My brother picked up a louvered v-gate as part of a trade a while back, and I had the first occasion to try it a couple weeks ago. While it's nice, you still do have to be careful, especially when boon docking. I managed to just clip it with the pin when I rolled up on a rock while hitching. Was about 1" short of raising the pin enough. Managed to tweak the gate just a hair, but not serious. Biggest thing I noticed was that there was a noticeable =lack= of turbulence in the bed. I've lost some fairly heavy stuff out of my bed in the past, but even a couple beer cans that escaped my recycle bag stayed in the bed for 160 miles. My only real issue with it is the lack of cables to hold it level, so resorted to a couple ratchet straps. Needed the space for a couple water jugs for hand-washing. Overall, I like it.Lyle

One small handy item with my V-gate is that since its handle is centered, I use it to line up my pin when hitching up.

Laknox, depending on the brand, the studs may be there for the tailgate cables. I know they are on Stromberg/Carlson. Picked up a set for my GMC on eBay for cheap and worked great.

Funny thing, we've had the exact opposite experience.We spent 3yrs full timing with a standard tailgate. Never came close to hitting it (obviously had to drop it for hitching up) and never had anything sucked out of the bed and we had a couple 5 gal fuel jugs that were empty most of the time just sitting there.When we got the new (to us) truck last summer, the tailgate had a big dent so Tammy found a V-gate on craigslist for $40. First time using it we clipped it with the pin. Luckily it is plastic and just flexed and popped out of the hinge with no damage.Then this past summer we have lost boards and a cooler half filled when they got sucked out. I think short of doing an aerodynamic analysis, it's a******shoot.

I still lost stuff that wasn't secured even with a louvered tailgate. The wind from semis going by or strong crosswinds can blow light weight stuff right out of the bed.Even with the V I still would put the louvered tailgate down when hitchhing or unhitching. So on my new truck I didn't even bother getting one. On Mythbusters TV show they tested fuel mileage with tailgate down, net type tailgate or tailgate up....tailgate up got the best fuel milaege. Of course they weren't towing a 5th wheel, which means the test doesn't apply but I thought I would share it for when running empty.

It's amazing how much suction there is in the bed. I had a Minn Kota trolling motor in its original box and happened to look in the rear view mirror and saw it levitating. Im not sure there was enough room for it to get out with the overhang from the fiver, but I stopped and moved it inside anyway.

Louvered V-gate | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

RedRam
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
I've had a V gate for so long on my trucks I don't know what I would do without it them.I don't have to worry about lowering or raising it when hooking up and I can't remember ever losing anything in the bed.
Greentreena
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
I love my V gate, not for towing my 5th wheel but for my utility trailer because I can actually see it before its jack knifeing.
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
The ease of hitching - un-hitching without lowering the TG is well worth the cost - which can be relatively cheap.

However - none of the posters mentioned another obvious benefit.

Factory tailgates are a "high theft" item.
Easily removed - especially on older pickups - gone in 30 seconds!

Can't be traced, easily resold and/or "fenced" to unscrupulous salvage yards, body shops, etc.

HUGE demand - due to damage from owners backing their pickups into all sorts of things - not just 5th wheel "forgetfulness".... as well as the "vicious circle" replacement of stolen TGs.

"No problem where I live"......how about where you travel?

"My insurance will cover it if stolen".
Maybe. What's your deductible?
Check the cost of a new or used replacement. Yikes!

Then there's down time - chances are the replacement TG will have to be repainted.

Added bonus: *If* you need to remove the "V" gate, it's usually considerably lighter than the factory item....and no big deal if you drop a corner on the concrete when you remove it.

On my sturdy, inexpensive SC brand "V" gate - I add a removable section for the "V", "blank out" the open section, and use a bed cover.
You can't see inside the bed when not towing, with the cover in place.

With my 6' bed - I often carry lumber and other long items sticking out the "V" with no problems.

And yes - if *you* are looking at the back of my pickup, it probably looks like an "ugly gate"!..:(

OK by/with me..;)

~
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Aug 19, 2014
fj12ryder wrote:
It doesn't make a lot of sense to get a V-gate and then lower it anyway when hitching and unhitching. That's the benefit of them: you don't have to mess with the tailgate. I like mine, it's one less thing I have to remember to do.

The only reason I changed out OEM to 'V' gate when we went FT.

SO I didn't have to even think about tailgate up/down when hitching/unhitching 5vr.
RAS43
Explorer III
Aug 19, 2014
cpaulsen wrote:
Have had one on my Ford for quite a while. Used the stock Ford tailgate cables to hold it while it drops down. Never have had to lower it when hitching or un-hitching.

X2 Mine started on my '99 and is now on my '06, painted to match. I just like the convenience of not having to lower the tailgate. I have seen on two occasions one person having to hold the regular tailgate up while unhooking and lifting it so they could hookup. I guess in some cases the was a lack of clearance. I also read about this same issue in a Trailer Life test recently.
I am watchful about items in the bed but have only lost a bag of empty cans.
I don't worry about fuel mileage as I am towing a load and that takes fuel!
kennethwooster
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
I had a real nice Aluminum one and used it for a couple of years. It had its advantages, but I considered it ugly compared to the regular tailgate. Now that we have cameras in the tailgate, I would not trade. Could not get any better mileage.
cpaulsen
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
Have had one on my Ford for quite a while. Used the stock Ford tailgate cables to hold it while it drops down. Never have had to lower it when hitching or un-hitching.
laknox
Nomad
Aug 18, 2014
74vette wrote:
I agree with Beaker, I like the access of the v-notch tailgate either up or down. I can tell you that towing my 5th wheel, I do not put any light weight items in the bed. I have lost a half filled cooler and several wheel chocks from the bed. I think the 5th wheel creates some wild wind in the bed.

I could just feel a smoother ride. With my regular gate, the buffeting is noticeable, as is watching stuff levitate in the bed. :-)

Lyle
74vette
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
I agree with Beaker, I like the access of the v-notch tailgate either up or down. I can tell you that towing my 5th wheel, I do not put any light weight items in the bed. I have lost a half filled cooler and several wheel chocks from the bed. I think the 5th wheel creates some wild wind in the bed.
Beaker
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
One advantage of the V notch is that you can reach further into the bed while standing on the ground.
I prefer mine over OEM gate.