Louvered V-gate
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 bo...
Forum Discussion
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..;)
~
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..;)
~
