DelawareCamper
Newark, Delaware
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Joined: 08/04/2002
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I actually don't tow with my tailgate either,I put a 2x6 across the back of the bed, it sits really low, but I don't normally have anything in the bed when I'm towing...
Mike & Denise, Nicole,Kimmy,Connie
2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually CC 4x4 LT1 D/A
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moterman
Fl
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Joined: 06/30/2009
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I use net tailgate when towing cheap and easy to install
bruce@melanie
al E. gator the cat
95 K2500 tricked out
07 surveyor 5th wheel
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robertbick
Upstate NY
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HMCRV'r wrote:Dave H M wrote:Come to think of it don't you all brake with the left foot and gas it with the right? 
Thank God someone else that does that, my wife thought I was crazy!
If they didn't want you to use your left foot then they wouldn't have put two pedals there. 
Left foot should only be used if you have a clutch. Have you ever been behind someone that uses the left foot for the brake and they have it resting on the brake pedal enough to keep the brake lights on???
Bob
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4X4 LTZ
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Vulcaneer
Northern New England
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Joined: 10/17/2007
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I brake with the left foot. It is quicker to hit the brake pedal if needed in a hurry.
I also agree that using a V Notch gate is good for straight on hitching. But will hit the sides of the V if hitching at an angle greater than 15 to 20 degrees or so.
I have found that sometimes unhitching at an angle is needed. But usually hitching up can be done straight on. In only very rare occasions, have I needed to hitch at an angle greater than 15 degrees.
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kaydeejay
SE Michigan, USA
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Dave H M wrote:With my Ford F250, I have had one foot on the brake and one on the go pedal for control when hitting the king pin.
Come to think of it don't you all brake with the left foot and gas it with the right? When I emigrated to Canada from the UK the examiner on my Canadian driving test wanted to flunk me when I used two feet for driving. (I have ALWAYS used my left foot for brakes in an auto trans vehicle). He reluctantly passed me when I asked him where in the Highway code it said not to do that.
Years later I had a friend who was a Police Driving Instructor who commented on my two foot driving. I told him I could get to the brake faster that way.
Rather than argue he went back to their driving school and did some tests with their trainee drivers. The average result was a 1/2 second faster to the brakes than using the right foot only. That's 44 feet at 60mph!
Now they teach their drivers to brake with the left foot.
But not all vehicles are configured to make this possible. My '99 Coachmen on an F53 chassis had the steering column immediately left of the brake pedal which prevented my left foot from getting to it.
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
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Puddles
Lafayette, Indiana
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forte88 wrote:cruiserjs wrote:Change the standard tail gate for one made for fivers. The 'notch' in the center allows hook-up without lowering the 'gate.
John
I've thought about that, but can you still hitch at an angle with it up? The "V" gates I've seen looks like it's fine for going straight back, but at an angle I would think the pin might still hit the edges of the V tailgate.
The center of the notch in the tail gate lines up with the center of the jaws on the hitch.. no mater what angle you're coming from... If you're off alignement enough to hit the tailgate with the pin... forget getting the pin into the jaws of the hitch..
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rick83864
Sandpoint, ID
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Remove the gate if you don't need storage in the bed, I put stuff back there so the v-gate works great.
06 Dodge 3500 Laramie 4x4 Dually
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richfaa
Ohio
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Don't know what the V tailgate has to do with the posters issue... How do we get so far off topic .We have the same issue with our 08 F-350 Ford CC,LB. When at a angle the tail gate will not come down without hitting the truck... V tailgate (we have one) or not. We also have the 06 Montana with the shorter front cap. the hitch is installed as per the instructions so it is where it should be in the bed. The issue is more what brand of camper you have. Some are longer in the front cap than others. If you back with the tailgate down and are not stright you will hit the camper..that's the way it is with some trucks and campers... The V gate will aid in being able to see the hitch but you still need to be stright.
06 Montana 3400. 08 Ford F-350 6.4L
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Mile High
Lone Tree, CO
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Joined: 02/05/2008
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I only brake with my left foot when my tailgate is off, and only when I have the driving school instructor with me. Otherwise, I brake with guys bumper in front of me and keep my tailgate up and just raise the landing gear so the pin clears it when hitching!
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forte88
Hemet, CA
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Joined: 08/17/2004
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Removing the Tailgate is not an option for me. I store things in there including a portable generator sometimes. Also I have all my leveling ramps, wheel chocks, and blocks of wood in there that I would be afraid would slide out. If I back in straight I still have an inch or two clearance with the tailgate and camper, so straight in is not a problem. It's coming in at an angle that is an issue. I guess it's something I'll just have to keep an eye on.
I still have the issue of the truck not backing onto the pin without using the gas peddel. I liked it better when I could back it with just the idle power. Having to push on the gas is scarey. Perhaps it's harder because the dually is more difficult to push down on the springs of the truck which requires a little more torque from the engine than my srw Chevy.
2006 Keystone Challenger 32tkb
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