Getting up and down from your truck bed can take a bit of effort. But, if you have to do it often you’ll soon be wishing there was an easier option.
The good news is that there is, and your joints are rejoicing in unison.
Tailgate ladders will help you reduce wear and tear. We picked some universal options that will fit any truck owners ride.
So let’s take a look at the 4 Best Tailgate Ladders for Trucks:
1. Westin 10-3000 Truck-Pal Tailgate Ladder
Westin has a quality option that they have branded the Truck-Pal. This foldable tailgate ladder has a small footprint.
You can mount it directly onto your bed cover so you’ll never have to worry about tucking this away.
They stand behind this product with a 3-year warranty. It’s made of aluminum so it will stand up to a beating over time, while not being heavy. Mounting hardware is included and it stands at 38″ tall.
Similar aluminum tailgate ladders can go for twice the price of this, or more. So, it’s an exceptional value at its price point. There are more affordable options that we’ll expand on below, but they’re not quite as beefy.
One of the neatest things about it is that it collapses on top of itself, taking up a small amount of room. Most of the competition folds across the length of your tailgate.
The only knock people really have on this product is the mounting screws aren’t the toughest. You might want to buy your own. Check it out in action below.
2. Beech Lane Pickup Truck Tailgate Ladder - Universal Fit
Beech Lane has a tailgate ladder at a price point that’s hard to beat.
This economical option is a similar design to the Traxion model we’ll feature below with a few key differences.
Number one and perhaps the most appealing thing about it, is the lifetime warranty. Whenever we find something that doesn’t cost as much as we think, we worry about quality. Which is why having some insurance in the shape of a strong warranty helps.
It’s got thin steps, but they do have aluminum grip plates on them to help you keep your footing. Speaking of aluminum, that’s what the included screws seem to be made of.
If you have a steel tailgate, and try to drill in some soft aluminum screws, you aren’t going to get very far. So similar to other options in this category, you may want to purchase your own mounting hardware.
Also, as you can see in the picture, it’s easy to install this close to your bumper which may lead to scratches. Keep that in mind.
3. Traxion 5-100 Tailgate Ladder
The best selling Traxion tailgate ladder has some similarities to the Beech Lane model.
But, one place where it can’t be beat is its price. It’s the most bang for your buck you can get in this category.
If you want a simpler option that you can give a beating and not worry about it, then this looks pretty good to us. Which is one of the reasons it’s so popular.
This will fold across your tailgate when not in use. Also with a similar design to Beech Lane’s option, a similar issue arises. That is, be careful during installation that it’s not going to scratch your bumper when deployed. Unless you don’t care about that.
4. Great Day TNB3000MB Truck N' Buddy
This is a different option than most, and a heavy-duty addition to any truck.
If you’re a contractor or maybe you just want a permanent option that you can step on from anywhere, you can get it with the Truck N’ Buddy.
This is going to cost a bit more and installation is more involved, but it’ll cover the entire width of your tailgate.
This measures 58″ wide, so if you’ve got a smaller truck it may not fit. Be sure to double check. They specifically say it won’t work with a Chevy S-10 or Ford Ranger’s. When not in use this will fold onto your tailgate.
The grab handles are 18″ tall. Even when it’s folded up, you’ll see it sticking over your tailgate a few inches. As for weight it’s an additional 37 lbs, so now you can get your muscles flowing every time you have to close up that truck bed!
Where should I mount my tailgate ladder?
We always recommend to mount any ladder to the passenger side of your vehicle for safety reasons. This is just in case you ever have to pull over on a street and load something, you’ll be away from traffic and potential incidents.
Why do I need a tailgate ladder?
Over the years there has been some infatuation with making trucks higher off the ground. A work truck used to be low by nature, it was easier to get into and out of when hauling stuff.
If you look at trucks from the 90s and then look at them from today, you’ll notice this trend. A segment of people who buy trucks nowadays don’t use their beds often. But, manufacturers changed things to accommodate them so they’d get more sales.
This is purely a theory, but yeah. Eventually we’ll all need tailgate ladders.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this review. It is our opinion that the Westin model is the best option for someone who wants a small footprint that’s going to hold up over time.
But, it’s only your opinion that matters! So, whatever you choose be sure to come back here and let us know how it worked out for you in the comments.
Good luck on your search and get to steppin.. on your ladder.