5th wheel tailgate

[Dallam]

I have a 05 short bed with a reese/husky 5th wheel hitch, towing a 29ft 5th wheel and am looking for a 5th wheel tailgate. Any ideals or pro or cons on the 5th wheel tailgate? Sites that might have them?

 

[JimBob24]

I have the Husky (Husky Liner) aluminum 5th wheel tailgate. It is one of the more expensive ones, but it is very nice. Heavy duty aluminum locking tailgate. It fits well and will hold considerable weight. It is also light enough that it is easy to remove if you want. Excellent quality too. The best price I found when I bought it last year was at http://www.aztrucks.com . If you want economy there are some plastic or vinyl ones that are just for looks and look ok, but if you need a useful, functional, quality tailgate you might consider the Husky.

 

[Forrest]

I bought one of these, nice & lightweight too.



http://www.campingworld.com/browse/products/index.cfm?deptID=&subOf=125,37,338&prodID=1664

 

[Dallam]

Thanks big help, Dallam

 

[Schrowang]

Dallam,



I bought one for $139. 00 right out of the Northern Tool Catalogue. Its black powercoat and I've had it for two seasons. Its utilitarian, does the job and comes off when I put my 5'er to sleep for the winter.



If you don't need "pretty", but are looking for a good deal and a product that works well, you can't beat the quality or the price.



Mike

 

[Woodenhead]

I saw a Ford the other day that had the factory tail gate modified to be a fifth wheel tailgate. It looked pretty cool, had the middle part cut down and some sort of trim strip run along the top edge. I didn't get a chance to look at it too close to see exactly how it was done but it did look good.



Mike

 

[SHobbs]

There was a TDR member that knew of someone that was cutting the factory tailgates, don't remember who it was though.

 

[Boondocker]

I have a Handy brand tailgate, steel, powder coated black. It's very heavy duty, and heavy. The stock tailgate (2nd gen) weighs 50 lbs, the Handy weighs 40 lbs. I only wear it for 5th wheeling, so its sturdiness is overkill. Being a weight-conscience 3/4-tonner, I would prefer a lighter weight aluminum or plastic gate.



I also had to fab up a set of tailgate cables. On my truck, the cables are left and right, not equal length.



The thing I love about mine is, when backing under the pin, if I clear by about an inch, the trailer is at the right height for the hitch. I used to try to measure with a tape until I figured this out.



Neil