Ford Fifth Wheel Tailgate – A Stromberg Carlson Mfg. Product Review

Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Jeremy

One of the most particular overlooked products in the RV industry has been that of a tailgate that is designed to allow easy hook up access to that of a Fifth Wheel travel trailer.

The reason most people decide on going the fifth wheel route is because of its stability and maneuverability, plus for some, it is easier to connect to. Versus a travel trailer, where hitching up to the ball portion of a receiver hitch, a tailgate doesn’t really need to be fancy, and most times stays factory installed.

Technically, you don’t NEED to change out your factory installed tailgate for a fifth wheel tailgate, but some people choose to for the simplicity, convenience, and to save time when hooking up their fifth wheel trailer.

And this is where I introduce Stromberg Carlson Products Inc. and their Ford Fifth Wheel Tailgate!

Stromberg Carlson Products Inc. is a family owned company (3rd generation) that has been around since 1959. They strive to serve the needs of the RV aftermarket and it’s customers by providing its 33 or so products, nationwide through RV dealerships and through Amazon.

To mention at least 8 of these products, they distribute items such as:

• -Assist Handles
• -Fifth Wheel Jacks
• -Jack Stands
• -Roof Jacks
• -Steps
• -Tailgates
• -Wheel Chocks

Like many other suppliers that manufacture similar products, Stromberg Carlson seems to find themselves in the mix of top suppliers alongside the likes of; Suburban, Thetford, BAL, and Camco, to name a few.

Product Name: Ford 4000 Series by Stromberg

Product Website: Stromberg Carlson Products – Stromberg Carlson Products Inc.

Pricing: $579.90 USD (sourced from website)

Personal Rating: 7/10

How Product Works

First off, there are two different series or styles of this tailgate that Stromberg Carlson makes, and they are the louvered 4000 series, and the vented 100 series.

As this review showcases the 4000 series, as it is the most popular gate that is sold, I will explain mostly about this product.

Like any normal tailgate, the simple procedure of a fifth wheel tailgate and it’s operation is to be opened and let down, as well lifted up and closed. Operation points include a handle, cables, and latch system while pivoting on a ball and cup, located both on the driver and passenger side of the vehicle.

While tailgates are designed to withstand weight support, a word of caution goes out to a fifth wheel tailgate, where weights are limited. When assembled and used properly, this ford fifth wheel tailgate will provide many years of trouble-free service.

The way that this particular tailgate works is, after it is installed, is that it allows the vehicle operator an opportunity to leave it closed when backing up to connect to a trailer or fifth wheel hitch. This being the sole reason why these types and styles of tailgates were manufactured in the first place.

Example Videos / Images of Product

Below I want to showcase a video that showcases a quick review, removal of factory, and installation of the 4000 louvered series fifth wheel tailgate on a Ford F150 model, that was made by e-Trailer.com:

If you chose not to watch this video, the simplest shortest written form description is as follows:

• -This product is not designed for sitting or standing on.
• -When removing the old factory tailgate, make sure you disconnect the back-up camera wire underneath the truck.
• -Use 2-people to take out the old tailgate by lifting the bottom of the passenger side, and sliding it over towards the same side.
• -Connect the parts and screw holders to the new tailgate.
• -Install the cable wires to the new tailgate.
• -Install the new tailgate and adjust if necessary.

In not time, you can have your ford 4000 series tailgate connected and ready to go.

FAQs, Specs & Features of the Product

For starters, let me give you a chart that explains what part numbers of the 4000 series are available for the model and year of each Ford truck.

It should be noted that newer model years of tailgate products have not been manufactured after 2019. So for an example, a 2015 Ford F350 series, your tailgate part number will be VG-97-4000.

Going one step further into more of the specs and features of this product, each design is made with a glass filled composite material which means the tailgate is lightweight and durable. It has a lockable, single handled entry with rotary latches, cables and inserts included.

This product is NOT designed to be painted, and if altered, will void the warranty on the product, as stated right on the website.

The louvers on the product are designed to improve vision and reduce drag, while the tailgate itself was “designed for full size trucks/truck beds only and are not designed to accommodate step-side trucks.”

With dimensions of 66″ x 25″ x 5″, this tailgate weighs anywhere between 34 and 38 lbs, depending on the part number and for which truck.

Warranty, Pricing, and Option to Purchase

Coming with a 2-year warranty, the sources to purchase include Amazon, and any RV Dealership that is displayed on the Stromberg Carlson website, using their dealer-locator page. Alternatively, you can check out other options I may have listed within this article: Where is the Best Source for RV Parts and Accessories? – 1st Stop, Right Here!

Conclusion / Final Thoughts / Personal Opinion

Looking back, it seems as if the louvered Ford fifth wheel tailgate in the 4000 series, being one of the most popular sold, is a solid option for most people who own an F150, F250, or F350 series truck.

Siphoning through the website seems to be a breeze, and knowing that these units are built to withstand some weight, but not a lot is still not bad.

Some downsides to this tailgate upon reviewing certain purchasers comments include:

• -The adjustments can’t be made as easily as the instructions suggest.
• -It does wiggle more than it should, but isn’t as noisy as other models.
• -The locking mechanism isn’t as concealed as one may notice. Playing around and removing the access panel can gain entry to this style of tailgate.
• -The product seems lighter than what was anticipated.

That said, there are bound to be negative reviews with every product purchased, and this review should help you determine whether it’s right for you, based on the information you received from this article.

With that, I have notified you about:

• -The basic function and operation of how this tailgate works and what it’s purpose is for.
• -Given you a short 5-minute video to watch that explains how you can install this particular model into your Ford truck.
• -Mentioned some features and specifications about this louvered model.
• -Given you warranty information, pricing, and where to purchase.

To conclude, this Stromberg Carlson product results in a 7/10 score, personally from what I see, reserving an upgrade score of 3 more points if I was to own a Ford myself. Which I don’t…you can read more about that here: Chevy vs Ford vs Dodge 4×4 – What’s your 1st choice?

Are there more tailgates available for any of the other makes of trucks?

As a matter of fact there are. Stromberg Carlson has developed the following additional 4000 series tailgates designed for:

• -Chevy & GM
• -Dodge
• -Toyota

To check out other categories along with tailgates for your RV from manufacturing suppliers visit this application chart website:

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about this product, by leaving your comments below.

Until next time…

Cheers!