The Short Bed Trap: How to Actually Haul a Dirt Bike in Your Crew Cab
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You just bought a brand-new dirt bike. You load it into the back of your 2014–2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab, push the front tire all the way against the bulkhead, and turn around to close the tailgate. It violently smashes into your rear tire.
Because you have the 5-foot 8-inch Extra-Short Bed, the motorcycle physically will not fit with the tailgate closed. You have to leave the heavy steel tailgate dropped open, exposing your expensive new bike to the highway. You hook up a couple of cheap bungee cords and ratchet straps, merge onto the interstate at 70 MPH, and spend the entire drive staring nervously at your rearview mirror, terrified the bike is going to slide out the back.
You just fell directly into the Short Bed Trap.
The extra-short bed is perfect for fitting your massive Sierra into a garage, but it completely fails when it's time to haul the big toys. You cannot rely on straps alone to keep dynamic, heavy loads inside an open truck bed. If you hit a massive pothole, that rear tire will kick out, and your payload will be destroyed.
You don't need to buy a long-bed truck; you just need to extend the cage.
In this guide, we explain exactly how elite cargo engineers at AMP Research utilize aircraft-grade aluminum to instantly add two feet of enclosed, highway-safe cargo space to your open tailgate. We'll show you why you need to check your tonneau cover clearance, how to utilize No-Drill brackets to save your paint, and how to safely haul your gear.
Compare Premium Bed Extender Upgrades
Classic Aluminum Max, Slanted Sport, or Cargo Dividers?
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Extender Style |
Top Brands |
Tech / Build |
Best For |
|
BedXTender HD™ Sport |
AMP Research |
Aircraft-Grade Aluminum. |
The Ultimate Tonneau Companion. The absolute gold standard of bed extenders. Features a slanted V-shape design forged from heavy-duty aluminum tubes. It easily clears most tonneau cover rails and provides a massive, impenetrable cage over your open tailgate to safely lock in dirt bikes and ATVs. |
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BedXTender HD™ Max |
AMP Research |
U-Shaped Capacity. |
Maximum Square Footage. If you don't have a tonneau cover to worry about and just want the absolute largest enclosed footprint possible, the Max is your answer. The classic U-shape squares off the tailgate, giving you the perfect containment zone for massive loads of firewood or camping gear. |
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CargoTech® System |
WeatherTech |
High-Friction Copolymer. |
The Grocery & Tool Manager. Don't need to haul a dirt bike, but sick of your toolbox or groceries sliding to the front of the bed? These ultra-tough, L-shaped cargo blocks bite aggressively into your bed liner or carpet, allowing you to instantly build custom containment zones anywhere in the bed. |
Frequently Asked Questions (Bed Extenders)
Can I easily remove the bed extender if I need my entire truck bed flat?
Yes, it takes less than 5 seconds.
Premium extenders from AMP Research are not permanently bolted to your tailgate. They simply rest on two pivot brackets. If you need to slide a massive sheet of drywall or a pallet of bricks into your Sierra, you just rotate the extender to a 45-degree angle, lift it straight up off the quick-release brackets, and set it in your garage.
Will a bed extender hold the weight of a dirt bike tire resting on it?
No, they are for containment, not load-bearing.
A bed extender is a safety fence, not a structural ramp. You cannot park the rear tire of a heavy ATV or motorcycle directly on the aluminum tubes of the extender. The tire must rest on the flat surface of the steel tailgate, and the extender wraps around the tire to lock it in place.
Do I have to drill holes in my GMC Sierra to install this?
Not if you buy the No-Drill bracket kit.
As mentioned in the fitment guide, the base kit includes screws that require drilling. However, K2XX Sierras have factory holes hidden behind the taillights. By purchasing the optional No-Drill bracket kit, you can bolt the pivot points directly into the factory steel without taking a drill bit to your paint.
Maximize the short box. Haul the ATV.
Ditch the cheap bungee cords and stop staring nervously at your rearview mirror. Upgrade to a heavy-duty, flip-out aluminum bed extender to safely lock your dirt bikes and lumber inside your open tailgate. Shop our verified collection of premium 2014–2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Bed Extenders.