LinQ Pivoting Rack vs Rear Cargo Tailgate for Maverick X3

Two ways to add usable space to the X3 bed

The LinQ Pivoting Rack & Rear Cargo Tailgate and the standalone Rear Cargo Tailgate for Can-Am Maverick X3 / X3 MAX both mount to the cargo bed, but they solve different problems. The tailgate is a bed enclosure that keeps tools, coolers, and cargo from sliding out and adds an external curved profile with tie-down points. The LinQ kit pairs a pivoting polycarbonate rack with a metal tailgate, so you get the same bed enclosure plus a latching rack for accessories such as a spare tire, cooler, or storage box.

The right pick depends on your model year, whether you already run a large trunk box, and whether you need a mounting surface above the bed or just better containment inside it.

Fitment: the year range is the first filter

Both products list specific Can-Am Maverick X3 and X3 MAX model years. Check your exact trim and year against the fitment list before choosing; the two lists are not identical.

• Rear Cargo Tailgate fitment: The standalone tailgate is listed as compatible with 2017–2025 Can-Am Maverick X3 and X3 MAX all models, with a detailed trim-by-trim list covering 2-seater and 4-seater models.
• LinQ Pivoting Rack fitment: The LinQ kit lists 2-seater models from 2017–2023 and 4-seater MAX models from 2017–2020 in the supplied fitment. If your X3 is a later model year, confirm fitment before ordering.
• Trim-specific gaps: The LinQ fitment list does not include every X3 trim shown for the standalone tailgate, so a trim that fits the tailgate may not appear on the LinQ list. Use your exact model and year, not just the X3 name.

What each product includes and how it mounts

• LinQ Pivoting Rack & Rear Cargo Tailgate for Maverick X3/MAX: Package includes one set of X3 pivoting rack and aluminum brackets, 2 pairs of quick release fasteners, and all screws needed. The LinQ kit is a combined rack and tailgate system, so the hardware list covers both parts.

  

• LinQ Pivoting Rack & Rear Cargo Tailgate for Maverick X3/MAX: Bolt-in installation: tighten the screws to attach the rear bed tailgate to the cargo bed. No cutting or welding is described in the supplied installation evidence.
• Rear Cargo Tailgate for Can-Am Maverick X3 / X3 MAX: Package includes one set of back bed enclosure and all hardware, plus detailed product instructions. The standalone tailgate is a single enclosure with its own hardware and instructions.

  

• Rear Cargo Tailgate for Can-Am Maverick X3 / X3 MAX: Bolt-in installation: tighten the screws to attach the rear bed tailgate to the cargo bed. The standalone tailgate uses the same bolt-in approach without the rack components.

Storage gain: rack surface versus bed containment

The standalone tailgate increases storage space through its external curved design and adds lots of tie-down points, which makes securing cargo easier. It does not add a raised rack or latching system above the bed.

The LinQ kit adds a pivoting rack with a latching system designed to carry accessories such as a spare tire, cooler, or storage boxes, and the tailgate portion provides the same kind of bed containment. If you frequently carry big items and want to extend the storage area beyond the bed walls, the LinQ kit is the more expansive option.

The trunk box limit that decides the LinQ question

The LinQ rack has a documented compatibility limit that the standalone tailgate does not list. Read it before you pay for the rack.

• LinQ rack box limit: The LinQ Pivoting Rack does not fit trunk boxes over 20 Gal (74L) and is not compatible with rear intrusion bars, rear cage extension, or Lonestar Racing aluminum roofs.
• Trunk box compatibility: The LinQ rack is compatible with the 715004778 X3 storage box. If you already own a larger trunk box or run rear intrusion bars or a rear cage extension, the standalone tailgate avoids those conflicts.
• Standalone tailgate limits: The supplied information for the standalone tailgate does not list trunk box size limits or conflicts with rear cage accessories. That absence is not proof of universal compatibility; confirm with your setup if you run aftermarket rear accessories.

Materials and construction

• LinQ Pivoting Rack & Rear Cargo Tailgate for Maverick X3/MAX: The X3 rear rack is made of high density polycarbonate plastic, described as durable, strong, and corrosion-resistant. The rack surface is plastic, while the tailgate in the same kit is metal.
• LinQ Pivoting Rack & Rear Cargo Tailgate for Maverick X3/MAX: The bed enclosure in the LinQ kit is made of heavy duty metal with a UV-resistant black powder coat. The tailgate portion is built for wear, mud, and weather exposure.
• Rear Cargo Tailgate for Can-Am Maverick X3 / X3 MAX: The standalone tailgate is made of heavy duty metal with a UV-resistant black powder coat, described as wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and durable. Both tailgate options share the same metal enclosure construction.

Which upgrade matches your bed use

Choose the standalone Rear Cargo Tailgate if your X3 is a 2017–2025 model, you mainly need to keep cargo inside the bed, and you want tie-down points without adding a rack. It is also the safer choice if you run a trunk box over 20 Gal (74L), rear intrusion bars, a rear cage extension, or a Lonestar Racing aluminum roof, because the LinQ rack lists those as incompatible.

Choose the LinQ Pivoting Rack & Rear Cargo Tailgate if your model year appears on its fitment list, you want a latching rack for a spare tire, cooler, or compatible storage box, and your trunk box is 20 Gal (74L) or smaller. The kit costs more, but it combines the bed enclosure with a mounting surface the standalone tailgate does not provide.