What will they think of next? Fifth wheel tailgates are simply that, a tailgate with a custom design to fit the truck that pulls a 5th wheel.
This way, you still have the use of truck bed, but can also use the same tailgate to block things from falling out. The design is unique.
The hatch is a typical tailgate, which rounds down to the center to allow the 5th wheel to fit in the center without losing the tailgate. The design is custom and fits different styles and makes of trucks. Manufacturers call these types of tailgates flow thru tailgates with a V shape cut or a straight cut.
There is a tailgate for Chevy trucks for years 1998 and 2003. They run around three hundred dollars and can be painted to match the color of your truck. The ones for Dodge trucks are made for years 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003 while the Ford tailgate is for years 1987 to 2003. I recently saw these types of tailgates in Washington and West Virginia at some area campgrounds. The one person was hauling a 33 ft 5th wheel and the other was pulling a twenty-three foot unit. Both sizes fit the truck very well with the help of this tailgate.
The fifth wheel tailgates are made durable to last and the available paint colors are factory standard. If you have no preference in color, you can buy the powder coated black tailgate without having it custom painted to match your truck color. When you buy the tailgates, you receive everything you need for installation.
All tailgates run in the same price range of three hundred dollars plus shipping and handling. There are manufacturers who advertise on the internet to place your orders and see the pictures of what they look like before buying.