Tailgate closed?

I have a bed cover and can't see the tailgate in mirror. Twice I have gotten home to discover I didn't close the tailgate. Short local trips and didn't lose anything....BUT! Anybody fabricated some kind of a flag or something permanently attached to tailgate that you can see in mirror? I'm thinking folded duck tape, but that isn't permanent. Many fertile minds here, although some are just full of sh$@.

 

oh, why I just looked at the tailgate before you get in the truck?

 

I think the most cost efective way to remedy this would be to allow for the half second it takes to put your eyes on it and make sure its closed.

 

Doesn't it come with a back up camera on the tailgate?

 

Put a reminder sticky on the dash, after getting out to check a dozen or so time it'll become SOP. I do something similar to remind me to turn on the 110V power when the fridge is being used.

 

If I found this to be an issue for me, I'd prefer to put it in reverse for a second and check via the camera vs. a duct taped mirror, but YMMV.

 

The anytime camera mods are great for this and a few other circumstances.

 

i Have a tool box in the very back of my 02 that i have to drop the gate to access. I have to have a key to access the tool box so when i do i just leave the keys in the tool box, so i cant leave with the gate down because i do not have the keys.

 

You’re a day early bro

 

Truck still drives with the tailgate open.


It might be good to get in the habit of going back to what they preach in driver's ed: Take 15 seconds to walk around the car before you get in. Every time.

Not only will that solve your tailgate worries, but it stops you from driving off before discovering a flat tire or a hit and run.

 

Can we just take a sec to aknowledge the fact that the brain trust is trying to come up with a way to make sure the tailgate isnt left open before the OP drives away.

How hard is to look at the damn thing?

The internet never lets me down.

 

I always get ultra paranoid that I didn't close it even though I'm 99% I never opened it. The brain just be like that sometimes.

I have a Fox mountain bike tailgate pad and the velcro loops on the top are visible in my rear view which is how I allay my anxiety. It doesn't take much.

 

Wire up a switch that will activate a 100 watt red light bulb mounted to the top of the dash

 

I had a same issue a couple of times but I back out so the reverse camera will show a different picture meaning I left the tailgate down. If you will be going forward this won’t be of any help to you.

you might want to try placing a small flag on the top of the tailgate.

 

I never have to worry about whether I closed my tailgate or not. I currently don't have one, lol.

 

Could cut the flag pole shorter so it's not all the way up in the air, but this could work. I've heard the suction cups work really well on these. Just mount it to tailgate?

https://stickywhips.com/shop/ols/products/safety-flag-mount

 

I thought about doing something similar after my incident. One easy thing you can do is just pop it in reverse for a second when you get in, and make sure you're looking behind the truck and not under it.

I lost about $700 worth of stuff this way. It was dark, and it all fell out as I took off from a freeway ramp stoplight. I actually felt it, but thought I hit a pothole or something. Didn't realize it until a half hour later, and went back and checked and it was all gone.

 

You want to spend money on something that tells you that your taigate is open or closed? Have you ever done a walk around of your vehicle before driving off? We call it......"Common Sense"

 

Great idea……

 

This has happened while out working in the field and just moved a short ways. Putting in reverse would tip me off but usually just drive away. I'm going to stick with a duct tape flag. Sit in a parking lot and you won't see one in a hundred walk around their car. And in a parking lot I would walk by the tailgate. Totally different scenario! Do any of you actually use your truck to work out of?