Quick question. Sorry for the ignorance, but how do I get the tailgate off my truck? I tried to mess with it a little this afternoon but had not luck. Have to go and pick up the trailer tomorrow, so I would like to get the gate out. Scotty

 

It really helps if there are two of you to do it. You will need to unhook the tailgate cables from the bed. Then you have to "play" with the tailgate to get the correct angle for the tailgate to slide off the hinge pin. You can look at this on the passenger side of the tailgate as you are "playing" with it and get the angle. You then lift up on the passenger end of the tailgate, swing it out away from the truck just far enough to clear the bed and tail light assembly and then pull it off the driver's side hinge pin. You move the tailgate towards the passenger tail light to get it off the second hinge.

Someone else may give better instructions but that is how it is done.

Why are you removing it? I have taken mine off and I have left it on and I get the same mileage when towing my 5er. You do need to make sure that you remember to drop the tailgate and close it when hooking up or unhooking. Also you need to make sure you have clearance when dropping the tailgate if you are doing any of this at an angle.

 

If you are getting a 5th wheel, you may want to look at a 5th wheel tailgate.
They allow for hooking & unhooking the 5er without having to drop the gate.
Also, I have read a few posts where people have forgotten to put their gate down & damaged both the fiver, but maily the tailgate It is also illegal to travel without a tailgate.
They sell the 5er gates at Camping World.

 

Huh? Never heard that before.

 

never heard of this either. ive drove around many times without a tailgate and never had anything said before.

 

It's only illegal if your mother in-law is not present in the bed of the truck.

 

Must be a Texas thing. Never heard of that law here.

 

texas has some weird vehicle laws. like night and day speed limits.... only 5 mph difference

 

Nope, not a TX law. I've had my tailgate installed for maybe 200 miles of the total life of the truck.

But then there is the inter-net law. If a non-fact is repeated enough times on the internet then it becomes true. You do know that sulphur has become a fuel lubricant, right?

 

I use a small piece of wood (2x4) to pry up on the tail gait when I am taking it off.

 

Pull the cables off then you should be able to pull it up and off when its at about a 45 degree angle (halfway up). It took me a few minutes to figure it out but once you do its a piece of cake...takes all of two seconds. As far as it being illegal to run without a tailgate Ive never had a problem and I have run through a lot of states. Probably if you have something in the back and its not secured is the only time they might raise a fuss.

 

go to a place where undesirables hang out. they will show you how to take it off at the speed of a nascar team changing 2 tires at talladega! if your not careful youll end up on blocks w/o any seats in the same time if you dont pay attention

brett

oh yeah. pay them with malt liquor