Last week I bought a Hitchhiker II and Ford F-350 truck.  The tailgate on the truck is too high and the previous owner backed up too far and damaged the storage bay door behind the hitch.  She bought the replacement door and recommended that I replace the tailgate with a "V" style.  Where would be the best place to start - a Ford dealer, or an RV service such as Camping World.  I plan to stop at Camping World in Winchester VA when I start back south, and it would certainly be more convenient to have it replaced there.

And I'm not entirely sure the V style gate is what I need.  It looks like the right corner of the tailgate is what hit the storage door, so wouldn't a shorter tailgate be better, or is the gate with the "V" a shorter one to begin with?  thanks.

gypsy

Gypsy, what makes you think the tailgate is too high? They are all the same height and work on every fiver I've ever seen. The V notch gates are to prevent damage if you pull away before the hitch is locked, but If your careful, that won't happen. Most people use regular tailgates. Fred

Hi Fred, and thanks for responding.  I'm only going by what the owner tells me, and I can see the damage she did to the door behind the hitch.  She also showed me the replacement door she bought, but "never got around to actually replacing".  It seems to me that if you had the tailgate down and went back too far, you would damage it straight across the door, and not only on one side.  But then I'm not at all familiar with the mechanics of this whole process.

I would be very happy if I don't have to replace the tailgate, but I will be very careful about backing the truck up to hitch the 5ver.  I remember seeing a video of the process, and you must have the tailgate down when engaging the hitch as I recall, then close it before you do something else.  I'll have to find that video again.

gypsy

The hitch will hit the pin box before the truck tailgate can hit the front of the coach if you are lined up properly. You should try to go to a campground and watch people hooking up to see how it's done. It's really not difficult once you get used to it. Where are you located, maybe someone from the forum can help you with this. Fred

I'm in Dutchess county, NY, and the rig is in storage in Burlington, NJ at present.  I can have nightmares just worrying about how I can get from storage to the PA Tpk and over to I-81 south, or else somehow make it back to NY and leave here the way I always drive it. 

I just looked over the pictures of the 5th wheel exterior and can make out the damage done to the door, and you're right, it couldn't have been made by the tailgate.  I wrote the owner about an hr ago asking for details on what I can do to avoid hitting it with the tailgate and how the "V" would help, but have not gotten a reply yet.  I also watched the hooking up/unhooking video on the Americana RV website, and don't see how the tailgate would hit the unit.

The owner never did use the 5VER much and has since bought a Class C, so she is going to ask a 5th wheel owner whose rig is also parked in that storage lot, to be there to show me how it is done. 

gypsy

Sounds like the tailgate was left down and hit the front of the 5er.   Some 5th wheel are designed in such a way there isn't enough room between the tailgate and the front of the 5er.   The V-notch will alow hooking and unhooking without lowering the tailgate.   GBY.......

-- Edited by Delaine and Lindy at 16:57, 2008-11-02

I believe the tailgate hit the trailer because she was coming into the unit at an angle, if you back straight into the king pin you will be fine. The V shape tailgate is so you can come into the king pin from any angle and not have to drop the tailgate. That said you can do the same thing by raising the front of the 5th wheel so it will clead the tailgate and then lower the trailer to the desired height to hook the king pin to the fifth wheel. I have the V tailgate and have never lowered it to hook up and I normally back up at a slight angle. It is not as difficult as it sounds.

Gypsy. . . Where in Dutchess County are you?  I grew up in Pawling.  Left there many years ago. 

Jim wrote:

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Gypsy. . . Where in Dutchess County are you? I grew up in Pawling. Left there many years ago.

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I'm in Hopewell Junction, and recognize Pawling.  I am having a difficult time staying here at my son's with the two dogs, and have been searching for a campground that stays open until the end of November.  Any ideas?  Thanks.

gypsy

 

Gypsy, the tailgate can be found at any camping world, as well as installed there. The "v" tailgate should make the whole process a little eaiser, you don't have to remember to put the tailgate down, therefore with the tailgate not being down you will not hit the 5er with it.  I suspect what happened with the previous owner, with the gate dropped she back in at an angle or she backed in too far and bang the gate hits the unit and does damage. Always try and back straight in and take your time, its not a race.  Nobody wins any prizes, particulary when damage is done to the unit or the truck. 
 
Flyone  

Gypsy
It's been so long since I lived in the area, I can't make any suggestions on campgrounds.  Sorry