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This tailgate from Stromberg Carlson features an open design that improves your field of vision when driving and is custom fit to your Ram 3500. Cutout allows for easy towing of 5th-wheel and gooseneck trailers, and aerodynamic design reduces drag.
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Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Speaker 1: Today, in our 2012 Ram 3500, we'll be having a look at and installing the Stromberg Carlson 100 Series fifth-wheel Tailgate with open design. Part number VGD-10-100. Here's what our tailgate looks like installed. As you'll notice, it is an open design. It's an ideal solution if you're towing a gooseneck or a fifth-wheel trailer. In some instances, you won't even have to lower your tailgate in order to couple up to your gooseneck or your fifth wheel.
You can leave it in the closed position and don't have to worry about causing damage to your factory tailgate. This tailgate features an open-vented design, which will help reduce wind drag and help improve fuel economy.Our tailgate follows the contours of our truck bed here nicely to help give it a factory-like appearance. The high gloss black powder coat finish matches most applications, however, the surface is paintable if you want to paint it to match the color of your truck. Our tailgate is really easy to operate when we do want to open it. We just grab both of our latches, pull out, release it, and it'll pull down.
Now what I really like about this tailgate compared to others on the market is that having a surface that can be painted, if we so desire, being able to match the color of our truck is a very nice feature.Now that we've gone over some features, we'll show you how to get it installed. Start by opening our tailgate. We'll start by removing our tailgate cable from our tailgate using a T45 torque socket. We'll do this nut retainer right here. Just unscrew it.
Remove this part here and we'll slide the bolt on out. We'll repeat the same process on the other side. Now, with an extra set of hands, we'll have our tailgate at about a 45-degree angle. We'll lift up on the passenger side and then we'll slide it off the truck from the driver side. Then we'll set it aside where it won't get damaged.
Now that we have our tailgate removed, we take our cables here, pull up on the tab, and just slide them on.We'll do the same for the other side. On the driver side of our tailgate on the hinge, we'll insert this gray plastic spacer, and then this black rubber bushing right here. Now, at this point, we can lift up on the tailgate and slide it under our pivot point on the driver side. On our passenger side, we have this half-circle spacer. We'll drop it in. Make sure the cutout matches, the cutout on our tailgate. Lift up at about a 45-degree angle or so and then drop it down onto our pivot point. Right now, we'll take our latch and a rubber bumper. Just slide it on. Wrap the tabs around it just like that. We'll push up on our latch assembly here a little bit and pull out our cotter pin.And we'll take our ring and slide that into the hole. Okay. Now, we'll slide this into position just like that. Now we'll take our machine screw here, slide it through in our nylon lock nut. Get it started. Now we'll use a seven-sixteenth wrench and hold the nut in place while we tighten down the machine screw with a flathead screwdriver. Before we get it all the way snug, we want to adjust our latch so its flush with the edge of our tailgate right here. Now we'll repeat the same process for the other side. Now with both of our latches in place, we'll now lift up on our tailgate, pour latches on out a little bit, and push it closed.Now we'll check our alignment to see if we need to adjust our latches at all. It looks like we're good here because it's following our line of our bed identically to the factory contour. Same around our taillights and down here. So we're good to go. We're ready to hit the road. That completes our look and installation of the Stromberg Carlson 100 Series fifth-wheel tailgate with open design. Part number VGD-10-100 on our 2012 Ram 3500.
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (1261 Customer Reviews)
This tailgate from Stromberg Carlson features an open design that improves your field of vision when driving and is custom fit to your vehicle. Cutout allows for easy towing of 5th-wheel and gooseneck trailers, and aerodynamic design reduces drag.
I really like this tailgate. It was super easy to install. It is easy to open and shut. I allows me to keep the tailgate closed when I hook up my 5th wheel.
Installed this on a 2013 ram 3500 and I’m thrilled the with the fitment and ease of installation. It’s interesting that it took longer to assemble the latch mechanism than to install the tailgate. Would definitely recommend to others!
After 1 year of use with our small 5th wheel RV, the Stromberg Carlson tailgate remains solid and looks great. Pleased with the purchase.
This gate is a great replacement for the original gate which I have in storage. I do quite a bit of trailering and like the convenience and better visibility. I am searching for aa backup camera that would plug into wiring harness. Do not want to disassemble original gate to get the camera.
This is the second Stromberg Carlson tailgate we have had, and we are very pleased with the fit, finish and simplicity of the design. ( Pic 1)
The design lined up with body lines of our 2014 Ram 3500 as good as could be expected. (pic 2)
One thing about this tailgate that I experienced with our first one, is that it rattles when you hit bumps and sings the song of its people on gravel or washboard roads...people will hear your tailgate coming probably long before they hear the rest of your truck. The latch does come with a rubber bumper, but that only helps quiet the rattle a little bit. The main source of the rattle is where the latch rides on the tailgate striker, it is a nice touch being able to use the OEM striker by the way. (pic 4)
I put a piece of hose over the OEM striker for the latch to ride on (pic 5). I am sure the hose will wear down over time but that is an easy fix. The tailgate now latches very firmly and only a little rattle from the lower hinge area, but nothing like it was.
Another nice touch was the cable attachment, we were able to use all the original Ram hardware, you will need to supply two M8 nuts and two washers, but it is otherwise plug and play. A major improvement from our previous Stromberg tailgate.
I highly recommend this tailgate, the last one was as good as the day we bought it after 12 years when we sold it (if it had fit the RAM we would still have it!). The fact that this tailgate is inexpensive is an added bonus. Installation time was about half an hour.
Our experience with etrailer was stellar and George took great care to communicate with us over the progress of our purchase...there is a reason why we are return customers!
Geat Product shipped fast great packaging took 10 minutes to install fits great looks great . To install look at the video on etrailer tell you evetything even how to take your other tailgate off. Would defently order from etrailer again
Patton
8/22/2019
Fantastic
Other than some slight shipping damage (photos) everything went good on installation.
great tail gate for your 5th wheel! super easy to install.
One word Fantastic
It was delivered in a timely matter and easy to install. As far as the back up camera, I transferred it to the bumper next to the tag plate.
I also picked up around 2 mpg towing my 13000 lbs 5th wheel camper. And around 3 mpg without towing anything. I would recommend it.
Heavy duty, easy to install,great value, looks awesome! My original factory tailgate had a big dent on the top of it and it made my $65,000 truck look like a jalopy, after I replaced the tailgate with a Stromberg Carlson 100 5th Wheel Tailgate it not only improved the value of my truck but it now looks even better than before.
Tailgate was perfect fit and finish. So easy to install, (15 minutes after delivery). Really great experience considering I was in a trailer park when I needed this. I left original tailgate at home in order to transport my motorcycle to southwest. Now I can load up other paraphonalia for return trip home.
Really fast shipping, really excellent product, and the installation video was great and most helpful. Thank you for great service.
Beautiful tailgate. So easy to install. I'm happy I found you. Well built.
Installed on a 2010 dodge ram 2500 fits great easy install watched the video took 5 mins to install very happy with this product.
When I arrive from work and saw a box by front door open box then do assembly then installed wow very easy and simple to do it look great on my truck
First off let's get real, this is NOT a heavy duty, put 300 pounds on it tailgate. It is also not $400 plus dollars. It is well made, it fit my 2015 Dodge 3500 (non-dually) like the factory made it. The latches, with adjustments provided a good tight closure, read no rattle. The parts were well secured to the gate when I opened the box and all parts fit perfectly. The existing cables for supporting the gate fit perfectly. I spent more time removing the OEM tailgate than I did putting on the new one. It looks good, fits good and did not require a loan to purchase. Etrailer shipping was phenomenal, lighting fast. If there is a complaint it is the instructions, they totally suck, especially if you have no previous experience in this area. However, even if you have zero experience, do NOT shy away from this tailgate, take your time, take the old one off and "look" at the fittings, if you have enough of a brain to remove the old tailgate you can figure this out. Total installation time 30 minutes, if the OEM would not have been brand new and "painted on" installation would have been about 15 minutes. It is exactly what I wanted for the price I wanted it at. Good job Etrailer! Fact is, I have ordered other parts from you since this one!
Kelly B.
9/18/2016
After a year the gates looks like new, still working perfectly and still does rattle. Excellent product for the price.
Received 5th wheel tailgate on Friday was supposed to come on Monday, so received early. Service with Etrailer is great. The tailgate looks fantastic (not able to send picture). Was really east to install. Only problem was when I opened it one of the tubes that go across the gate had lost its weld on one end. (that is why only 4 stars.) Foam padding in box may have prevented this. I was able to spot weld it my self. Other than that I am very happy with it.
George S.
7/9/2018
Still very pleased with my 5th wheel tail gate. Works beautifully.
Tailgate came on time, in good shape and hardware installed. A bit difficult to close until I discovered that it helps to pull both latch rings at the same time and push on. Paint a bit flaky.
2017 Ram 2500
Jimmy
3/27/2019
Tailgate is fine, I take it off and put it on as needed when I pull my 5th wheel. Im happy with the product.
Great price. I’ve had it a year now, use it frequently as I switch out tailgates depending on what trailer I’m pulling. This one is easy to remove and install, also light weight enough to handle easily.
I would definitely recommend it and purchase it again if need be.
Vicki
7/9/2021
Still like new. My tween can install it when we switch out for the gooseneck trailer. Easy and light enough to pop up in there solo.
Very good, I've been driving on rough roads and mountain trails and beaches, the tail gate still is tight (no rattles). It is perfect for easy coupling/uncoupling my 40 foot 5th wheel RV without getting out of the cab to raise/lower the tailgate.
Ron
Ron M.
10/9/2017
I have 15000 miles pulling my 40 foot 5th wheel RV, the Carlson RV tailgate stays closed all the time when coupling uncoupling the 5th wheel It doesnt rattle, just as tight as when I first put it on. Great product, keep up the good products, Ive purchased other products from etrailer, all have been great. Thank You,, Ron M.
I really like this tailgate. I had one that I used for years on my ford truck and it gave me great service. Recently I purchased a new dodge RAM truck and the old tailgate would not fit so I ordered a new one. It fit perfectly. It is much easier to hitch and unhitch my 5th wheel.
John M.
6/23/2015
After a year I am still very satisfied with the tailgate. In fact we are on a trip right now.
Tailgate fit well, easy to install. Took some weight off the Truck as I need all the payload I can get. Access to the Truck bed and the Hitch is better due to the design. Can hitch up now without opening the Tailgate.
Tailgate shows a little Rust but it is easy to fix.
Peter
4/11/2019
Still very good. Simple functional design.
Love my 5th wheel Carlson Tailgate. It’s so easy to unhitch , open & close. I love the way it looks too. Absolutely no problems .
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Jjbbrangus
5/20/2021
The gate is as I expected and have I have recommended to friends who like the look and convenience when pulling gooseneck trailers.