Tail gate on or off?

I have a V notch tail gate as well. Want items I carry to stay in the bed.

The regular tailgate means you have two more things to remember to do while unhooking and hooking up: lower the tailgate and raise the tailgate. With our truck and 5th wheel we don't have room to lower the tailgate if the 5th wheel is at an angle to the truck, so the notched tailgate means we don't have to mess with that...ever. Works for us.

Also, we bought our truck used and the previous owner didn't use a notched tailgate and you could see the results in the trashed tailgate.

fj12ryder wrote:
. . .
Also, we bought our truck used and the previous owner didn't use a notched tailgate and you could see the results in the trashed tailgate.

And they didn't know how to hook-up!

Always took mine off. Much easier to hookup. Left it off until I was done for the season.
Now with my new truck I went with the V tailgate. Best thing since sliced bread.

Mine stays off. Easier with less worry and bother. Added a cheap cargo net but I often do not even bother with that.

ReneeG wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
. . .
Also, we bought our truck used and the previous owner didn't use a notched tailgate and you could see the results in the trashed tailgate.

And they didn't know how to hook-up!

Mistakes are made ,and nothing to do with knowing how or not knowing how. We are human ,and WE make mistakes. Well some of us do. :R

Go ahead and order a notched tailgate. One of the best things you will buy for the new trailer.

Really it is easy for even an old man (with an old assistant) to switch out the tailgates at the end of the season or if we are going to be home for a month or more.

I'm in the "leave it off" camp. One forgetful moment and it is a $1000 mistake. Without it you don't need a plug in the bed, use the one on the bumper.

Your rig, your choice.

bkutsi wrote:
New to 5th wheeler traveling and I was wondering if we are supposed to keep our tail gate on or off and the reasons for the answer. :)

You're "supposed" to do whatever floats your boat. :B No "rule" about this. Personally, I leave my OEM gate on for the majority of my towing, mostly because it's a bit of a pain to change to my v-gate. Now, when I go on longer trips, I definitely use the v-gate, but I never don't go without one or the other, in place. The v-gate =does= reduce in-bed turbulence, so it does make for a bit more comfort while towing, as well as the ease of hitching/unhitching. Not nearly as handy if you need to use the tailgate while camping, though it can be done. I often have water jugs on the gate while boondocking to 1) keep people out of my FW and 2) reduce water use from my tank.

Lyle