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Old 07-07-2010, 05:06 PM   #1
gregdan24
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Tailgate Clearance

Hate to start another tailgate thread, but here goes.

If I back up at any angle to hitch with the tailgate down, it will end up hitting the 5er. So the DW has had to hold it part way up a time or two - not a fun job for her and it looks like an accident waiting to happen to me. Once after I told her to put it up while I finished hooking up, I had to line up a little better and put a little ding on the inside of the gate with the back of the pin box. So now we've resorted to just taking the tailgate off when towing/camping. I thought the Montana was supposed to have this tailgate-friendly design, but it only seems to work when hooking up straight on or close to it. So far the only time that's happened is when we picked it up from the dealer...

Didn't really want to for both security and appearance, but now I'm leaning towards going to a V gate. Otherwise I think it's only a matter of time before the stock one is wrecked or someone gets hurt.

From what I can gather most use their stock tailgate, and I'm wondering how you all deal with this? Or do you all hook up straight on all the time?

Thanks in advance,

 
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Old 07-07-2010, 05:21 PM   #2
exav8tr
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Greg, I still have my OEM tailgate, but I mostly back up straight under it. Are you saying the top corner of the tailgate hits the lower front portion of the 5er? I can see where that might be a problem but I have not had that problem due to how I back up. I have thought of buying a V shaped tailgate and having it painted the same color as the truck (white). Not sure how that would look........
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Old 07-07-2010, 05:26 PM   #3
farmboy
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We have a Montana model 2955 and I can hook up at any angle with the tailgate down and still have room to the 5er. I have a 8' bed and standard Reese select series hitch. The Mountaineer Model must be different than Other Montana models.
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Old 07-07-2010, 05:42 PM   #4
gregdan24
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by exav8tr

Are you saying the top corner of the tailgate hits the lower front portion of the 5er?
Yep, that's the problem when the tailgate is laying down.

I was looking at it trying to think of some way to hold it up part way with a cable or something, but it would take some engineering. Better yet a remote-controlled motorized pulley would be really cool!
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Old 07-07-2010, 05:43 PM   #5
gregdan24
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by farmboy

We have a Montana model 2955 and I can hook up at any angle with the tailgate down and still have room to the 5er. I have a 8' bed and standard Reese select series hitch. The Mountaineer Model must be different than Other Montana models.
Must be something different. I'm jealous!
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Old 07-07-2010, 06:21 PM   #6
7.3Ford
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I have a V tail gate, and love it. Also makes getting into and out of the back of the truck easier.

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Old 07-08-2010, 01:36 AM   #7
NCFischers
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Greg,
Your signature shows that you have a long bed pick up. I don't lower my tailgate until the trailer is in position to be disconnected and have never had any problems.
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Old 07-08-2010, 01:50 AM   #8
steves
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Keystone made changes to the front caps of the later model Montanas. My 05 3400, I could hook-up with the tail gate down at any angle. When I bought my 09 BS - the 1st time I hooked up, I almost put my tail gate into the front storage compartment. You now have to be almost straight on to hook-up with out hitting the front with your tailgate. This is something that you need to be aware of and be very careful each time you re-hook to the rig. A V tailgate would eliminate the problem but I don't want the V tailgate when I'm not pulling the Montana.
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Old 07-08-2010, 01:52 AM   #9
ols1932
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I guess I don't understand why you're having to back up to the rig at an angle. I've never heard of anyone doing that, unless of course, you have to do that because of where you parked. Everyone I know backs straight on.

Orv
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Old 07-08-2010, 02:54 AM   #10
steves
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Sometimes at campgrounds you have to come in at an angle because of space or other obstacles (truck, trees, etc) which dictates your approach to the rig. Whatever the resaon....unless you are basically straight on you have to be careful of the tailgate. As I said in my previous post with my 05 this was not a concern but with the newer rigs you need to be careful or you could easily end up damaging the rig and truck.
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Old 07-08-2010, 04:44 AM   #11
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We just got back from a trip and it was the first time I have ever had a problem with the tailgate clearance. I always knew it could be a problem because if I am at much of an angle, the corner of the tailgate will contact the front of the trailer. Where I parked, I had to go in at an angle and had to manuever a little to get the truck straight enough to completely drop the gate to unhook. Then had to do the same to get hooked back up to leave.

As a side note, I am now considering a V gate. While trying to get situated and level in the site, I was blocking the road. A truck was waiting to get by. I got in a hurry and got out of my routine. Forgot to lower the tailgate. Oops! Now I am in the market for a new gate. I want a stock gate as I have a locking roll type tonneau cover, but may buy a V gate to put on when towing. After many trips and over 100 nights in the camper, I finally made that mistake.
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Old 07-08-2010, 04:47 PM   #12
gregdan24
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Here at my house things are tight and I can't really get straight on to either of my parking spots. It doesn't take much of an angle at all for the tailgate to be in the way.

So, guess I'm going to be in the market for a V gate. Murphy follows me around too close most of the time to take the chance. It's pricey, but I'll probably spring for a Custom Flow with the insert for the V so I can have my cake and eat it too.

Thanks all for the replies and advice.
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Old 07-09-2010, 04:22 AM   #13
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by gregdan24

Quote:
quote:Originally posted by farmboy

We have a Montana model 2955 and I can hook up at any angle with the tailgate down and still have room to the 5er. I have a 8' bed and standard Reese select series hitch. The Mountaineer Model must be different than Other Montana models.
Must be something different. I'm jealous!
Yip, I just checked the distance from my pin to the trailer at tailgate level and it is 7'. It has a 2' extended pin box standard from factory and it drops 10 " from original pin box. I kinda worry about box hitting side of truck box in turns that are at odd angles. Wish I could get my pics. from picasa to here. It would show it real well. John
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Old 07-11-2010, 11:51 AM   #14
mtheo
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I found out about your problem on my first unhook from the dealer, have to back in at an angle at home and could not let the tailgate down to unhook. Had to pull out and remove gate to park. I went straight to my shop and built a new tailgate.
Good luck.
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Old 07-28-2010, 03:43 AM   #15
Jamieb
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I have two small dings in my front compartment. If I am perfectly lined up my tail gate down has about 1/2 inch clearance. Last week I thought I was in line but not quite and that is where the second ding came from. I have an 08 F350 long bed crew cab and an Air Ride pin box.
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Old 07-29-2010, 05:50 AM   #16
Waynem
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Greg,
Don't you have a cable on each side that you can remove by un-clipping and then remove the tailgate?

My thought process is that you mentioned a "rig" to raise the tail gate a little for backing. So, I thought, what about going to a salvage yard, getting two tailgate cables, cut out a section of length, clip the two ends together with a good fence cable clip or similar, throw the OEM under the seat for when you want the gate down all the way, or some other modification to the cables.

Beats the heck out of a price for a V tail gate.

Just a thought. Sometimes I'm way outside the box.
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Old 07-29-2010, 06:04 AM   #17
Sinterior
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I came so close to denting the factory tailgate with it up a few times, or the fiver front storage when backing up at and angle with the gate down, so I looked at V-gate prices versus factory tailgates.....decision made, plus it was one thing less to think about hooking up or unhooking.
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Old 07-31-2010, 04:22 PM   #18
mtheo
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Jamie. If you want to rig the tailgate part way down and easy way is to take the tailgate cables and hook them over the latching pin. I do this on my chevy when I can't close the gate completely. Not sure if it would work for hooking up or not.
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