Tailgate update for 5th wheel tow vehicles

I'd have one if someone made them to look like the OEM tailgate with a fancy cutout for the pin. As it is, I take the tailgate off and leave it home when we tow.

X2 norskeman. I take mine off and put the stock gate back after we are done for the year unless we are going to go somewhere in the winter then I leave it on. Good Luck on your decision.

Goes on in the spring and off in the winter. Handy fifth wheel tail gate. Just makes it easier to hitch up. Had one on my 2005 too.

Left it black so it would be easier to touch up when scratched. On my 2005 I had it painted to match the truck.

BB_TX wrote:
I use the OEM gate for 2 reasons. I have a roll type tonneau cover that I pull closed and lock to hide things in the bed when I am not towing. And I can also pull it back near the hitch and lock it to hide things in the front of the bed when I am towing.

And second, I don't particularly like the looks of the V gates.

OK and third, I want the camera there when I unhook and start driving around wherever I am at the time.

And a fourth, I don't mind raising and lowering the gate when hitching and unhitching.

All of the above for me.

Jaxom wrote:
Not exactly a 5th wheel, but I had issues when hooking & unhooking my gooseneck trailer.
I had to back up to the GN, then lower the tailgate. Then back up enough to close the tailgate. Otherwise it would hit the lower front of the trailer!

Though, this would almost definitely make me get a v-notched tailgate, though. I haven't found an angle that I can't backup at and make contact between the truck and tailgate.

labren wrote:
May I ask what kind of cover you purchased for the box?

I have a RetraxPro. I also tied my tailgate locks into my truck locks so that the tailgate automatically locks when I lock my doors. Love the mostly secure truck bed.

I tried towing my fifth wheel with the OEM tailgate and it was a pain. I had to back up at an angle to hook up at one campground and my tailgate would have hit the RV before I was connected if I didn't have someone hold it at a 45 degree angle. I also dinged up the tailgate once when I forgot to put it down when hooking up.

Jaxom wrote:
Not exactly a 5th wheel, but I had issues when hooking & unhooking my gooseneck trailer.
I had to back up to the GN, then lower the tailgate. Then back up enough to close the tailgate. Otherwise it would hit the lower front of the trailer!
Then I had to continue to back up until the GN ball was centered underneath the GN hitch. If I was off a little I had to wiggle the truck back & forth with the GN hitch post inside the bed. Not a fun thing to do.

That's one of the main reasons I chose to go with a king pin on my gooseneck rather than a ball. Plus, you are required by law to use safety chains with a ball but not with a king pin. That tells me that unintentional trailer/tv separation is far more likely with a ball than a king pin.

More on topic, though, I don't think that a V-gate would help you if you have a ball hitch. Since the ball is much lower than a 5th wheel, the hitch on the trailer has to be much lower to contact it. No V-gate that I am aware of has a notch low enough to accommodate the height of a ball hitch.

My 2 cents...

Bert

labren wrote:
It would be great to hear from those that would have experience with the tail gait that has been cut down the centre to a "V" for 5th wheel towing. I guess the question is, is this really a big advantage. When ordering a new truck they have a backup cam options etc....and it seems a little strange to take the factory tailgate off and never use it again. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated, thanks.

Don't know about security for the newer factory TGs, but the older ones are/were an easy mark for thieves.

Gone in 20 seconds, easy to fence, high demand.

"V" gate = no need to lower TG to hitch up.

"V" gate = no big deal if *you* are taking it off and drop a corner on the concrete.

Damage the "V" gate - as above - or some other way, get another from Northern Tool for about $200.

Or - get ready for sticker shock! - Check the price of a replacement factory TG (and painting to match) .......and what (how much) will your ins cover for damage or theft (deductible?).

For me a "V" gate was an easy decision..:C

~

Jaxom wrote:
Not exactly a 5th wheel, but I had issues when hooking & unhooking my gooseneck trailer.
I had to back up to the GN, then lower the tailgate. Then back up enough to close the tailgate. Otherwise it would hit the lower front of the trailer!
Then I had to continue to back up until the GN ball was centered underneath the GN hitch. If I was off a little I had to wiggle the truck back & forth with the GN hitch post inside the bed. Not a fun thing to do.

My problem too. I made mine, It't ain't as pretty as the manufactured ones, but it was 1/6th the cost and strong.

BB_TX wrote:

labren wrote:
I appreciate all your answers, gives me plenty of ideas to ponder.

Any idea where the preference e setting is for the posters profile. I get this message that says

"image not displayed due to preference setting" Thanks

Click on My Forums.
Click on My Preferences.
Check the box that says show images.

then go to the bottom of the page and click save changes, otherwise nothing is applied or changed.

labren wrote:
I appreciate all your answers, gives me plenty of ideas to ponder.

Any idea where the preference e setting is for the posters profile. I get this message that says

"image not displayed due to preference setting" Thanks

Click on My Forums.
Click on My Preferences.
Check the box that says show images.