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

laknox
Nomad
Aug 18, 2014
the bear II wrote:
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.

That's why I =specifically= didn't mention mileage. :-) FWIW, the best mileage I've ever gotten with my truck was a trip last October up to Cortez, CO. I had a 14 cu ft chest freezer strapped up behind the cab and was getting 23-24 mpg at 70-75 mph. I've =never= gotten close to that before...or since.

Lyle
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Aug 18, 2014
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.
Sturgeon-Phish
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
On my previous truck I had a V gate that I'd use when towing. The areodynamics are varied; with camper without camper; with hitch and without hitch; and I'd say its a wash.
I sold the gate and don't plan on getting one for this truck.
powderman426
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
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.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
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.
valhalla360
Navigator
Aug 18, 2014
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.
redsb3
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
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.
korbe
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
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.

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Louvered V-gate

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