tailgate

[Godzilla1]

I just purchased a new 31' fifth wheel and traded our 29' travel trailer in, do you have to remove the tailgate to tow?

 

[SOLER]

no

Just don't forget to put it down for loading, unloading the 5er. Also, always make sure the pin is secure when loading it before pulling away. I learned all about this the hard way. So, don't be a teenager. Learn from me.



You may opt for a 5er tailgate. They have the "V" in the middle, and then you don't even have to put the gate down for loading/unloading .



SOLER

 

[Radshooter]

Zainman... . I don't have a fiver tailgate, and have been doing fine for 5 years now. I just drop the tailgate, back under the fiver, hook up the lights and close the tailgate. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS perform a visual check on the hitch and pin to make sure the locking assembly is secure and closed around the kingpin before closing the tailgate. My hitch has a blade that closes behind the kingpin, so it is easy to see if it is closed before I pull ahead. I like having the tailgate because I can still haul the blocks, shovel, and other "stuff" without worrying about it rattling out. When we bought the truck, we asked that they put the plugin in the bed for us. They were of the opinion that everyone removed the tailgate completely for hauling a fiver. They thought we would plug in by the bumper. Unfortunately, this doesn't work for us because we are fulltimers. When we leave a site, there is usually no coming back to get the tailgate!!! Most of our trips are one way.

Enjoy, and be safe. If you get flustered, just remember these three words... . STOP, BREATHE, THINK, and you will do fine.



Steve

 

[Godzilla1]

thanks for the replies, I was'nt sure if I needed to remove the gate or get one of the gates for towing the fiver.



Zain

 

[Fireman]

beware

I got a new '03 last year, installed a hitch, lowered the gate, and hitched up. OOOPS! the tailgate hit the trailer. Dented the generator door and the tailgate. Never had that problem with my previous truck.



Fireman

 

[Radshooter]

Thanks for the warning Fireman. I hadn't even given it a thought about the tailgate striking the generator door. It was not an issue with my '99. We will be hooking up the '03 for the first time in a couple of weeks, and I will be watching it real close.