Still learning about truck camping before purchase and was wondering what you guys do with your truck tailgates when the camper is loaded. Also, if you unload your camper while at a site do you just drive around without it and do you have any concerns about the sides of the truck flexing or giving without the stability the tail gate provides when in place? Please forgive me for possible stupid questions.

I put mine in our basement in November of 2002.... would you like a brand new tailgate... cheap?

I leave the truck tailgate at home in storage. The beds will be fine without the tailgate unless you hit it hard from the side, and even with the tailgate they will be damaged.

By the way, tailgates get damaged all the time and they are worth quite a bit in good condition.

I have mine on the truck while the camper isn't on the truck. Then I put it in the spare bedroom while the camper is on. I only have the camper on the truck 2 times a year for a week or 2 each time so no my truck bed sides show no signs of collapsing or getting weak.

What do you do with the tailgate? | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

MacHof
Explorer
May 15, 2013
Tailgate is in storage. Had the camper on our truck for 21 months, continuously, no issues with warpage.
wnjj
Explorer II
May 13, 2013
JimBollman wrote:
My current camper fits completely in box and I can close the tailgate. I use it as a back porch when we are camping. I will miss this if our next camper is any longer.

I always think of those setups as a camper "shirt" tucked into truck "pants". :)
JimBollman
Explorer
May 13, 2013
My current camper fits completely in box and I can close the tailgate. I use it as a back porch when we are camping. I will miss this if our next camper is any longer.
2BLAZERS
Explorer
May 13, 2013
When the camper is on the tailgate gets wrapped in a moving blanket and put in the garage. I take it on and off for every camping weekend since i find the rear camera very handy when hooking up trailers and parking.
RWDIII
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Judithgap wrote:
Still learning about truck camping before purchase and was wondering what you guys do with your truck tailgates when the camper is loaded. Also, if you unload your camper while at a site do you just drive around without it and do you have any concerns about the sides of the truck flexing or giving without the stability the tail gate provides when in place? Please forgive me for possible stupid questions.

As you can tell from the picture,when the camper is on there is nothing to prevent flexing notice the spaces.My tailgate lives in the garage all the time.Its a non issue
Happy camping:)
Judithgap
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Thanks for all the feedback on this question. I am sure I will have many more as I move closer to purchase.
Sheriffdoug
Explorer
May 13, 2013
My wife says, "Move It", it's on her side of the garage, wall!
I only put tailgate back on Truck, when I need it for long loads.
It's in beautiful condition, all rugged up, in old blankets.
portscanner
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Mine has been off for 6 months now. Camper has been on and off 4 different times during those 6 months. Going to build a rack in the garage where I can store and protect the tailgate off the floor and out of the way.
AnEv942
Nomad
May 13, 2013
Lay a towel or whatevers handy in front of the shop, stand the tailgate on end leaning against the shop. The way my tail gate is attached Ive never considered the tailgate adding any sort of support to bed walls- compared to an older single wall bed.
NMace
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Stored. When I drop the camper when on the road, I have a net tailgate.

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What do you do with the tailgate?

24 Replies

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