Crunched my rear bumper, thinking about a vented tailgate...

[klenger]

I backed into a concrete lamp post pedestal yesterday at a downtown parking lot. The post was about 3' tall, but did not actually have a lamp post on it, so I didn't see it. I'm thinking about getting a vented tailgate for better visibility and ease of hooking up the 5er. The one I am considering is the Stromberg Carlson VGD-02-100 (Camping World part number 25714) because it allows good visibility, is light weight, and is cheap ($99 on sale).



Any comments on this tailgate or one similar to it?



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[dresslered]

Good for the 5th wheel but a bit worse on the fuel mileage when driving on the highway (without trailer).

 

[crobertson1]

klenger,

I thought you had a Dodge!

 

[DanDee]

Klenger,



Let us know how you like it if you get it... . I've been thinking the same thing as I'm running a little too short of the green stuff to spend $400 on a tailgate.



Oh yea... don't feel bad about the post, did the same thing on the very first day!

(Fortunately I had just come to a stop & it only put a dime sized scratch on my bumper... but I was feeling sooo cool backing my new dually into the tiny parking place! My wife just laughed and said well you got your first scratch out of the way!)



DanDee

 

[JPope]

Had that model on a 91 GMC, was the only thing good about that truck!!!!! Son backed the truck into the gooseneck w/o lowering the tailgate so!!!!!! Not as fancy as others available, but you cannot beat the price.



Had almost 10 years in snow country (Iowa /MN. ), and finally had to strip and repaint. The hardware for securing when closed (springs and split rings?? for pulls on each side) are cheaply chrome plated and rust soon if you are around snow/ice /salt) but that shouldn't be a problem for Arizona.

 

[BarryG]

Ken:

I cant remember the name of the company that did it. Saw it at one of the RV shows here in Denver. They take your tailgate and cut the center down like the one pictured. I thought it was pretty slick. The price was decent if I remember though it it may have been a show special or something. It was about 300. 00.

 

[klenger]

Barry: I've seen tailgate mods like the one you are describing, but one of the things I am after is better visibility across the whole back end of the truck. I'm tired of backing into stuff.

 

[BarryG]

Now I get it. Not always so slow on the uptake. With my toolbox the open style wouldn't do me any good. My line of sight with the toolbox I can just see about the top two inches of tailgate.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Hey Klenger!



at least the first dent is history. now you just concentrate on enjoying the truck. I did the same thing about six weeks ago. backed into a short post and put a couple small dings in my rear bumber.



And! I already got one of those vented tailgates!!!



Love the tailgate. Works great, looks good, better fuel economy than the solid gate. The one you have picked out looks better than the one I got. Mine has curved louvers so you can't see thru it. The cut out for the 5er hitch is the only advantage I have for rear visibility.

 

[jfrow2]

Seems like the vented tail gate does not work, I have a Handy vented tail gate and it did not stop me from backing into a tree:{



I cannot use the magnetic excuse either, I am quite sure the tree was not magnetic. Also, I cannot use the short pole excuse since the tree was about 40' tall.



So the only excuse I am left with is that the tree jumped out behind me while I was backing.

 

[klenger]

The tree must have come from magic seeds.

 

[Jay]

My first (and only) dent came in the dentist's parking garage



I've had RV tailgates on all my trucks and noticed soon after I got the 2003 that I had small cars "hiding" behind me... I missed the rear visibility the the "V" in the tailagte gives you. I have a Handy tailgate on this truck now and really like it.



Jay

 

[Tony T.]

Originally posted by klenger

Barry: I've seen tailgate mods like the one you are describing, but one of the things I am after is better visibility across the whole back end of the truck. I'm tired of backing into stuff.

Hey, Ken! get yourself one of those 5 inch T. V's and small cameras mounted on the rear of your truck (somewhere) an you can also use it on the rear of your 5th wheel with a little extra cable an ingenuity. We have them mounted on our Motorgrader's at work, an they do come in handy. There also equipped with audio.

 

[FCecelin]

Would one of those radar type sensors work? You know ,when you get close to an object it beeps . .

 

[dresslered]

... or, you could just let the wife back 'er up.

 

[RHARVEY]

Well here is the story about my vented 5th wheel tailgate. . I had it on the truck for over a year with no problems... . On one of our last outings with the trailer in tow and headed home I was traveling a section of freeway that I had not been on with the trailer. All of a sudden I hit a pot hole from _ _ _ _! The truck bounced hard enough to cause the tailgate to come loose completely. . When I say completely... it came off the truck and went under the trailer. Not only did the tailgate leave the truck so did our front stablizer which was laying in the back of the truck between the hitch and tailgate.

The freeway was so crowded. . I could not stop and there was no place to stop. . We got on the phone and called CHP and told them that there was stuff in the road. .

The said they would take care of it. .



Rick