One of the easiest ways to transport a bike on a pickup truck is to put a tailgate pad on it. Strap the pad to the tailgate, throw the bike over it, and drive to the trailhead. With the growing popularity of compact pickup trucks, we set out to find tailgate pads that fit well with small tailgates.

BomberStrap

First on our list is the BomberStrap. This is a compact tailgate pad for a single bike. It’s made from high-quality 100D Cordura material to resist abrasion and has a soft microfiber backing to prevent scratches on your truck’s paint. And the padding is thick enough to absorb many bumps in the road.

Two adjustable magnetic quick release buckles secure your bike’s downtube and fork to prevent side-to-side movement and tire rotation. An additional buckle strap is included to keep the handlebars attached to the bike’s toptube, which also helps keep the tire from moving and rubbing against the truck’s paint. The pad is small enough to fit virtually anywhere on the tailgate and still leaves room for other things on the truck.

Installing the pad is easy as there is only one strap (as the name suggests) that needs to be slipped under the tailgate. You simply loop the strap around and pull it tight. Once it’s securely fastened, you can throw your bike over it, tighten the magnetic buckles, and strap the handlebars to the top tube. Removing the bike is just as easy; you just need to pull on the red tabs to release the magnetic straps and release the handlebar strap. When you want to remove the pad from your truck, you can pull on the easy-grip anodized orange spring-loaded buckle to release the long strap that goes around your tailgate.

The BomberStrap offers a tactical experience that I didn’t get with the other pads. While the compact design is appreciated, my only criticism is that some of the extra bells and whistles seem to take away from the simplicity of being able to just throw the bike in the truck and go. I spent a lot of time fiddling with the various straps to get the fork and wheel perfectly centered compared to a larger tailgate pad. The BomberStrap’s features would be a hit if it was made as a tailgate pad half the size.

If you often head out to the trailhead alone and are looking for something minimalistic and functional to carry your bike, consider adding the BomberStrap to your wishlist. You can get it in Black, Tactical Dessert or Dark Camo.

Dakine Universal Pickup Pad

The Dakine Universal Pickup Pad is a full-coverage tailgate pad that comes in two sizes so it will fit most pickup trucks and can carry up to five bikes. I received a small pad that fits a Hyundai Santa Cruz and it should fit other similar compact trucks as well.

The EVA foam panels along the tailgate pad help cushion and align each bike. The pad is attached to the tailgate with hook straps and can be tightened with spring-loaded cam locks.

As a pickup truck owner, there aren’t many options on the market for full-coverage tailgate pads. Dakine said this full-coverage pad should fit a Hyundai Santa Cruz. And it did – almost. The interior panels get stuck when I try to latch the tailgate. But a quick and easy reach in with both hands and gently flipping it out while pressing my chest against the tailgate is enough to securely latch the tailgate. It’s not ideal, but technically it works!

If you want access to the tailgate handle or have a backup camera on your truck, the padded cover folds back and hooks securely, or it can be removed completely and stored in the rear storage pocket. Something neat I noticed is that the little G-hook also doubles as a handy bottle opener!

High-quality materials like tough 900D recycled polyester resist abrasion when bikes are thrown on and off the tailgate. The polyester material has a UV coating that prevents discoloration. The back of the pad is made of soft microfiber material to prevent paint scratches. There’s a grommet to thread a cable lock through in case you need to secure the tailgate pad to the truck. You definitely don’t want your investment to disappear while you’re driving. And finally, the reflective screen-printed Dakine logo is a nice touch.

If you have a small compact “truck” and want a full coverage tailgate pad that does the job, the Dakine Universal Pickup Pad is a great choice. The pad may not fit like a glove (depending on the truck model), but it will definitely protect your small truck and bikes when hauling friends. This pad is a must have and well worth the money if you are hauling three to five bikes to the trailhead.

Kuat 25″ Half Tailgate Pad – Two Bikes

The Kuat 25” Half Tailgate Pad has room for two bikes. The smooth, fully welded, recyclable and biodegradable thermoplastic polyurethane gives this pad a unique seamless surface. The material feels smooth and handles scuffs well when dirty bikes are left on it. You can simply wipe the surface with a rag. Three separate 1” padding sections protect your truck while transporting your bikes. The 1” padding can even handle the extra weight of e-bikes. While the outer shell is meant to take a beating, the pad’s inner lining is made of very soft premium microfiber to protect your truck’s paint.

The Kuat tailgate pad is secured by two straps with metal G-hook buckles. To prevent the bike from sliding from side to side, Kuat includes two additional straps that can be tightened. All straps are very easy to use, making installation and removal very straightforward and quick.

The Kuat 25″ Half Tailgate Pad has a unique timeless look and feel while being easy to use. The high-quality materials will withstand many cycling adventures.

Of the four tailgate pads in this review, this one was the easiest to use. It’s priced right between the other pads, and you get a three-year warranty from Kuat. If you frequently transport a bike or two to the trailhead, this tailgate pad is a solid choice.

NADIVE Compact Tailgate Pad

NADIVE is a foldable and affordable tailgate mat that can carry up to two bikes. For a while it was my favorite tailgate mat. Installation is very easy: you just unfold the mat and throw it over the tailgate. There are no straps to tie it down as the mat is designed to stay in place even with the weight of a bike.

I really enjoyed using this pad for spontaneous trips around the area. All I had to do was throw it on the tailgate and quickly fold it up and store it in the truck when I didn’t need it.

I don’t feel comfortable using this pad on long rides as there are no straps to secure anything. On my first long ride with this pad I noticed some movement of the pad and out of over caution I decided to strap the bike down with ratchet straps to the truck bed attachment points which made me feel good.

The inner protective foam of class 5 EPE is well padded to prevent damage to the vehicle and bike. I would like to mention that there is no microfiber inner lining as you usually find in tailgate pads to prevent paint scratches. The entire material of the pad is a top-of-the-line waterproof tarpaulin. It seemed to hold up well to repeated abrasion from throwing a dirty bike at it.

This tailgate pad definitely has its place in the tailgate pad market. I love the simplicity of this pad and believe it could be a hit if they could incorporate a thin, soft backing and at least one strap to tie it down securely. If you like the sheer simplicity of the Nadive compact tailgate pad, as I did for a while, this pad is worth considering.

Tailgate pad ratings on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest rating)