flow-through tailgates and bed turbulence

[WRStrong]

I am new to 5th wheel towing and still learning new and unexpected things. I am amazed at the turbulence in the rear part of the truck bed when pulling the 5th wheel at highway speeds. On our first trip we found out that lawn chairs don't like it back there. On the second trip I thought okay only load heavy things in the back part of the bed. Wow! even heavy stuff blows and tumbles around.



So here's the question. Do the flow-through tailgates reduce turbulence while towing a fiver??



I have heard that they don't make much difference when running down the highway empty.



Any experiences to share?

 

[Grizzly]

Hey WRStrong, I'm just 32 miles north of you. I had one of those joke Fords when I bought a 1988 HR Alumalite 29' 5er. With the truck tailgate up on my first major trip I had a lot turbulence. The 5er being a lot heaver than the gasses ford I was getting jerked around badly. When we returned from our trip I asked the RV dealer about the turbulence. He said I needed a vented V notched tailgate. I bought one and never had that problem again. I just had tons of problems with the gasser ford, but that's another subject. After the ford I purchased a 95 Dodge/Cummins Dually. Best truck I have ever had. I bought a chrome vented tailgate for it. I still have it but it will not fit the 3er generation Dodge. A vented tailgate does make a lot of difference. Suburban RV in Albuquerque has one just like mine for the 3rd generation Dodge. See photo on "Louvered Tailgate Adds Horsepower" thread Grizzly

 

[HBarlow]

I have a vented and notched tailgate and the airflow through the bed will still carry away anything that is not very heavy or tied down. The front overhang of the fifth wheel forces a lot of wind down through the bed.



Harvey

 

[J&LRam]

WR STRONG

a vented tail gate helps a bunch. Take your gate off and make a tow to find out the difference. Some say a wing on the truck roof helps with the turbulence in the bed. Yeh, things need to be tied down good. We lost a lounge chair years ago that was tied down but it still worked loose. After that I never used a regular gate when towing the 5er... ... ..... JIM

 

[WRStrong]

Thanks for the replies. I will check out Suburban RV. . Grizzly I've seen your posts but didn't realize you were from NM. Have you signed up for the New Mexico TDR chapter? We meet for lunch now and then and have major good spirited BS sessions. If you are interested, and aren't already signed up, let me know. It's cheap (free) and easy.

The front overhang of the fifth wheel forces a lot of wind down through the bed.

Harvey,

That was my impression too. Just wondered if a vented tailgate would help relieve some of that turbulent high-pressure air being forced down into the bed. I guess I could slow down some too :-laf

 

[GAmes]

Of the 310,000+ miles on my truck the tailgate has been installed for less than 1000. 2X6 leveling blocks would sometimes levitate with a 5er hooked up. I started storing the inbed stuff in milk crates placed right behind the bed with great success. About 170,000 miles ago I put a companion toolbox behind the 5er hitch. Along with the milk crates nothing escapes anymore.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Vent?

Test was done by factory as to Vented gate or standard gate in up position they stated best to keep standard gate up and save fuel due to the bubble of air created that keeps air out of the bed. Year they did the test without a trailer (fifth wheel attached ) Do get a vented V gate notched or sooner or later you will notch you gate with the trailer pin. Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville Ky or Tampa fla. P. S made my own V gate. Oo.

 

[Turbo Thom]

I've had just the opposite effect. With the louvered tail gate I had an empty 5 gal plastic gas container, go up and over the front of the fiver. Never did see that thing again. Even now I find things that are a little light, blown to the rear of the truck, pinned agains't the tail gate. Turbulance is just unreal back there.



. . Preston. .

 

[WRStrong]

I will eventually (soon I hope) go to vented, notched gate mostly for the reason stated by Ron Bissett. I have already had two close calls with my stock tailgate. Once with the 5th wheel, stopped the wife just in time to limit the damage to a slight paint scratch, and another where for some unknown reason I disconnected the gooseneck coupler, cleared the ball, closed the tailgate and drove away. Looked back just in time to limit damage to a small V-notch in the upper edge of tailgate. This new feature has actually helped me to back up to bumper pull trailers because I now have a distinct center mark. Could have been a disaster though if I had drove right through my tailgate. Being your own worst enemy has its advantages. Just have look out for yourself :-laf



I laugh a bit at people running down the freeway with tailgate down and belongings lashed down, totally convinced they are getting better mileage. Read the manual. I admit to being a little surprised that trucks are designed to run most efficient with the tailgate closed. Them engineers are pretty smart.

 

[AfterBurner]

Don't worry about getting a vented tailgate... get a flatbed!

 

[Forrest]

I haven't noticed any difference in turbulence with or w/o the 5'th wheel tailgate.



I've had 2 different v gates. One all metal, didn't fit well, then this one:



http://www.campingworld.com/browse/products/index.cfm?prodID=1664&src=SRQC



Light weight, metal tubular frame, excellent fit, light.

 

[jjordan1]

Will the vented tail gate you have fit my 2001 Dodge Ram???? If so are you interested in selling?????

 

[B.G. Smith]

) Do get a vented V gate notched or sooner or later you will notch you gate with the trailer pin. Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville Ky or Tampa fla. P. S made my own V gate. Oo.

Don't know if the vented gate helps the turbulance or not. I suspect some type of bed cover to keep the air out of the bed would work best, I think the air comes over the cab, hits the trailer then goes into the bed and then out the back into the front of the trailer again, when I have towed on wet roads I can see a cloud of mist that looks like it is coming out from under the trailer on both sides. I started out with stock gate, open, back up, close, hook up. Tried it without the gate for a few trips, lost a large bag of fish remains out the back that I was going to put in a trash container, oh well. Got the vented/notched gate about 100,000 miles ago, still have hit the tail gate three times but it's the best route to go. Save your tailgate as they will want it when you get ready to trade. bg

 

[Grizzly]

jjordan1, Yes it is for sale and is listed in TDR classified. There is a pic on, "Louvered Tailgates Add Horsepower", thread. I'll try to download another pic. Biggest problem will be shipping from Albuquerque to Alton, Il. If your interested you can e-mail me at -- email address removed -- Grizzly

 

[Grizzly]

I forgot your question jjordan1, yes it will fit. Your truck and my last truck, 95 Dodge/Cummins, are 2nd generation. My pic did not download for some reason. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong. I clicked on go advanced, then I clicked on Manage Attachments, then I went to My Documents, found my picture and downloaded it. Grizzly

 

[WRStrong]

Don't worry about getting a vented tailgate... get a flatbed!

Now there's a solution I hadn't thought of. It's hard to tear up a flat horizontal surface Some of the specialty tow beds are really sharp looking. Probably expensive, but if you live on the road... or have tons of spare money why not? I'll bet they handle the air flow better than a stock bed also.

 

[GAmes]

Biggest problem will be shipping from Albuquerque to Alton, Il. Grizzly

If you make this transaction I'll bet a transporter who operates out of IN could help you out.

 

[merryman]

I made two sets of wheel chocks by cutting a piece of 4X6 treated wood about 14 inches long into at a 45 angle, drilling a hole through each peice and connecting them with a rope about 4 feet long. Twice I have had a set of them blow out of the bed of my truck when towing the fiver. Once was with the stock tailgate and once was with a vented tailgate--the second time, one of the chocks got wedged between the frame and a tire and cost me a tire. In addition I once placed a plastic milk crate stuffed with short pieces of 2X6 in the bed of the truck in the morning and that evening when we stopped the whole thing was gone. I no longer carry anything less than about 20 pounds in the bed of the truck when towing.



Vaughn