Tailgate Question
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 101
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Tailgate Question
Hi All,
Perhaps a few of you experts can answer a debate I have going in another unrelated forum. We are in a heated discussion as to whether or not the tailgate is a structural member of the bed.
I belong to an RV forum and we are trying to determine if it is ok to tow fifth wheels without the tailgate, or if by taking off the tailgate, we are weakening the bed sides and possibly causing long term damage to our trucks.
Aside from possibly blowing anything carried in the bed out, is there anyone who knows if travelling gateless will damage our trucks?
Perhaps a few of you experts can answer a debate I have going in another unrelated forum. We are in a heated discussion as to whether or not the tailgate is a structural member of the bed.
I belong to an RV forum and we are trying to determine if it is ok to tow fifth wheels without the tailgate, or if by taking off the tailgate, we are weakening the bed sides and possibly causing long term damage to our trucks.
Aside from possibly blowing anything carried in the bed out, is there anyone who knows if travelling gateless will damage our trucks?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 503
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Dont know from experiance.heard that wind blowing in the box over time will cause the bed to flex in and out.this action could cause the box to weaken over time.just what iv heard.An vented gate is probley a better option then none at all.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 128
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From: Kalamazoo, Michigan
I took the tailgate out of my 91 F150, LB, 4.9L, manual, about a month after I bought the trk new. The sides are still solid, but the wheel wells are getting pretty rusted. The clock rolled over for the second time last month. The tailgate has been in the garage since, this past winter I put the tailgate back in because I put the cover on for the first time. Last nite I backed the trk up a small bank to load some supplies to take back to a store and noticed that the latch didn't align quite right because the bed had twisted a little. It latched fine after I got it back on level ground.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 1
From: NorCal
If it is a necessary structural part of the bed then why would Ford allow anyone to put in a slide in camper? And there would be a warning sticker somewhere to say that you cannot drive with your tailgate down.
The tailgate might help keep the bedsides from flexing much on rough terrain but it's not a necessary part.
The tailgate might help keep the bedsides from flexing much on rough terrain but it's not a necessary part.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
The tailgate is a structural member and opposes side force on the bed sides. If you are not putting side forces on the bed sides, then it does not matter.
If you look at the latch pins on your bed you will see that they have capturing rings that keep the bed from moving outward when the tailgate is latched.
So it depends on how you are using your truck. I don't think pulling a 5r makes any difference.
JMO.
Bill
If you look at the latch pins on your bed you will see that they have capturing rings that keep the bed from moving outward when the tailgate is latched.
So it depends on how you are using your truck. I don't think pulling a 5r makes any difference.
JMO.
Bill
