[DeLuce]

Howdy!
I reckon I'll be changing my van sometime soon. I like the look of the tailgate ones, but just wondered if they're an hindrance rather than a benefit? Anybody use them? Or am I best sticking to barn  doors?
What's your three pennies worth?
Thanks for any insights!

[Splash & dash]

If you carry ladders usually barn doors are better as tailgate on some vans will hit them

[richard groves]

Howdy!
I reckon I'll be changing my van sometime soon. I like the look of the tailgate ones, but just wondered if they're an hindrance rather than a benefit? Anybody use them? Or am I best sticking to barn  doors?
What's your three pennies worth?
Thanks for any insights!

I think they're great....................when its raining you just open it up and sit under it to smoke ya ciggy 

[Plankton]

I liked the shelter idea, you could have your genny outside the van under it. That's about it for + points other than that i'd be paranoid someone hit.

[Plankton]

Anyone use a tipper type transit?

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

all our transits have them fitted , you sharp get use to them , some of the lads like them better others liked the doors better , depends if you can walk under them when open as if you have to duck under it then your going to bang you head on the thing every now and again

[windowswashed]

If you've got a lwb van and you've got to open the barn doors in a restricted parking space can you still open tailgate doors in restrictive parking spaces as most cars have low-ish bonnets?

[the king]

barn doors can get riped off in the wind were tail gate is more solid

[Spruce]

Vans fitted with tailgates were at one time a factory order as the industry norm was barn doors.  They were also worth less when traded in.
Its my feeling that the vans used by the AA and RAC with tailgates have made the option more acceptable as most of their vans have them. They are painted to the enduser colours at the factory during production so ordering the tailgate option won't cause any further delay. Their vans will be ordered months in advance anyway due to the paint option.

The reason for barn doors was that most pallet loads to be transported would be loaded with a forklift. To accommodate this  barn doors rotate through 180 degrees. A forklift couldn't load a pallet with the tailgated option.

When I first started cleaning I used my Suzuki Carry and a trailer. I did like the tailgate option as it provided a little shelter during showers. 

[Tony dunmall]

all our transits have them fitted , you sharp get use to them , some of the lads like them better others liked the doors better , depends if you can walk under them when open as if you have to duck under it then your going to bang you head on the thing every now and again

Wish I could bang my head on them!! Even with jumping it was a challenge on the T5

[Cookie]

I tend to work with the rear doors open. With barn doors you can lock one side of the rear doors if you're round the back of a property. I have my fixed hose reel, a few inches raised above the van floor, right by the open door so it's a bit more tricky for opportunistic thieves to pinch my equipment. With a tailgate they would just have open access to the whole of the rear of the van. So barn doors for me ....

[DeLuce]

Thanks for all the replies. Interesting. I'll keep mulling it over.
I'm 5'9" so quite short by today's standards  , so height won't be an issue!! Lol.
I like the rain  cover idea.
I suppose you could lock the tailgate on the pipe if you're in a dodgy area?? I do that with my van now, although I've got barn doors.

[Tony dunmall]

Just as easy to close and lock with either tail  gate or barn doors

[DeLuce]

Thanks for that  Tony 👍

[Soupy]

Tailgating is illegal.

Just say no.

[Cookie]

Just as easy to close and lock with either tail  gate or barn doors

OK, you mean closing the door on the hose. I guess you could do that ...