The Ozark Trail Universal tailgate cover pad for pickup trucks holds 5 bikes [Review]

The Ozark Trail tailgate pad from Walmart costs $79, fits five bikes, and includes fleece-lined straps plus other thoughtful features at a budget-friendly price.
By Jeff Barber
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A black truck bed cover displaying the "Ozark Trail" logo, secured to the back of a silver Toyota Tundra. The cover features handles and a pocket for storage, with a blurred background of trees and an out-of-focus building.

I didn’t know Ozark Trail, Walmart’s in-house outdoors brand, made a tailgate pad until Greg pointed one out in a Vermont trailhead parking lot last fall. Wondering if it was any good, I decided to order one for myself.

Ozark Trail Universal Tailgate Cover Pad key specs

  • 56″ wide and fits up to 5 bikes
  • Flap for accessing gate latch and backup camera
  • Padded and fleece-lined frame straps
  • Price: $79
  • Buy from Walmart
A box for an Ozark Trail Tailgate Pad, displayed in the back of a truck. The box features images of the tailgate pad with bicycles secured on it and highlights its protective features and waterproof exterior. The background shows a wooded area, emphasizing outdoor use.

Naturally, the Ozark Trail tailgate pad is sold at Walmart stores, and you can also order it online. According to the Walmart website, several of the stores around me stock the tailgate pad. I don’t see a lot of trucks hauling bikes around where I live, so I decided to order mine online just to be safe. My first order sat for five days before it was cancelled without any explanation, so I tried ordering again. Apparently, the second time was the charm: I got my tailgate pad the same day with free shipping.

Ozark Trail tailgate pad specs

The Ozark Trail tailgate pad is said to be universal, meaning it’s designed to fit most trucks. It’s 56″ wide and fits five bikes. Three adjustable straps secure the pad to the tailgate, and there’s an oversized flap for accessing the tailgate latch and backup camera if you have one. I installed the Ozark Trail tailgate pad on my 2013 Toyota Tundra, and the pad fits with plenty of room to spare at the edges.

The Ozark Trail tailgate pad is marketed as providing “waterproof bike transport,” though clearly only the pad itself is waterproof. If it’s raining, your bikes are going to get very wet, whether you’re using this pad or any other pad, rack, or suction cup for that matter.

Close-up image of a gray kayak frame showing a black strap with a metal buckle secured to a padded section. The background features parts of the kayak, highlighting the attachment point and gear setup.
Close-up of bicycle components, featuring a turquoise bike frame secured with black straps, alongside an orange accessory. The background shows a blurred natural setting with leaves on the ground.
Close-up image of brightly colored bicycle frames, one orange and one blue, positioned against a black storage bag with velcro and zipper compartments, suggesting an outdoor biking setup.

Molded cradles with hook-and-loop straps secure the bikes to the pad. On the bed side of the pad there are two well-protected zippered pockets for storing… something. I haven’t figured out what to put in these yet. Maybe your AXS battery? I know that, depending on bike sizes/setups, you sometimes need extra straps or padding to prevent bikes from rubbing or banging into each other. Storing small bungees or hook-and-loop straps in the pockets could be a smart move.

A view from inside a vehicle looking out at a row of mountain bikes loaded in the back, with their tires visible and the forest in the background.

Hauling mountain bikes

Loading bikes onto the Ozark Trail tailgate pad is straightforward. Undo the hook-and-loop strap, set the bike in the molded cradle, and tighten the strap to secure it. Then, repeat.

The straps on the Ozark Trail tailgate pad are not only padded, they’re also soft and fleecy on the side that contacts your bike’s frame. I’ve tested more expensive pads that come with basic rough nylon straps that had me packing a set of small rags to protect each bike’s frame.

Close-up of a mountain bike's frame, featuring a turquoise color. The image shows a section of the frame with a protective sleeve, dirt splatters, and part of the suspension fork in the background. There are cables and a black padded bag also visible, indicating a rugged outdoor setting.

Though the cradles are a nice thought, it’s not as if bike frames actually sit inside them, at least not for any of the mountain bikes I tested. There is a bit of frame contact at the back edge of each cradle, which probably helps prevent the bikes from shifting side to side. The fabric-covered cradles seem to protect frames decently, though you may want to stuff a rag in between just to be safe.

The Ozark Trail tailgate pad provides a good amount of padding to protect both bikes and truck. My truck isn’t pristine by any means, so I can’t say for sure if any of the scratches or dings on the tailgate were caused by the pad. Overall, this one seems just as secure and finish-friendly as any other pad I’ve used.

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I’ve been rolling around town for over a month with the tailgate pad attached to my truck, and so far it’s holding up well to the elements. Having a giant Ozark Trail logo on the back of your truck may not look as cool as having a Fox logo back there, but saving money is just as cool as looking good. Right? Right!?

Pros and cons of Ozark Trail Universal Tailgate Cover Pad

Pros

  • Fully featured tailgate pad priced less than even the most basic pads
  • Fleece-lined straps promise to be gentle on frames
  • Sits securely on the truck, and bikes sit on the pad without moving around

Cons

  • Giant Ozark Trail logo. Can this be smaller, please?
  • Universal size leaves room to spare on full-size trucks

Bottom line

The Ozark Trail Universal Tailgate Cover Pad delivers solid performance and thoughtful features at a budget-friendly $79 price point, making it an excellent value for mountain bikers who need to haul a lot of bikes safely and securely.

 
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