Tailgate

by scottz on Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:56 am

I'm looking for recommendations on a new 5th wheel tailgate. The one I have is a Handy and pretty much a piece of junk. The latches do not grab onto the pins like the Ford tailgate, they just have a sliding latch (like a door) that slides over the inside of the pins. I have about 3/8" pin overlap on one side, less than 1/4" on the other side. Therefore, any flex (wash board road, etc) causes the one side to slip off, then the other side follows suit and I end up dragging my tailgate down the road. Luckily, this has not happened when pulling the cat (yet) or it would probably do some damage. I could probably fix it by bending/adjusting the hinge points to get equal latching overlap on both sides, but I don't really trust it.

Anyway, I want a tailgate that has the same type of latch as the Ford unit; grabs onto the pins. Picture it as holding the sides of the truck bed in as well as holding the tailgate up. Guess that's clear as mud!

by scottz on Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:15 am

I think I found what I was looking for. The junk latches are refered to as "pin pull". The good latches are "rotary". Here is a photo of the good ones

Anybody use the CustomFlow?

This is the one I have: Handy.
Note to self: you get what you pay for!

by scottz on Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:33 am

Anybody use the Husky?

by Admin on Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:56 am

http://www.strombergcarlson.com/store/products.php?categoryParentName=Fifth+Wheel+Tailgates&categoryName=Louvered+Tailgates+2000+series

Mines a Stromberg Carlson, the plastic with metal frame inside. has a good latch on it.
Mine has the sliders that slide over the back of the pins also.
But it has ample holding power on both sides.
It comes with rubber spacers that you put inside the bottom of the tail gate holder. It helps you center the tail gate. And the spacers also keep the tail gate tight so it won't slide from side to side. I've gone over all kinds of rough terrain with mine and I haven't even heard it rattle at all.
yours should have come with some kinda rubber spacers for yours.
You should be able to adjust the cable on the handle for your sliders , put some rubber in the bottom part of the gate and yours should work I would think ?
I'd say the high price of the alum/ steel models are probably gonna go higher with the scrap metal price being
$12 per 100 ,
If you do get an Alum, make sure its got a way to lock it on ,, ,, Really tight.
They've had a problem with people stripping copper out of commercial building , homes, etc. down here in the south. At the local scrap yards around here , theres a line of pickup trucks loaded down with anything and everything metal..... everyday at the gate..... I see a lot of trucks loaded with Alum car wheels........
If you go to the ship docks , theres chinese boats lined up getting loaded with scrap metal headed back to china.
Probably stock piling extra ammo made from our scrap metal, and throw in a toaster to make it look like their doing good ,,,, Suspect

Let me get off the soap box before I do I hijack,,,, Basketball

by Ivan Survivor on Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:03 pm

I bought the Husky Liner aluminum one. Its custom and matches contours of the truck and mounts on factory mounts and locks also. Yes it is a little pricy but quality always costs more. Check it out at AutoAnything.com
Rudy http://www.autoanything.com/hitch-bed-accessories/61A2419A0A0.aspx

by oldelmer1 on Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:07 pm

Hi Scott,

I have the Custom Flow Elite series. Looks just like the one in your link. Works fine for me. It has never dropped off by itself. It comes powder coated black. V-EL26 is the model I have, says its for 2003 - 2005 super duty. Hmm, mine is a 2006.

by TC on Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:16 pm

I also have the custom flow on our Ford. Got it a little over a year ago. I like the metal tailgate Vs the plastic ones. My only issue with ours is the opening mechanism sometimes catches on one side when we try to drop the gate. We also had a support cable slip out of it's crimping, but that was easily taken care of under warranty. All in all, I am pleased with ours.

TC

by davemartinez on Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:19 pm

We have the Husky aluminum model as well. Can't beat the lighter weight and locking function. Since I have a roll-up bed cover, I swap the tailgates in the winter when camping is over and the changeout is a snap. Idea

by scottz on Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:09 am

Thanks for all the replies. Question on the Husky: Is it constructed of aluminum or just coated with aluminum?
I'm leaning towards this one, however I almost like the black better. Truck Stuff USA has the Husky for $460 including shipping.

by scottz on Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:15 am

Admin wrote:http://www.strombergcarlson.com/store/products.php?categoryParentName=Fifth+Wheel+Tailgates&categoryName=Louvered+Tailgates+2000+series

Mines a Stromberg Carlson, the plastic with metal frame inside. has a good latch on it.
Mine has the sliders that slide over the back of the pins also.
But it has ample holding power on both sides.
It comes with rubber spacers that you put inside the bottom of the tail gate holder. It helps you center the tail gate. And the spacers also keep the tail gate tight so it won't slide from side to side. I've gone over all kinds of rough terrain with mine and I haven't even heard it rattle at all.
yours should have come with some kinda rubber spacers for yours.
You should be able to adjust the cable on the handle for your sliders , put some rubber in the bottom part of the gate and yours should work I would think ?
I'd say the high price of the alum/ steel models are probably gonna go higher with the scrap metal price being
$12 per 100 ,
If you do get an Alum, make sure its got a way to lock it on ,, ,, Really tight.
They've had a problem with people stripping copper out of commercial building , homes, etc. down here in the south. At the local scrap yards around here , theres a line of pickup trucks loaded down with anything and everything metal..... everyday at the gate..... I see a lot of trucks loaded with Alum car wheels........
If you go to the ship docks , theres chinese boats lined up getting loaded with scrap metal headed back to china.
Probably stock piling extra ammo made from our scrap metal, and throw in a toaster to make it look like their doing good ,,,, Let me get off the soap box before I do I hijack,,,,

Yeah, that is exactly lime mine is with the rubber spacers, but I can't put enough in to make it even. I think I could fix it by adjusting the hinge mounts with a bfh, but even if I got it right I still wouldn't trust it. If this thing comes loose while the cat is hooked up, it will do a lot more damage than the price of a good tailgate. I guess I spend too much time on rough roads.

by Ivan Survivor on Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:37 pm

The Husky is all aluminum. Strong enough to walk on it like a regular tailgate. I ruined the factorg gate by backing into the hitch very slow one night. I missed the small step ladder I was intently watching and jyst barely tapped the hitch. Put a 5 inch tear in the factory gate. Stuff happens. Love the husky look and function. Rudy

by scottz on Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:04 pm

Thanks!

by Admin on Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:25 pm

OUr tail gate openings should be the exact same. Seems like the rubber spacers would do the trick,,,,

I did have to adjust the latch part that "hooks" onto the truck pin. I'd have to look at it again to remember what I did. But I remember when I adjusted that part, it made the gate nice and tight..... I look and take a picture ....

by ffruff22 on Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:56 pm

I also have a stromburg carlson that I bought for $75 from a friend of a friend.....anyways, it has never came loose or opened on me while driving. I did not know about the spacers though, I will have to fab some up! Thanks!

I am going to get it linexed soon, some of the powdercoating is starting to flake.....

by scottz on Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:07 am

I replaced the Handy with a Custom Flow; much better latching mechanism. The hinge mounts on the Custom Flow are adjustable; you don't use any rubber washer spacers. So far, I really like it. Heading to Oregon tomorrow, will see how it does.

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