Tailgate down

[jnharley]

Our neighbors in the campground were pulling out this morning and we noticed that their tailgate was down and they were ready to pull out. Went over to let them know and found out that they tow like that. We watched them pull out and make a gradual turn and the tailgate was very close to the RV. It looked like the tailgate would hit on a sharp turn. Any reason why a person would tow like this?

[Dave_H_M]

Ken, they always say third time is a charm. :B

[rhagfo]

Atom Ant wrote:
I think you can lose your tailgate if it bounces just right when down.

Not likely most lift offs need to be at 45 degrees to be lifted off. That and the support cables would hold it on. Still would not want to travel with it down.

[rhagfo]

ken burke wrote:

cdlaine wrote:
A couple of weeks ago I heard the dreaded crunch from
an Rv'er that forgot to put his tailgate down (backed
into the 5ver pin). Maybe your owner is skeert of forgetting
to lower the tailgate for hook-up / un-hook ???

On a related note... saw at least 3 5ver's (with the crank-up
antenna) in the "up" position...as they were checking out.

I stopped notifying folks as it seems well-intentioned
intervention is rarely welcomed. Just wave.

Charles

I have backed up against my 5th wheel while the gate was up!! Not only once, or twice, but 3 times. It is a good thing that I didn't have the tailgate repaired after the first hit. Well, it is just a truck, after all.

ken

Have you eve considered a 5er Tailgate??? Maybe not once, maybe not twice, but maybe three times!!!

I have gotten all of mine off of Craigslist 1st bought for $100, when I sold the F250 it would not fit the Ram so sold it for $150. Bought a one for the Ram for $60 thin metal and rusty. I spent $20 on paint and cleaned it up. It really wasn't what I wanted! found a custom flow built for the Ram (follows body lines) for $100, then sold the other for $100.

[64thunderbolt]

powderman426 wrote:
I dont know about saving fuel, but I can tell you there is a large vacuum in the bed. I had a trolling motor in its box and put it against the tailgate. When I looked in the rear view mirror it was levitating. Thankfully I caught it before it got sucked out.

I lost the lid on my weber grill. It came out. I lost several things before I realised why. After horseshoeing my tailgate pull out after dropping I bought a Vgate. Problem solved on all accts. Just takes a min to swap them.

[ken_burke]

cdlaine wrote:
A couple of weeks ago I heard the dreaded crunch from
an Rv'er that forgot to put his tailgate down (backed
into the 5ver pin). Maybe your owner is skeert of forgetting
to lower the tailgate for hook-up / un-hook ???

On a related note... saw at least 3 5ver's (with the crank-up
antenna) in the "up" position...as they were checking out.

I stopped notifying folks as it seems well-intentioned
intervention is rarely welcomed. Just wave.

Charles

I have backed up against my 5th wheel while the gate was up!! Not only once, or twice, but 3 times. It is a good thing that I didn't have the tailgate repaired after the first hit. Well, it is just a truck, after all.

ken

[Atom_Ant]

I think you can lose your tailgate if it bounces just right when down.

[JIMNLIN]

jnharley wrote:
Our neighbors in the campground were pulling out this morning and we noticed that their tailgate was down and they were ready to pull out. Went over to let them know and found out that they tow like that. We watched them pull out and make a gradual turn and the tailgate was very close to the RV. It looked like the tailgate would hit on a sharp turn. Any reason why a person would tow like this?

Actually it was quite common years back.
Our first 5th wheel trailer was a new 26' 1984 Aljo that came with a 30" extended pin box. I had it on a '82 chevy long bed. We traveled with the tail gate down to eliminate wind turbulence in the bed after loosing several items even tho they were tied down.
I later added a zero extended pin box. It helped with the turbulence problem but the bigger plus was it brought the 5er closer to the cab and actually pulled easier and handled better in strong side winds. I added a GN/5th wheel gate and no longer had to travel with the gate down.

Now what his reasons were only he could answer.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

MFL wrote:
I have not heard of much tailgate theft in my area. My last two trucks have had factory locking gates. I rarely lock mine, but probably should. I'm not sure, but the factory gate lock does seem to be secure.

Jerry

If you only camp in "your area" - guess you're OK.

Often "problem areas" are the ones you're not familiar with!..:W

~

[Cummins12V98]

john&bet wrote:
I am one of the lucky ones to be able to have my tail gate down at any angle with room to spare.

I can have mine down at all times also but sure would never tow like that.

[socoguy]

B.Sjulestad wrote:
Probably stopped and put it up after they were out of sight because they were just too embarrassed to admit their mistake

I think you figured it out only thing that makes any sense.

[Atom_Ant]

john&bet wrote:
I am one of the lucky ones to be able to have my tail gate down at any angle with room to spare.

I could also on my 2003 2955RL Montana. They had the long pin boxes and Montana had a huge bedroom overhang back then.

My 2007 Montana changed that - shorter overhang and shorter pin box. It was so close I didn't even dare back up with the tailgate down because if it wasn't exactly square the gate would hit.

PS - our 2955 was one of our favorite rigs 🙂

[john_bet]

I am one of the lucky ones to be able to have my tail gate down at any angle with room to spare.

[cummins2014]

wilber1 wrote:
Had a folding chair sucked out of my truck and that was with a louvered gate.

Same here lost a medium size cooler with the louvered gate, just enough room for it to blow out, if I would have had my stock tailgate on it would not have had enough room. No longer use the fifth wheel tailgate with the roll up cover, like to keep things covered up, and out of sight when not towing . Do not miss using the louvered tailgate

[Cummins12V98]

I bought a 81 VW PU new and "thought" I was saving fuel with the tailgate down. I finally figured it out it did not matter but by that time my tailgate was sandblasted from all the sand on the winter roads bouncing up.

Yes things DO get sucked up and out of the bed when towing I know from personal experience!