Remove Tailgate, Yes or No?
#1
Posted 16 January 2012 - 04:52 AM
My concerns are that the bottom of the camper can't take the "exposure" or that the camper is not strong enough to take the weight of a person standing on an unsupported section.
I think it would work out just fine, but I'd like to hear what you all have to share.
Thanks.
#2
Posted 16 January 2012 - 05:43 AM
Or do you mean that the camper sticks out quite a bit, so with the tailgate on and down it supports/protects the part that sticks out?
FWC Hawk (2005) on a Ford F250 Supercab, 6.8L V10 gas (2000)
#3
Posted 16 January 2012 - 02:18 PM
After I posted this I read the CGVWR article on Expedition Portal and it really hammered home that weight which is far behind the rear axle or far in front of the front axle is bad.
The tailgate has got to weigh at least 50 lbs, and I could see it being a lot more. If I ditch the tailgate and my 4 camper jacks, I could be around -200lbs, that is a significant amount of weight.
Thanks again
#4
Posted 16 January 2012 - 03:07 PM
2006 Tacoma, '66 AS Caravel, 2002 Eagle
#5
Posted 16 January 2012 - 09:07 PM
FWC link
A couple of other points which may or may not concern you:
You may not be able to access your spare with a long camper/short bed truck.
(Newer trucks with the winch access)
With the tailgate down it may get gravel/sand blasted.
Ditto on removing the jacks.
2012 FWC Hawk
#6
Posted 17 January 2012 - 12:32 AM
Darryl
I just visited both FWC and ATC web sites and in their question and answer sections they recommend leaving the tailgate on. I would leave it on. https://www.allterra...rs.com/faqs.htm
FWC link
A couple of other points which may or may not concern you:
You may not be able to access your spare with a long camper/short bed truck.
(Newer trucks with the winch access)
With the tailgate down it may get gravel/sand blasted.
Ditto on removing the jacks.
#7
Posted 17 January 2012 - 01:30 AM
"Your truck bed is so short that you should not remove your tail gate. However it is your call. Your truck should hold the weight of your camper. The tail gate is helping hold the weight off the truck bed. Marty"
Honestly, I don't really understand what that means. However, he is clearly suggesting to leave it on.
Darryla, I can't use mine as a porch because it does not hang out any further than the camper, there is no surface that I could sit/stand on.
I have put about 1500 miles on my camper with the tailgate down, and over lots of dirt roads, and I also don't have any rock chips. I would guess the large, rigid, mud flaps on Tacomas are the reason why. That problem seems like it would likely occur if you had small/no mud flaps on the rear wheels.
Thanks for all of the replies.
#8
Posted 17 January 2012 - 05:02 AM
#9
Posted 24 March 2012 - 08:22 PM
My solution was a sheet of 1 1/8" plywood cut to fit my bed shape very closely. The 2-4-1 plywood is very strong (7 ply. and originally designed for floor joist spans of up to 48") and can handle the cantilever after I remove the tailgate. So, there is no direct pressure points loading the composite bed, camper is support fully all the way to last bottom skid on camper's bottom. Helps with my cab clearance also... I still have access to my direct-to-frame connection points for securing camper to rig.
Still looking for ideas for an easy step/stair system that will adapt to varying height terrain??? But there is probably a thread for that here somewhere.
#10
Posted 24 March 2012 - 08:35 PM
Smoke
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