Towing enclosed trailer with tailgate down

Sorry to bring this back from the dead. I am looking at doing the same thing for a cross country move.

Was towing the uhaul trailer with the tailgate down, ok?

 

My daughter and son-in-law borrowed my truck to move some stuff with my trailer and did it with the tailgate down. Fortunately the cap covers most of it, but if you look left of center there is a 2" dent in the top of my tailgate from hitting the jack stand. I don't recommend towing with the tailgate down. I do use an extension occasionally depending on which truck I'm driving and which trailer I'm towing. The tailgate on my F-150 won't even open without hitting the jack stand on my camper or utility trailer. I use the extension to be able to get into the bed of the truck when towing, not to leave the tailgate down while towing.

 

Do you think if you switched the hitch over to drop the ball down, youd end up with a another couple inches of clearance?

 

Best to just remove the tailgate or else you'll wreck it