Have you ever pulled into a trailhead, seen a fellow rider's setup, and thought “dang, how do they stay so organized”? These are the kind of things WE think of as we’re pulling into the dirt lot, and from experience, the Basecamp Pad is the perfect place to start.
Most mountain bikers build their truck the hard way: a pad here, a cheap cargo organizer there, a duffel bag that's been "temporary" for three seasons. It works, until a bike shifts on a fire road, or you're digging through everything for a spare tube while your buddies wait.
We built the Basecamp ecosystem to solve this exact problem, one piece at a time. Here's what a complete mountain bike truck bed setup actually looks like, and why each piece earns its spot on your tailgate.
Start With a Locking Tailgate Pad
Everything else in this setup builds off one foundation: a tailgate pad that actually locks your bikes down, not just cushions them.
The Basecamp Pad 3.0 is built around a patented integrated steel cable and locking carabiner, so your bikes are secured to the truck itself, not just resting against foam. That matters more than people expect the first time they have to leave the truck unattended. Whether you’re grabbing a bite to eat, need to run an errand, or go to the bathroom, when you have $10,000+ in bikes, 30 seconds is all it takes for them to disappear.
The Basecamp 3.0 is also built for modern truck geometry. The latest version features paneling to allow for the pad to curve with your tailgate, and ultimately shape to it. This creates a perfect fitment, hugging tight to the truck, that a lot of "universal" pads don't actually accomplish.
Protect the Frames, Not Just the Tailgate
A pad protects your tailgate. It doesn't automatically protect your bikes from each other.
On a standard pad, once you have a few bikes loaded up, frames start making contact. Especially on back roads when everything's bouncing around. That's what the Skid Plate is for: an accessory that adds extra cushioning and secures with additional anchor points, so frames (and paint jobs) aren't grinding on the ride to the trail. It's especially worth adding if you're running heavier e-bikes, where the extra weight makes frame-on-frame contact more likely.
Organize Everything That Isn't a Bike
Bikes are the easy part. It's the helmets, pumps, tools, and hydration packs that turn a truck bed into chaos.
The Cargo Net keeps all of that gear anchored and visible instead of buried under bikes or sliding around loose. Load it up before you leave the driveway, pump, multi-tool, hydration pack, spare tube, all in one easy-to-grab spot and it's still exactly where you left it when you get to the trailhead. No more digging through the bed with one glove already on.
Pack the Stuff That Gets Wet, Dirty, and Sweaty
Every rider has some version of the “crusty gear bag”, the one that holds shoes, a hoodie, sunscreen, snacks, and whatever came off your feet or back during the ride — and it never quite dries out before the next trip.
The Taxiway Tote is built for exactly that cycle. It's designed to get soaked, muddy, and tossed back in the truck bed, then rinsed off and ready to go again. It clips into the same Basecamp ecosystem as everything else, so it's not a separate bag rattling around, it's part of the setup.
Build In the Post-Ride Basecamp
Now here's the part of the setup that actually makes the tailgate feel like a basecamp instead of just a staging area: what happens after the ride.
Clip on a Jeffrey Cooler for cold drinks waiting at the trailhead and pop out a Lounger Chair for the debrief. This is the whole idea behind the Basecamp system: how can we get as much out of our tailgate as possible? We’re tired of the idea that it’s solely for transporting bikes, let’s turn it into something exciting.
FAQ: Mountain Bike Truck Bed Setup
How many bikes fit on our tailgate pad? Up to 4 on mid-size trucks, up to 6 on full-size.
Do I need a locking pad, or is a regular pad enough? A standard pad only protects your tailgate while you drive. A locking pad protects your bikes any time you step away from the truck.
Is a Skid Plate necessary, or just nice to have? Worth adding once you're running more than one or two bikes, or anything heavier like an e-bike!
Will a tailgate pad block my backup camera? Not with the Basecamp Pad 3.0, it includes a removable backup camera window designed to fit all new backup camera locations.
We hope our guide has helped and gets you excited to hit the trailhead! If you have any other questions about our products or install, please reach out directly to our team at support@trustcache.com or (855)-621-0280.
For The Longhaul.
— The Cache Team
