Damaged tailgate w/hitch back

mtofell1 wrote:
Thanks everyone.... I appreciate all the info. I can't see using a cutout 5th gate for security and weather considerations.

Here are the pictures below and the 5th arm has an abrasion where it hit the top/front of the gate. The strange thing is it looks like it was when I was making a sharp right turn and while backing in I got a bit jack-knifed at one point but that was to the left. I did have to drive around the block a couple times (with the hitch back) before going to ask my neighbor to move his car. That's probably when it happened.

I don't see any fins or anything that can be cut off. It looks like just the arm from the 5th that is the culprit. Also, raising it up may work but I have a perfectly level setup and hate to mess with that.

It's a bit frustrating if there isn't a way to run with the slide back I feel as though I wasted $500 on a slide hitch. I'll play around with it next time I'm out.

As for the damage to the truck I'm hoping I can take the plastic cap off the bed and pound the dent out to allow the handle/camera/lock to sit and seal. I could live with the cosmetic issue but am worried about water getting in around the handle and hurting the electronics inside.

Oh well.... I'm coming up on 2 years with this truck and don't have even a scratch that I know of. I guess it's officially a truck now :)