I've had a couple of comments about removing the tailgate for towing. It makes sense from a weight perspective. What about other pros/cons. What about loosing the backup camera? Thanks!

I use to do that, but realized I really did not need to. There are some positives, but really not important. As I get older and back some bad its best to leave it on. I just have to use my head and make sure it is down or up at the correct time while hitching. You can get a vented tailgate, which I had at one time, but its extra money and no camera.

I used to leave mine on, but lately, I've been removing it when I know I'm going to be towing. Every once in a while, I would get into a situation where the wife would have to stand between the tow vehicle and the 5er (really off to the side as I would never ask her to actually stand in a dangerous area) but she would lift the gate when I got past the hitch point to keep the gate from going through the front of the 5er. Now, I don't have to worry about her or the gate. Less worry. The TG definitely gets heavy, but it's not often that it's getting handled.

Cons for leaving on - lowering/raising when hitching/unhitching, unless you have a V gate. I would really miss the camera.Pros for leaving on - helps keep things in the bed, although a V gate will also.Weight is relatively minimal (compared to all else) so not really a factor.But I have a hard roll type tonneau locking cover on mine that I use to cover the bed after unhooking and hide things I may have in the bed so a V gate does not work for me. My factory tailgate stays on.

It is easier for a new FWer, to not have to deal with a tailgate. It is one less thing to have to watch for, hooking and unhooking.Like above, I like to keep things in the truck bed when camped. I have a roll up cover, and locking TG. It's handy to throw the chairs, grill, and other outdoor items in over night, or during bad weather.I've done it both ways, but now prefer to keep TG on the truck.Jerry

I do have my eye on a retrax system

Pros/cons of removing tailgate while towing | Good Sam Community

BillB3857
Explorer
Mar 27, 2014
I take my tailgate off and lay it flat in the truck bed behind the hitch. When we get to the campground and set up, I put it back on and slide my roll top cover to close the bed. Been doing that for the 10 years I've had the truck and trailer.
jalichty
Explorer
Mar 27, 2014
We put the V-Gate on our truck in 2003 and have had one on each of our last two trucks. As I told my wife, it's not if I will hit the tailgate but when. I don't have a back-up camera and don't leave anything in the bed that I don't want stolen so I don't have a cover either. I just like it for the piece of mind of not having to remember to drop the gate when hitching or un-hitching.
jaycocamprs
Explorer
Mar 27, 2014
I towed without the stock tailgate for 5 years. Then bought a V-gate off Craigs list. 1 less thing to worry about.
oilslick
Explorer
Mar 26, 2014
By taking the tail gate off you have no back up camera to use while unhooked, plus if you don't install anything the truck box sides are free to flop around and will eventually become wobbly, besides unhooking the camera and reconnecting is a pain and will break the connector quickly.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2014
Wow! two pages of open and close tailgate to hitch and unhitch, sure seems like a lot of unnecessary work to me!

I have a louvered V tailgate and it works fine. Many are available with filler panels for use with a locking bed cover.
The really good ones are about $350, replacing and getting a stock Tailgate painted to match the truck likely $800 to $1,000.
rkortes
Explorer
Mar 26, 2014
nole_trainer wrote:
sclark wrote:
Yes, the tailgate must be lowered before hook up. The pin would hit if not lowered.

Understood, thanks. Time to watch some YouTube ;)

Aaaaand just as important to put it up immediately after hook-up and bump test or you can quickly punch a hole in your rig with the downed tailgate. Be VERY slow and methodical when hooking and unhooking. I don't even like people to talk to me because I can't multitask!
avvidclif1
Explorer
Mar 26, 2014
I have one of the louvered and notched tailgates. I can't tell any difference when not towing (mileage) but it seemed to make a difference when pulling the trailer. I say seemed because I never put a pencil to the numbers after I put it on and then compared them to before. I know I like not having to mess with the tailgate when hooking and unhooking. I don't have a backup camera so that doesn't count, it wouldn't help with a 5er anyway.
MTPockets1
Explorer
Mar 26, 2014
Leave ours on. Primarily for backup camera and hard folding tonneau cover when unhitched. The hard cover provides security for items in bed, plus it looks better when unhitched.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Mar 26, 2014
nole_trainer wrote:
So dumb question. Do you have to lower the tailgate before unhooking/hooking?

Yes, and in OUR case, it has to be raised during the hookup process, or else the lowered tailgate will hit the trailer :-(
nole_trainer
Explorer
Mar 26, 2014
goducks10 wrote:
I remove ours when towing. Makes it easier to walk between the truck and 5'er. Also I don't have to worry about denting it by forgetting it's there. Plus if I need access to the front storage, the tailgates in the way when down. Mostly it's peace of mind knowing I won't accidently dent it.

What, like the "bad day" post? Yikes, that's why I'm learning from you guys