tailgate problem

[hbowers]

I have an early 04 3500 drw w/a tonneau cover from genos.

I pull a 31 ft. 5er rv. w/ tonneau covering the whole bed. I had a door cut in it for the pin box. I cannot see the tailgate in my rearview mirror, whether I'm towing or driving w/out the trailer.

anyhow we were going home from yuma a week ago and I stopped at ash springs nv. to fuel up. while I was fueling I opened the tailgate to get a bottle of additive. I was about through pouring that in the tank when the guy in front of me came back to talk. you guessed it I lost my train of thought and forgot to close the tailgate. there is only 3or4 inches between the gate and front of trailer when it's open. so I started to pull back onto the hiway and I heard an awful crunching noise. I stopped and got out to look and the right corner of the tailgate was sticking inside thefront of trailer a foot or more. luckily it didn't hurt the tailgate just the door on front of trailer. so I got to thinking how I could prevent that from happening again. so I put a door jam switch on tailgate and a red light on dash to come on when gate is open and ignition on. now if I can just remember what that red light is for.

 

[p-Bar]

your not alone I have a large drawer with all my tools and had forgot to put up the tail gate and driving down the freeway with the drawer hanging 6' past the tailgate . No damage just hurt ego. Switch has been something I have been wanting to do too

 

[HBarlow]

A warning light is a good idea. Anyone who pulls a fifthwheel trailer with an OEM tailgate in place will eventually forget to raise or lower the tailgate and similar damage will result.

 

[hbowers]

at first I thought I would put a switch on the tailgate that would prevent the engine from starting if it was down. then I thought that would be a little drastic, so I thought about putting a loud buzzer under the dash. I figgered that would be annoying to listen to everytime I was hooking up or unhooking. so I think the red light was the best idea.

everybody w/ a tonneau cover or anything obsructing your view of the tailgate should have one. IMO

 

[CharlesHoward]

Since I use the Bumper 7Way plug for my Fiver and drape the Cord over the tailgate, maybe that will help me remember to never leave it down.

 

[Mark31]

Since I use the Bumper 7Way plug for my Fiver and drape the Cord over the tailgate, maybe that will help me remember to never leave it down.

Gore horse trailers (made in Whiteville, NC for 45+ years) on purpose have a short power cord to force people to put an in-bed plug in. Mr Gore says they have rewired many a truck because of the cord getting caught and says the odds are high that sooner or later one will wish that had put in the plug. My well worn saying "you ain't got trouble 'til you got trouble" applies here!! Just consider! Mark