Tailgate Clearance Considerations

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Apr 12, 2016 | 06:42 PM

horsebadorties

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Tailgate Clearance Considerations

On the SuperDuty page of the Ford "RV & Trailer Towing Guide", there's a table, "Tailgate Clearance Considerations when Towing a 5th-Wheel or Gooseneck Trailer".

For instance, the table specifies that a F-250 should have a maximum tailgate height of 56-57 inches, and a F-350 should have 59-60 inches.

I'm shopping for a truck for hauling a gooseneck horse trailer. The truck I'm most interested in is a used 2015 F-250 XLT. It has a tailgate height of 58 inches. Other F-250s I've looked at have tailgate heights of 56 inches. Should I be concerned that this truck's tailgate is an inch over the maximum height specified in Ford's table?

According to the truck's original window sticker, it has the camper package. It also has the 5th wheel hitch prep package.

Thanks!

Apr 12, 2016 | 11:41 PM

cyncwby

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Joined: Apr 2016

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From: So. Utah

I wouldn't worry about it, My Exxis gooseneck horse trailer worked perfectly with my '02 F-250 at 58". The trailer goose neck is adjustable so you can give yourself the needed room if necessary. However you do have to keep the trailer as level as possible, also if your new truck has 4" blocks in the back you can remove them for the 2" blocks which would lower the back of your truck.

Apr 13, 2016 | 09:03 AM

senix

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From: Frederick, MD

It will be fine.

A F250 is the same as a F350 except for the overload spring and maybe the taller blocks.

Camper package or a block upgrade is all that happened.