DAKINE Pick-Up Pad Concept

[Linkavinch]

I am a bicyclist and I came up with an idea that the 5th gen 4R rear view window could be used as a tailgate for bicycles. I saw pick-up trucks use a DAKINE "Pick-Up Pad" to mount their bicycles over the tail gate instead of using a tacky bike rack. I thought that was cool and Very "surfer" style.

To follow through with the process I went online to find out DAKINE sold only two sizes of the pick up pad, a 62" (full- size tailgate) and a 54" (mid size tailgate). The 5Gen 4R rear window measured 45" in length.

I pulled the trigger and bought the 54" pickup pad from DAKINE and had it custom cut to fit the 45" window length of the 5th gen 4R. When cutting it down to size I lost no durability or features of the DAKINE Pick-Up Pad. It came out flawless!

Here are some pictures of the successful install of the Pick-Up Pad in the window of the 5th Gen 4R.

Result of the bicycle loaded was a success too. It stays in place and does not budge. I can load the my 26er in two ways, via window or loaded in the cab and then pulled through the window with the front wheel off.

 

[Redwolf]

It is just being held up by the seat pressing the roof?

Curious because it looks good and I am interested...

 

[Linkavinch]

It is just being held up by the seat pressing the roof?

Curious because it looks good and I am interested...

The bike is not being held up by the seat pressing against the ceiling.
The bike is resting and strapped to the pickup pad only.

Thanks for asking, because the seat post was lowered and barely fits that way. It could matter based on what seat post you have or what size bike you have.

The bike is a 26er with a size Large frame with 2.35" tread on tires.

 

[RobDek]

Why not just use a hitch mounted bike rack? Also, you're willfully blocking your license plate, it's just begging for a traffic ticket.

 

[1engineer]

Nice. My 29'ers won't fit that way and some of us LIKE to pedal up hills lol.

 

[Linkavinch]

Why not just use a hitch mounted bike rack? Also, you're willfully blocking your license plate, it's just begging for a traffic ticket.

The concept is still in the works, I knew I was going to cover the license plate, but still planning where to place it exposed and solid. I also thought this is not for long travel or driving in the rain. I have a bike rack, and just looking into other solutions to load up a bike for people who want something different.

 

[Okki]

For quick short runs to the bike store or local trail this looks pretty awesome. I'm digging the ingenuity.

Okki

 

[UtahSooner]

Couple quick thoughts though that you may or may not have considered (as I'm a MTB racer that spends a bunch of time hauling bikes and gear to trails/races and have tried lots of things over the years). For reference I have both roof mount (Yakima) and hitch mount (Kuat) bike racks so I guess I took the Boy Scout idea of being prepared a bit far on bike carrying options...

1) Why not just fold down 1/2 of the rear seat and throw the bike in the back? I do this all the time (mostly in the winter). Fold the rear driver side seat down, remove the front wheel and throw the bike in. I angle mine towards the passenger side of the truck and rest the seatpost/top tube on the center seat back. Yes you do have to remove the front wheel but it rests nicely on top of my gear bag. If you remove the seat posts you can fit 2-3 bikes in this way as well. This option works for my road bike, old 26ers, and new 29er rigs and allows me to take care of question #2...

2) Aren't you worried about vehicle theft if you have to stop at the store on the way to/from the ride and your rear window is rolled down? I personally wouldn't do this in SLC and folks are usually accused of being overly nice in parts of this state -- having spent ~2 years living in Tucson I definitely wouldn't leave the windows down in my $35k SUV down there.

3) Not worried about damage to the roof from the seat rubbing, especially after a muddy ride?

4) Do you have another bike rack for longer road trips? I wouldn't want to drive from Tucson to South Mtn in Phoenix with the rear window down, let alone driving up to Sedona or other spots up north. In my case, I usually throw bikes on the roof for local trips to the trail and use the hitch rack for better gas mileage on road trips. If I'm only hauling one bike and the weather is sketchy then the bike goes inside to avoid getting rained/snowed on.

Anyway, just my quick $0.02 and not meant to be critical. As an engineer I'm definitely a fan of overly complicated solutions if they make me happy, so if it makes you happy between trips to the trail then that's all tha matters! Happy riding regardless!

 

[Lolrax]

3) Not worried about damage to the roof from the seat rubbing, especially after a muddy ride?

In most cases the seat doesn't get a ton of mud on it, unless you crap your pants on trail rides lol!

 

[spark4]

I was going to get one of these dakine tailgate pads for my tacoma, but after much reading on other bike and tacoma forums everyone says if you leave them on they will dull your paint on the tailgate from constant rubbing. Even if I were to take it off after using it, I would be weary of using one against dusty/dirty paint. Just wanted to give you a heads up. Good idea though.

 

[KidVermicious]

For quick short runs to the bike store or local trail this looks pretty awesome. I'm digging the ingenuity.

Okki

For quick short runs to a bike store or local trail it looks like a PITA. I'll toss mine on my tacky bike rack and be there before Linkavitch is done loading. I won't have "surfer style", but hey, I don't have several hundred bucks to burn reinventing the wheel either.

 

[GrantK]

I would be concerned about exhaust fumes. Several people have noted that with the lift-gate window open they can smell the exhaust being pulled into the cabin.

 

[Natey]

Nice bike. I wish I never sold my Bullit.

Those DaKine pads make you look like a longboarder, tho. Haha.


I cruise with my rear window down all the time and only smell fumes in stop-n-go traffic. Toyota did a pretty good job of directing the exhaust away from the rear window.

 

[scanny]

Interesting idea, the only thing I would be concerned is rain and gravel/dusty roads. Probably rain in AZ is not really an issue, but if you ever going to steer off the pavement your trunk and possible rear seats will be covered in thick layer of dust. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Rocketegg]

Really?

You think a bike rack is tacky? This looks one step worse than a hand out the window holding a mattress on the roof.

I think a rack is the way to go if you don't want your headliner damaged from the saddle, your bumper scratched from the spinning front tire, exhaust fumes in the cabin, and dust dirt snow rain and gravel coming into the interior. This has to be the worst idea I have ever seen. Lay your seats down and put the bike inside for a quick trip.

 

[sutekidaniel]

Dakine Tailgate Surf Pad

I have a 3rd Generation 4Runner and I'm thinking about getting this surf pad for my surf board:

https://www.dakine.com/en-us/sport/surf/accessories/tailgate-surf-pad/

I have a sweet roof rack on my 4Runner that I don't want to get rid of so I'm looking at alternative ways to transport my surf board. Do you think this surf pad will work out even though I have a rear windshield wiper?

 

[1jzgte]

looks like a pita to get your bike in and out.. im sure that mat costs just as much if not more than a bike rack. Now you got the back window open all the time too.

 

[1jzgte]

Nice bike. I wish I never sold my Bullit.

Those DaKine pads make you look like a longboarder, tho. Haha.


I cruise with my rear window down all the time and only smell fumes in stop-n-go traffic. Toyota did a pretty good job of directing the exhaust away from the rear window.

no toyota did not do a good job of directing fumes away from the back window.. after so many generations of the 4runner and sequioas they still haven't figured out that it might've been more beneficial to side vent the exhaust rather than rear vent...

 

[1jzgte]

I have a 3rd Generation 4Runner and I'm thinking about getting this surf pad for my surf board:

https://www.dakine.com/en-us/sport/surf/accessories/tailgate-surf-pad/

I have a sweet roof rack on my 4Runner that I don't want to get rid of so I'm looking at alternative ways to transport my surf board. Do you think this surf pad will work out even though I have a rear windshield wiper?

i dont get it.. why not use this sweet track to transport yoru surfboard.. damn you guys have more money than cents man.

 

[99problems]

I have a 3rd Generation 4Runner and I'm thinking about getting this surf pad for my surf board:

https://www.dakine.com/en-us/sport/surf/accessories/tailgate-surf-pad/

I have a sweet roof rack on my 4Runner that I don't want to get rid of so I'm looking at alternative ways to transport my surf board. Do you think this surf pad will work out even though I have a rear windshield wiper?

That looks good so long as you use it on the right side of the rear door (to avoid the rear windshield wiper). $32 is a pretty cheap solution too.