5TH Wheel Tailgate - RV-Dreams Community Forum

bacardiron · RV-Dreams Community Member

5TH Wheel Tailgate

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

bacardiron wrote:
Do the aftermarket styles do what they are claimed to do, is the savings in fuel substantial enough to recoup the cost?

Plain and simple NO.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

The aftermarket “V” tailgates will help you better insure you don’t have to fix a factory tailgate – again.

As far as saving fuel, nope, not one bit; especially with 4.88 gears. Actually not with 3.76 gears either. {Grin}

Bill

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Heh.......here's another one that likes that built in step. I like it a lot. I had considered the louvered type tailgate, but decided that I didn't want to give up the step to get it. We are similarly equipped with our F450 and if I had to drive a long distance with just the tow truck, I would remove it and leave with the coach or carry in the bed of the truck.

Now, with that said, be very cautious. Here in Oklahoma City, the thieves are starting to steal the tailgates of the pickups around town. The tailgate on my F150 has a lock and it also has a topper on it with another lock. However, I need to get the tumblers changed in the tailgate of the F450 because my key doesn't work with it to lock it.

They were saying that to replace the tailgates could run as high as $2000 to $4000. But, I've not priced any of them, so I don't know for sure.

Terry

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lostsa research has gone into "remove tailgate for better fuel economy" all over. End result is it does no good and in some instances hurts. Seems there is a static bubble of air that forms in the bed of a truck that causes the passing air to pass over. Best of all worlds is a cover, but not workable with a fifth wheel.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would think the drag factor on a 5th wheel would be minor on the tailgate .....it would be smarter to invest in an airfoil to deflect over the 5th wheel.......less damage to the coach and less drag created by becoming areo-dynamic

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have both the louvered tailgate and air foil.
The biggest thing I see the tailgate do is it calms the air movement in the bed of the truck. I can keep lite weight things in the bed without them flying out when towing the 5'er. I keep a bottle of Power service fuel additive in the front corner of the bed. With the factory tailgate the bottle flew out several times. Doesn't happen with the louvered gate. As far as the air foil, they claim better mileage, and in theory it should be more aerodynamic, but I haven't seen any increase in mileage. What I have seen is a decrease of bugs on the front of the 5'er, because they are all on the air dam. Having the V-gate is nice as I don't have to open and close it everytime we hook or unhook. The downside is no tonneau cover.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

A friend had a lapse in concentration. He took his partially crumbled tailgate and cut the top off of it. He used one of those chrome metal tailgate topper strips to finish off the top of his shortened tailgate. He used gate slide latches to keep the tailgate closed.

He now has a tailgate that provides better clearance for his pinbox. It looks like it was a factory option.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

The manufacturers have engineers who spend hours and hours designing all vehicles...even pickups,to go through the air with the least wind resistance as possible.Just to experiment when I still had my Dodge Duelly I put a piece of paper by the tailgate and drove the truck at 60 mph.....Still there when I got back.The best way to get maximum fuel mileage is to drive like you have an egg between your foot and the throttle pedal and stay as light as possible and keep your tires properly inflated.

-- Edited by Racerguy on Saturday 16th of March 2013 11:23:43 AM

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have use both, the steel louvered V-notch tail and the Aluminum, prefer the Aluminum. Fact is it makes no difference, and myth busters tested both with tail gate and without tail gate, no difference in fuel mileage. And I just bought a new 2013 Chevy 4x4, 1500 all options. Had it a week and added the Roll N Lock bed cover and installed a bed rug. Very pleased, however I very seldom haul anything in the truck bed, I have trailers to haul things. Check gas mileage before and after installing the Roll N Lock, no difference in gas mileage.

There is a lot of dirty air run in and around the truck bed, and for sure when dragging the 5er. Happy Trails...

bacardiron · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well, thanks to all who have contributed once again. Sometime in the near future I hope to gain enough knowledge to help out folks on the forums, but for now I should just ask questions :) From what I've gotten from people's info I gather that the rv style tailgate does nothing in the way of fuel savings, is a lot lighter than the stock one ( maybe gives 100lbs more to the payload ), and the only convenience is that one does not have to drop the tailgate when hooking up the 5'er. If one needs to replace the stock tailgate it is much cheaper, but the step built into the ford gate is a really neat feature to have. If I do decide to get an aftermarket gate I think it will be the Husky aluminum model ( it has the highest weight rating at 300 lbs ) but I don't think I will be putting any weight on it when its open anyways. I will get a locking model as they do get stolen quite easily. Thanks and happy RVing !

Jhoynacki · RV-Dreams Community Member

I just replaced my tailgate from my 3500 chevy - seems that when we thought we were hooked up to the pin on the fifth wheel - we weren't! Good news - i was pulling really slow - just gave a slight tug and BAMMMMM. Good news - the pin landed on my diamond plated tool box - the one with the V. It also hit the top of the tailgate and caused slight damage. I ordered a replacemnt 5th wheel tailgate from Amazon and with my Prime account free shipping my cost was $349. Metal build, looks great, says 200lb limit, but it looks like it would more. Custom Flow VEL28 5th Wheel Custom Tailgate amazon link

Fifth Wheel Landed on Tool Box Anyone want to try and repair a tool box, or want to buy a tailgate cheap - $100

teamford · RV-Dreams Community Member

custom tailgate we opted to have our factory tailgate customized by
AJ's Automotive
Address: 47872 US-18, Canton, SD 57013
Phone:(605) 987-4292
they did a great job and I would recommend AJ's to any one would
like to modify their tailgate for 5th wheel use

Im not able to figure how to upload photos so hopeful the below link works
http://www.ford-trucks.com/g/album/4084742