Protect tailgate from jack

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   Any great ideas for protecting the tailgate from the RPod jack? I found the Jack-E-Up: https://www.amazon.com/Jack-E-Up-5048-Black-Universal/dp/B01EVTKAJG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540465016&sr=8-1&keywords=Jack-E-Up  
but seems like a high price to pay despite being convenient. For now I'll pack something firm and rubbery into an old can koozie and keep it handy. I'm too old to lift a full cooler over a closed tailgate.

Thank you

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dr2428 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 13 Aug 2016 Location: Nebraska Online Status: Offline Posts: 70	Topic: Protect tailgate from jack Posted: 25 Oct 2018 at 5:58am
	Any great ideas for protecting the tailgate from the RPod jack? I found the Jack-E-Up: https://www.amazon.com/Jack-E-Up-5048-Black-Universal/dp/B01EVTKAJG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540465016&sr=8-1&keywords=Jack-E-Up but seems like a high price to pay despite being convenient. For now I'll pack something firm and rubbery into an old can koozie and keep it handy. I'm too old to lift a full cooler over a closed tailgate. Thank you
	2017 RPod 179 2018 Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 25 Oct 2018 at 7:55am
	Get a longer shank for your ball or WDH, whichever you use. Most don't realize they come in lengths from 8" to about 17".. and rise/drop numbers in the same range or close to it.. etrailer is one of many places you can research and order online.. https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Accessories_and_Parts-sf-Weight_Distribution-pt-Shanks.aspx https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ball_Mounts-sf-Fixed_Ball_Mount-hs-Fits_2_Inch_Hitch.aspx

OldNeumanntapr Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 May 2018 Location: CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 204	Posted: 25 Oct 2018 at 9:27am
	Adding the WDH helped to lengthen the space, plus I glued a little piece of indoor / outdoor carpeting to the spot on my tailgate that hit the trailer tongue.

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2702	Posted: 25 Oct 2018 at 10:15am
	+1. We use an E2 WDH, and it extends the ball just enough to clear the tailgate.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595	Posted: 25 Oct 2018 at 12:19pm
	+1, we have plenty of room for the tail gate with the E2.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

dr2428 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 13 Aug 2016 Location: Nebraska Online Status: Offline Posts: 70	Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 11:43am
	Thank you all for the good ideas. I favor Furpod's idea, I had thought to look for a longer shank but not sure if the increased length would affect how it tows, doubtful it would be significant. I don't plan to get a WDH yet as we are going only 20 miles away, sure is nice not to have to mess with it. The new truck pulls the 179 nearly effortlessly but I will set up the WDH before any long trips, better safe than sorry. For right now I'll make a pad from an old can koozie and some padding. Thank you
	2017 RPod 179 2018 Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 12:57pm
	Almost everyone likes my ideas... except Mrs Furpod.. she usually makes a funny face at them... The difference in lever action caused by a couple inches of shank is almost not measurable, but IF it causes a problem, the setup was right on the edge anyways.. and that is never a good thing..

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 2:02pm
	Out of curiosity I just ran the towing weight calculator. For my rig without the wd hitch 2 inches more shank would move 10 lbs from the front to the rear axle of my tow vehicle. If you're using a commercial scale the accuracy is about 20 lbs so as furpod says the difference is literally unmeasurable. Interestingly, though, you would have to add 20 lbs more tension to the wd hitch to compensate for the 2 inches and get the 10 lbs back onto the front axle.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold