Tailgate question

[Wanderer26]

I have a 2014 F-150 and would like to change out the tailgate for a tailgate for my fifth wheel. I hate the hassel of having to lower or raise my tailgate everytime i want to hitch or unhitch. My OEM tailgate has a backup camera under the Ford logo. Are there any fiver tailgates out there that can accomadate the camera. I have looked at amazon, etrailer and a few others but the description never says anything about the camera. I would like a lockable tailgate.

[bpounds]

My pin clears the vee easily if I am on reasonbly level ground. But every rig will be different. Varies by how high your hitch head is, and how low your pinbox is. Two rigs with the same bed clearance, one could hit and the other clear. You still have to be careful. I bumped mine last season. Ground wasn't level.

[Veebyes]

bpounds wrote:
I actually need the V-gate, for reasons I won't repeat again.

My truck is an antique so no tailgate camera for me. But it would be extremely easy to add a camera to a quality V-gate. You could even use the Ford logo style if you wanted.

I also have a V tailgate. Looks to be the same manufacturer as this one but one, maybe two louvres shallower. I still need to be careful with it & have a couple dings in it when not enough care was given.

After awhile you learn how high you need to be if you have lowered the trailer front end after hitching. Every trailer is different. My leg switches are under the overhang driver side. I raise the trailer till my nose touches dead center of a front corner marker light above the switches. Perfect clearance on flatish ground to go over the V & touch the 5th wheel at center of plate.

[RollandB]

Crutchfield has several cameras that might be able to be added to the fifth wheel tailgate maybe below the handle to open it and between the louvers. Here is one.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_070ARC600/Axxera-ARC600.html

[Range_Maggot_Bo]

Puddles wrote:

Super_Dave wrote:
Lockable tailgates are certainly available. You might have to go to a license plate style backup camera versus the stock Ford camera system.

X2... have not had anything blow out of the bed since I switched to a v slotted T gate.

That's funny you should say that. I have a v-tailgate, and last night I loaded up a plastic cart I had built to haul supplies from the house out to our trailer. Went to unload it this morning before work, and it was gone. Blew out somewhere along the highway. And we have lost stuff with this type of tailgate, but never have to lower it to hook up. Don't get that part.

[2manytoyz]

I don't have a 5th wheel, but I do have a 2010 F150 that I'd remove the tailgate to take our golf cart when towing our previous travel trailer.

Each time I'd have to climb under the vehicle to disconnect the tailgate camera. I finally decided I didn't like being without the camera when unhitched, and the tailgate is at home.

I found the wiring diagram online for mine. Your newer truck might be the same, if not, someone has a diagram online:



I connected a cheap license plate camera to the modified stock camera connector to add a 12V plug and an RCA plug to connect. This made hitching MUCH easier, and still gave me a backup view when not towing.





I then went a step further, put a camera on the back of the travel trailer, and would connect that cable to the modified F150 camera connector. The image below is the monitor built into the rear view mirror, looking behind the travel trailer.



I mounted the trailer camera in the rear tire cover:



Rather than mount the camera to the license plate, putting it near your 3rd brake light would probably help hitching your 5ver.

[Wanderer26]

Thankyou all for the tips. I will be keeping my OEM tailgate as i use the backup camera all the time when unhooked.

[Me_Again]

It cost me about 175 bucks to repeat the OEM back up camera in my V-Box. Little black dot below the V-Box belt line in the center. You can see the cable coming up to the V-Box. RAM tailgate lock/camera cable unplugs below tail gate and came with blank connectors to protect the pins when it is removed. Chris

[bpounds]

I actually need the V-gate, for reasons I won't repeat again.

My truck is an antique so no tailgate camera for me. But it would be extremely easy to add a camera to a quality V-gate. You could even use the Ford logo style if you wanted.

[Super_Dave]

In my case, it was more than just the hassle of lowering the gate to hook up or disconnect. With the gate down, I'm mere inches away from the face of the trailer and could easily hit the trailer with the tailgate if I wasn't straight on. I just got my V gate this Winter. My first load and unload to bring the trailer home from storage was great.

[Puddles]

Super_Dave wrote:
Lockable tailgates are certainly available. You might have to go to a license plate style backup camera versus the stock Ford camera system.

X2... have not had anything blow out of the bed since I switched to a v slotted T gate.

[topjimmy]

I have had both V gate and stock and yeah the V gate is a "Little" more convenient But If I had the backup Camera in my stock tailgate I would not change it IMO lowering my tailgate is no big deal

[rhagfo]

Well sometimes opinions change!
I loved the V tailgate we had on the 2001 Ram 2500, Custom Flow bought used for $100. It matched the Ram body lines, yes had to watch pin height before pulling away.
Well now have a 2016 Ram 3500 DRW with BU camera and locking TG! I don't find it to be too much hassle to drop and raise TG during loading process.

Now if Custom Flow would build a V tailgate with BU cam,era and compatible power lock I might be interested.

[valhalla360]

Just don't assume a V-gate will let you hook up without dropping the tailgate.

We got one because we bought a used truck with a damaged tailgate...first time we unhooked, the pin caught it and popped the tailgate off...luckily it was plastic and just flexed. This is after a long time with the standard tailgate and never having an issue.

[RoyB]

I too like the idea of being able to lock up my truck to protect all of my other things I bring along on my trips...

Of course you might be able to install something like this to have some safe storage areas and not use your tail gate...


Google image

I still like to have my truck tail gate lockable and closed up when not hooked up to the 5th wheel...

In my case I also use my OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer a lot more than the 5th wheel. I have a rear camera in the Ford Emblem mounted on the tail gate. I certainly could not operate without the use of my rear camera - Makes hooking up to the OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer a breeze...


Roy Ken