Destroyed my tailgate today
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 774
Likes: 252
From: CNM
Good to hear this still happens, lol
I had 5th wheel tailgate thread a few weeks ago and came to find out that apparently nobody uses them anymore, for a few reasons.
But this is the main reason I used one on my old trucks.
I hope I don't do this again like I did 20 years ago...
I had 5th wheel tailgate thread a few weeks ago and came to find out that apparently nobody uses them anymore, for a few reasons.
But this is the main reason I used one on my old trucks.
I hope I don't do this again like I did 20 years ago...
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 432
Likes: 132
Have almost done the same thing on my gooseneck trailer. It's so tempting to close the tailgate after unhitching, etc. On one occasion, my father-in law forgot to engage the coupler on his gooseneck ball, and trailer popped off the ball at a weird driveway transition and dented the bottom of his box and bedrail and he realized what happened. He would have needed a new tailgate as well if he didn't have the safety chains. We're all human.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 363
Likes: 16
From: Saskatchewan
Good to hear this still happens, lol
I had 5th wheel tailgate thread a few weeks ago and came to find out that apparently nobody uses them anymore, for a few reasons.
But this is the main reason I used one on my old trucks.
I hope I don't do this again like I did 20 years ago...
I had 5th wheel tailgate thread a few weeks ago and came to find out that apparently nobody uses them anymore, for a few reasons.
But this is the main reason I used one on my old trucks.
I hope I don't do this again like I did 20 years ago...
Gary
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 177
Likes: 15
From: Decatur AL
Well, I haven't damaged a tailgate yet, but i did turn to sharp 15 minutes after buying my brand new toyhauler and it made contact with the cab and blew out the rear window on my F-350. 
The bad part is I bought the B&W Companion Slider 5th wheel to keep that from happening since my truck at the time was a short bed. The problem was nobody showed me how to use it. And since I didn't want to make an insurance claim, that was a $2400 lesson on slider hitch's.
The bad part is I bought the B&W Companion Slider 5th wheel to keep that from happening since my truck at the time was a short bed. The problem was nobody showed me how to use it. And since I didn't want to make an insurance claim, that was a $2400 lesson on slider hitch's.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,358
Likes: 250
Stuff happens. Now I don't feel so bad for denting my tail gate not once but twice when I left the cover lock for the spare tire winch on the bumper and lowered the tail gate. Cost me $100 to fix it the first time and left the second dent as a reminder.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 503
When my tailgate is down and my truck is lined up with my trailer, I have about 4" between them. Dropping the gate is one of the first things I do when unhitching so I can reach around and disconnect the cables. Then I hook up the shore power. And vice versa.
The wife is getting good at spotting me back to that point without ramming the tailgate through the garage. This is one of the few times I put the ebrake on before getting out to see if I'm lined up on the ball.
The wife is getting good at spotting me back to that point without ramming the tailgate through the garage. This is one of the few times I put the ebrake on before getting out to see if I'm lined up on the ball.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 267
Likes: 79
From: San Antonio
https://www.truckbedsoftexas.com/
If they don't have it, they can probably locate one for you in the color you need.
Good luck with it.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 44
Likes: 35
From: Las Vegas Nevada
You are not alone three trucks and three Fifth-wheels ago I was in a hurry at the storage unit which has a water drain dip right in front of the truck after I back in . Connected heard jaws clamp gave a tug held truck back lifted legs pulled out slow as always but when I hit the dip with truck rear tires , the trailer raised up came off hitch and slammed on the bed rails with kingpin box damaging my tailgate. Like said before it hurt but did not damage trailer dealership couldn’t find any damage I fixed damage to truck myself new tailgate, get hand dollys and banged what I could and metal pullers with glue sticks and it looked like new . Got top dollar for truck at dealership at the time so no harm no foul . I now have Anderson steel hitch and I lock ball before I put tailgate up every time with chains also never looked back .
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 663
Likes: 352
Yes, i'm aware and thats what I was referring to. I tore out all of the interior myself so I could remove what was left of the glass and do a proper cleanup before I let the body shop do their thing. Every time it was clean and then took it for a drive i'd come home and find more glass. I kept vacuuming glass up for almost 2 weeks
Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 68
Likes: 20
You are not alone three trucks and three Fifth-wheels ago I was in a hurry at the storage unit which has a water drain dip right in front of the truck after I back in . Connected heard jaws clamp gave a tug held truck back lifted legs pulled out slow as always but when I hit the dip with truck rear tires , the trailer raised up came off hitch and slammed on the bed rails with kingpin box damaging my tailgate. Like said before it hurt but did not damage trailer dealership couldn’t find any damage I fixed damage to truck myself new tailgate, get hand dollys and banged what I could and metal pullers with glue sticks and it looked like new . Got top dollar for truck at dealership at the time so no harm no foul . I now have Anderson steel hitch and I lock ball before I put tailgate up every time with chains also never looked back .
I backed my 550 dump truck out of a driveway at a house I was working in, totally forgot about the huge oak tree on the edge of the road across from the end of the driveway. That cost me a new metal tailgate.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 774
Likes: 252
From: CNM
Gary, can you PM me with details on how you did this? I've searched to no avail...
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 363
Likes: 16
From: Saskatchewan
https://www.camerasource.com/2017-su...amera-included
It is ridiculously expensive but works well. There might be other options for a replacement camera that works with the 300 view by now but when I did it several years ago this was the only one. It appears to be the same camera that is in my tailgate.
I notice that they are showing out of stock right now,
Gary
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,665
Likes: 986
From: Near Yosemite CA
Welcome to the club! I always thought I'd never join myself... then I did 
Made a nice V out of the tailgate on my 96, beat myself up for a week or more, then perusing CL, found a tailgate for it, guy had taken it off for a camper, $100 and I was in the club!
Made a nice V out of the tailgate on my 96, beat myself up for a week or more, then perusing CL, found a tailgate for it, guy had taken it off for a camper, $100 and I was in the club!Alright, Alright I'll spill the embarrASSing beans. Pulled fifthwheels for almost 20 years and for the first time I drove the truck ahead to realign mid hitchup with the tailgate closed. I had closed the tailgate mid-hitchup to open the trailer storage compartment to turn the battery switches on which I had forgot to do before starting my hitchup. Almost tore the step right out of the tailgate. Needless to say it's mangled. Worst part is it's actually my wife's baby and she no like it when it's not lookin bad-***. Al right beat me up for being stupid!!
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