towing with tailgate down??

So I have to tow a trailer fully loaded cross country. Problem is itts loaded and my gsxr has to go in my bed. I have two choices take the tailgate off and have the bike hang out (not comfortable with that) or try to tow with the tail gate down. I have not hooked up to the trailer to see how bad it kills my turning. I would assume if I turned tight with the uhaul my tailgate would hit it. Has anyone towed with a tailgate down

 

Towed with tailgate down just once in my driving history. New tailgate was a result. My recommendation is to angle your bike and see if you can get it in with it shut angled.

 

That is what I was worried about thanks

 

Yup.
Angle the bike, remove the front wheel & fender, etc...

Tailgate down risks the trailer hitting it on turns (driveways especially), and you'll have a hell of a time just getting hooked up. The gate will probably be right up against the trailer's tongue jack.

If you remove the bike's front wheel, slip a spacer (as thick as the rotors) into the calipers, tie it in place, and zip-tie the front brake down to protect your pads and pistons.

 

Sell said GSXR. Buy one at new location.

 

Get a long bed.

 

seems legit

 

I wouldn't tow with the tailgate down, especially with the Uhaul because of the surge brake assembly that sits on top of the trailer tongue. A tight turn or a sharp dip in the road could kill your tailgate and leave you repairing the trailer.

My old man had a similar issue with his travel trailer and came up with a good solution. He took a piece of plywood, made it the length required to support the bike and slid it into the truck. It turned out it only overhung the bed by 4-5 inches so he cut a few piece of wood to fit between the bottom of the plywood and the bumper step to support the plywood and just removes the tailgate. That way your tailgate doesn't get damaged, the rear tire of the motorcycle is supported and you don't have to take any additional parts off the bike. You can screw a couple tire guides directly to the plywood so there's no chance of it shifting side to side either.

 

I was about to suggest something similar to Pugga. Remove the tailgate if necessary. U-channel, heavy planks, anything as long as it supports wheel.

 

it all depends on the trailer if you can drive with the tailgate down or not.

 

I tow my boat with the tailgate down, never had a problem. The trailer is pretty long, so no contact problems. I like to keep the tailgate down so I can back up easier, I like to look out the back window instead of using the mirrors.

 

True; but boats and cargo trailers are different designs. Boats tend to have longer tongues than most cargo trailers.

 

It can be done!

Here's some shots of me stress testing my setup with extreme turns, still got room.

 

Put the bike in the uhaul

 

I wouldn't recommend it. I've seen a couple of tailgates damaged this way. It might depend on the weight of your trailer, but could you maybe use a hitch extender to clear the tailgate? Something like this: https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Adapters/Brophy/HE06.html

 

It does depend on the weight of your trailer, but guys are running with this setup I've got with much heavier trailers than me. So far I've got one long and windy tow down and out and I'm liking the ride with this extended WD hitch. it puts the ball/pivot point past my tailgate when down. I've got plenty of room.

 

How does your truck do pulling that trailer? How do you like that trailer overall?

I rented a 178 for Labor Day weekend to test it out before pulling the trigger on one. Seems like a good match for these trucks.

 

Truck is brand new and this was my very first tow with it. Truck did fine. Pinned the tranny thermostat open which I don’t think is really necessary but wanted to monitor temps and see if there was much of a difference. I Pulled in S mode in 4th most of the time. I took it very easy on it. Trailer dry is 3,000lb, loaded up around 3,600. I played with the tongue weight and had it at about 11%. It towed phenomenal up the California coastal highway 1 through curvy hilly terrain. Truck pulled with plenty of power. My truck is fully stock. Tested the prodigy p3 brake controller and it worked extremely well too. I really like the weight distribution setup. It took a lot of bounce out and I think really helped with steering through the curvy terrain where the vehicle felt very planted and responsive.

On the Freeway at about 55 was my only complaints. Their was just some very very small amount of sway nothing to worry about but next time I’ll have air bags on and I’m going to load it up to about 14~15% tongue weight and see if it’s any better. I used to tow with a 4runner and that towed it very good as well.

We love the trailer, it’s been fun had it for about a year and a half now with about a dozen trips with it. It’s been very reliable. This Rpod is a 2015 182g. It’s one of the larger ones you can buy. It has a back garage that we use an outdoor kitchen which is very nice. Don’t over pack keep it small and smart and you’ll have a blast. It’s got larger holding tanks for trailers in this size than many others we considered, so that’s a plus for dry camping which we like to do a lot of. I’ve done mods to it including solar panels and a few other things. Overall it’s been great.

Our family is growing, but we’re trying to keep things smaller hence the Tacoma vs a full size pickup and this Rpod. we like the small setup and concept and hope it continues to work out for us!

 

Only way to know for sure is to hitch up the trailer, back it to the sharpest angle you can get, then drop the tailgate and see if it clears.

 

Do ya'll realize you replied to a 6 year-old thread???