I'm looking for a 5ver tail gate, not one that has a "vee" but one that folds down in half. I managed to find a patent for one but the drawing was very small and I have been unable to find one for sale. Does anyone know of one or has anyone made one? I did search but all the posts were for the vee styles.

 

Are you talking about the top half of the tailgate folding down? I've never seen anything like that in all my searches. (And I've searched extensively over the years) I have seen this one I thought was cool but you still need to open it...





Found here... http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/s...k_barngate.htm

 

Yeh! the top half folding down. Like I said I found a patent for one but haven't found anyone making one. My new 5ver is sooo close that unless you are dead straight the tailgate will hit. The reason I don't want the vee style is I unhooked the other day in a back lane and had to pull out at an extreme angle, and the pin was soo close to the box side it almost hit it. I couldn't have got the pin through the Vee if I had a vee tailgate on.

 

When positioning the trailer to the exact location you sometimes make moves that make it impossible to "just pull out straight". The case in the back lane, the truck ended up inline with the trailer after backing in at 90 deg. However there was a concrete barrier directly in front and a large garbage bin to one side. There just was not enough space to pull out and turn in one motion and after backing up to reposition the truck the pin was nowhere near the center line of the truck.

I have always used the factory tailgate with all my 5vers, this new one is just too close for comfort, in fact I had to lower the pin box (which slides in at an angle) to move the trailer back a little so I could actually open the tailgate with the trailer hooked up.

If I can't find one I'll make one out of square steel tubing using factory latches, lower pivot points and cables then skin it with aluminum.

 

How about a set of cables or straps that allow the stock tailgate to open only to a 45* angle so that it's low enough to clear the pin but not have to open all the way down? Something like this.

 

Now why didn't I think of that It just might work, I can try hooking and unhooking but I've put the trailer away for the winter so it would be next spring before I could tell for sure. I'll certainly give that idea a try first. THANKS!

 

i really doubt you could open that unit with your 5er hooked up

 

I just crushed the top of my tailgate and I'm curious what notched tailgates you guys recommend?

I have seen them in aluminum, plastic and steel, some are louvered and others are solid.

So far prices range from $185 to $350.

I also have seen one where the owner notched it like I did and just had a body shop cut out the damaged section and made a factory looking 5th wheel tailgate. I'm not sure how he worked the latch though.

Ron W.

Sadder but wiser

 

RJ sorry to read of your loss, camping world has a really nice 5er tailgate in metal , when I bought mine I talked to one of the employees there and he said he wouldn't sell his ex-wife a plastic one , reason being is they evidently flex and get small than the mounting hinges points and fall off and damage trailers. I like mine alot only drawback is it only holds 200 pounds when down and yah have to cut a piece of plywood to haul leaky stuff (i.e. Barkdust) and such
I dont recall how much it was but it works for me.

 

i use a v shaped tailgate that has an aluminum frame and a vinyl net.it is called "turbo-net".it pops on and off in seconds and it keeps anything in the box from sliding out and it only cost me about 75.00 dollars can.works great

 

I have a steel one that I got from Camping World, about $125 then, proably about $150 now. I painted it to match the truck. I have caught the pin a few times and the steel bends, but does not break, a good thing.
The advantage of these is that you do not have to put your tailgate down ever again. I have read a few stories of people who have forgotten to put the gate down & wrecked their tailgate. The convienece of not having to mess with the tail gate is well worth it. May even save a little diesel fuel.
I have never had an issue with angles, but I guess it could happen.
The width of the V is 16" on the bottom, 36" at the top, and the drop is 11" or so. It leaves plenty of room to exit. It is also strong enough to deal with most of my non-RV loads. It is also very easy to take off.

 

Gee, I wish that were true. We would all have them. You see guys running down the road with their tail gates down and claim 2 mpg increases. However, wind tunnel tests have proven just the opposite. Putting the gate down decreased mileage from .2 to .7 mpg. Seems the tailgate creates a pocket in the bed decreasing the amount of suction behind the cab. Hence, a topper or flat bed cover is the best for increasing mileage. Obviously, the vented tailgate would simulate leaving the tailgate down. What I would love to see are some windtunnel tests with the fiver hooked up with tailgate on versus tailgate off. Maybe the vented gate would help a bit with the fiver on. If you note the pickup racers, many of them use a sloped cover starting right behind the roof of the cab sloping down to the tailgate - - decreased wind resistance.

Bob

 

I have a plastic one, they suck, and yes they do fall off.

 

i agree, they do fall off.
that's the reason i have one.... i found it on the road, but i know how to fix it so it won't fall off