Towing enclosed trailer with tailgate down

I need to tow an enclosed 4'x8' uhaul enclosed trailer back to WI with my tailgate down. I've heard from a few people that the turning radius is greatly reduced due to the tailgate hitting the trailer at sharp turns. Is this going to be a big problem?

Do you guys/gals have any advice? I need to figure this out quickly as I am mong on Saturday. Thanks, Bill

 

You're gonna bend the shit out of your tailgate(or worse) if it contacts the trailer...

Why do you need to travel with the gate down? I would figure out how to get your load situated with the tailgate closed for a cross country trip, if I were you.

 

It is a problem if you hit the tailgate. Get a trailer hitch extender so that you have enough clearance. Take measurements and see how much you need. Here are some to look at.
http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Hit...xtender.aspx?gclid=CJuB78iBqLsCFWUV7AodSxkAdA

 

Unless the trailer has a long tongue it's a really bad idea- you'll probably ruin the tailgate and damage the trailer and the reduction in turning radius is dangerous. I also would not use a hitch extender with a heavier trailer; unless the trailer is perfectly balanced, you're counter-levering the weight that much further out which is not only unsafe, but may damage things like your axle seals. Can you just remove the tailgate?

 

If you are hauling something a little too long to leave the tailgate up why not just take the tailgate off and put it with your cargo wrapped in a blanket so you don't damage it.

 

If it's one of the Uhauls with surge brakes, don't do it. The surge brake piston sits up kind of high and you risk that contacting your tail gate also. If it doesn't have brakes, go to Uhaul, tell them what you're thinking and see if they'll let you hook up to one of their trailers. Jack knife the trailer and see if you can put your tailgate down and have someone watch as you straighten out to make sure you won't contact the trailer. Every trailer is different, there's no definitive 'yes it will work' or 'no it won't'.

 

Why don't you just rent a bigger trailer? Put whatever is going to be in your bed, into the trailer. That would solve your problem.

 

^this

 

Also agree with that ^. However, I will mention that I tow my snowmobile trailer all the time with the tailgate down, and even with a sled in the back of the truck. It would have to be a really short tongue trailer to be an issue. I have 5 trailers and none of them would really be a problem with normal driving with the tailgate down. HOWEVER, if it's a short trailer and you are backing it up you should be aware that a short trailer can jack-knife really quick! And that would be a problem. Normal driving, I can't make any of my trailers contact the tailgate even with the wheel at full lock. It would only be reversing that would be risky.

 

The problem is that I was planning on putting my dirt bike in the bed. The rear tire sits directly on the tailgate so removing it isn't an option. The 5' bed is too short to fit the bike in at an angle. I'll stop by uhaul today and see if there's a way to strap a bike in a bigger trailer.

 

Why not take the rear wheel off? Set it on a stand and strap the hell out of it.

 

Put the bike in, lift up the rear tire, shut the tailgate and lower the rear tire down on top of the tailgate. We do it all the time so that our gear bags, gas cans and ramps don't fall out of the box.

 

If you're computer savy and have a tape measure. Just a little autoCAD or sketch up of your tailgate down and trailer position. Rotate to check clearance. Or just do it in person. I didn't have a spotter present so the computer simulation worked out for me. Was actually perfectly accurate. I made it accross the whole country moto in the bed and trailer behind. Like others said. All trailers/tounges are different.

 

Who wants to 3D-model their truck and a trailer that they don't even own (to get precise dimensions)...?

 

No need for 3d. I did mine in 2d. It was just two rectangles and the trailer hitch as the pivot point. KISS.

 

You'll get two kinks in your tailgate... I did on my old tacoma after my first trailer experience and forgetting to put my tailgate back up..

 

Hmmm sounds like you need a 6' bed.....

 

What about taking the tail gate off and using a piece of C channel (alu or steel) to support the end of the bike that would be hanging off? Think something like this



but have it sitting in the back of the truck?

 

This... also

 

I checked out the trailer today and I don't think it should be a problem. It's only a 4'x8' trailerand the tongue is longer than I thought it would be.