05/28/2026
So, I've seen this pic on a few sites recently. It's another tailgate pic that I'm sharing. It's terrible. I don't mind being a snob and uppity about this. This is dumb. I'm not posting this to make fun of the driver or crew. I'm posting this as an example of what not to do. I get it. Lots of variables could factor into why a tailgate was performed. An A for effort for not wanting to leave an overflow. The straps alone after miles of vibration and friction can tear into the plastic. For the new and younger drivers, here's a solution. Double or triple bag your matts unless you're going between southern Arizona or southern Vegas to southern Cali. Lol. Take no chances. I'd prefer to bag, box, tarp, and then stretch wrap. The boxes add extra integrity. That's been the most effective way for me. I've gone through tropical storms, and everything was bone dry. If you decide to roll the dice and tailgate, mattresses are the easiest. They're square and manageable by one person if you need to rearrange or tighten up. They draw less attention than the "Sanford and Son" gates at the scales and on the highway. No excuse for not tarping or adding extra protection. I've tailgated before like that when I've ran out of material, but I went to a Lowe's or Home Depot ASAP to get material to better protect the items out there. You can also have Uber Eats deliver items from Home Depot and other hardware stores to you. All of that is worth more than what a potential claim on that mattress would be. Last but not least, it's a bad optic. I will use that term ad nauseum. I wouldn't be happy if that was my mattress. Neither would most of you. - Sherrell
