Ratcheting the couch will work but the cargo hooks in the back of an SUV are not as stout as those on a pickup. The SUV hooks are made for lighter items, trucks for heavy cargo. Make sure the straps go over the end of the couch to keep it from falling out backwards. Also definitely pay attention to the gate itself. You want to secure it to the couch itself so that is not bouncing around which would in turn casue possible damage to the struts, gate, and/or body where the struts/gate are mounted. Liftgate assemblies can be heavy and when they are open, they are not getting the full support of the backend body opening of the vehicle. The bolt holes where everything is mounted, can be easily bent or stretched if you put too much pressure on the gate. They simply were not made to be driven with the gate open. A truck is definitely more ideal but if you have to use the SUV, just use common sense. Take it easy and take your time. You should be fine.