product listing.
- EVOC’s Tailgate Pad holds up to 6 bikes on both its M/L and XL sizes, with the size choice driven mainly by tailgate width (53.5-inch minimum for mid-size trucks, 63-inch for full-size) rather than bike count.
Tailgate pad picks at a glance
| Product | Capacity | Notable feature | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thule GateMate Pro | Up to 7 (compact) / 8 (full-size) | Highest bike capacity | Best overall | ~$159-$200 |
| Yakima GateKeeper | 5 (medium) / 6 (large) | Width-specific sizing | Best fit system | ~$159-$229 |
| EVOC Tailgate Pad | Up to 6 (M/L or XL) | Foldable backup-camera flap | Best for camera visibility | ~$170-$200 |
| Dakine Pickup Pad DLX | Up to 5 (standard) | 150-lb rated load capacity | Best budget | ~$150 |
1. Thule GateMate Pro — Best Overall
Thule GateMate Pro Tailgate Pad
- Compact (54-inch) version rated for up to 7 bikes on smaller pickups; full-size (62-inch) version rated for up to 8 on larger beds, per the manufacturer's capacity listing.
- Padded wraparound cover protects the tailgate and tailgate edge from scuffs and chain-ring marks.
- Integrated straps and buckles cinch over the tailgate without tools or drilling.
- Limited lifetime warranty backs the pad against buckle and strap failure.
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The GateMate Pro earns the overall pick on capacity alone — 8 bikes on the full-size version beats every other pad here, and the two-size lineup means a compact truck isn’t stuck buying hardware sized for a crew-cab bed. The tradeoff for that capacity is width: cramming 7 or 8 bikes onto either size means careful handlebar staggering, not a casual toss-and-strap job.
2. Yakima GateKeeper — Best Fit System
Yakima GateKeeper Tailgate Pad
- Medium size fits compact and mid-size truck tailgates and carries up to 5 bikes; large size fits full-size beds and carries up to 6, per REI's listing.
- Cam-buckle straps distribute tension evenly across the tailgate without a ratchet mechanism that can be over-tightened.
- Padded internal baffle structure keeps bikes from sliding side to side once strapped down.
- Narrower bike-count range than the GateMate Pro, trading raw capacity for a fit sized specifically to each truck class.
The GateKeeper is the pick for anyone who’d rather buy a pad sized to their specific truck class than a single universal size stretched across every bed width. Fewer max bikes than the GateMate Pro, but the medium/large split means a compact-truck owner isn’t hauling around pad material sized for a full-size bed they don’t have.
3. EVOC Tailgate Pad — Best for Camera Visibility
EVOC Tailgate Pad
- Built-in foldable flap keeps the truck's backup camera visible with the pad installed, a feature none of the other picks here offer.
- M/L size fits mid-size trucks (53.5-inch minimum tailgate width); XL fits full-size trucks (63-inch minimum).
- Both sizes rated for up to 6 bikes, per the manufacturer's spec.
- Runs heavier than the Dakine (1,850-2,300 grams) thanks to the added internal structure around the camera cutout.
The EVOC is the only pad in this roundup built around the backup camera instead of ignoring it, which matters more than it sounds like for anyone who backs into a driveway or a tight trailhead lot daily. The foldable flap adds some bulk and cost over simpler pads, but it’s the difference between a pad that fully blinds the camera and one that doesn’t.
4. Dakine Pickup Pad DLX — Best Budget
Dakine Pickup Pad DLX
- Standard version fits straight-edge tailgates and carries up to 5 bikes at a published 150-lb load rating.
- Metal grommets on each side accept a cable lock for added security, a feature the pricier pads here don't call out.
- A separate DLX Curve version (about $180-$200) is cut specifically for Ford and Dodge trucks with a curved tailgate profile.
- Lowest published load rating of the four picks here — fine for a handful of lighter trail bikes, worth checking against heavier e-bikes.
The Dakine is the easiest entry point into this category — lowest price, decent capacity, and a cable-lock-ready grommet most of the pricier pads skip. The 150-lb rating is the one number worth double-checking before loading it with a couple of heavier e-bikes instead of lightweight trail bikes.
How to choose a tailgate pad
Start with how many bikes actually need to ride at once and what bed width is available — the Thule GateMate Pro wins on raw capacity if the answer is “as many as possible,” while the Yakima GateKeeper’s medium/large split fits a specific truck class more precisely at a lower max count. If backing into tight spots with the camera on is a daily habit, the EVOC Tailgate Pad’s camera flap is worth the extra cost over a flat pad that blocks the lens entirely. On a budget, or for a truck with a curved Ford/Dodge-style tailgate, the Dakine Pickup Pad DLX (standard or Curve) covers both cases for less money than any pad above. Whichever pad gets picked, check the FAQ’s frame-compatibility note first — a sloped top tube or a shock in the way can make even the best-rated pad an unstable place to rest a bike.
The bottom line
For most trucks hauling a full load of bikes, the Thule GateMate Pro is the strongest overall pick — its full-size version’s 8-bike rating is the highest in this roundup. Buyers who want sizing matched precisely to their truck class should look at the Yakima GateKeeper instead, and anyone who backs in with the camera on daily should weigh the EVOC Tailgate Pad’s camera flap against the cost. On a budget, the Dakine Pickup Pad DLX gets the job done for less. For bikes that don’t rest well against a flat pad, or for hauling that needs more security on rough roads, see our best truck bed bike rack and best hitch bike rack guides instead.