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Falling Tailgate
- Thread starter SSP_BOSS
- Start date
I've heard of it, never experienced it.
My dealer warned me of it when I bought the truck. He said to slam it when you close the gate just to make sure its closed. He then closed it gently, it looked closed to me but he was able to pull it back open just by grabbing the top of the gate.
My dealer warned me of it when I bought the truck. He said to slam it when you close the gate just to make sure its closed. He then closed it gently, it looked closed to me but he was able to pull it back open just by grabbing the top of the gate.
T
TonyM
GUEST
Dealer told me it has to do with the way the panels get installed over the Bed, He told me to make sure the panels are pushed together tightly and the gate will be able to close fully.
bfron
Full Member
Do a search on tailgate for last 120 days and you can have a good time reading everyones tailgate stories. Have fun 
H
hymur
GUEST
It has happened to me twice - the first time I was giving people at work a test drive at lunch. Like you, from a dead stop with moderate acceleration, the gate dropped - sounded like the transmisson was falling out. I passed it off as not shutting it well when giving the tour.
The 2nd time, I let my father-in-law take the wheel. Same scenario, the gate dropped - should have seen his face - he too thought he dropped the tranny.
Since then, I have made sure to place my hand on each end of the gate, shutting it firmly, with moderate to strong momentum. Before I was shutting it with both hands near the middle. In addition, I lock it now. Hasn't fallen, but then again, I have not had the chance to drive it much because it is in for leak repairs
The 2nd time, I let my father-in-law take the wheel. Same scenario, the gate dropped - should have seen his face - he too thought he dropped the tranny.
Since then, I have made sure to place my hand on each end of the gate, shutting it firmly, with moderate to strong momentum. Before I was shutting it with both hands near the middle. In addition, I lock it now. Hasn't fallen, but then again, I have not had the chance to drive it much because it is in for leak repairs
steelheadchaser
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I hit a pothole at 10 mph and mine dropped even though it was locked. I thought the noise was from the pothole (gravel road) and continued on. When I finally stopped a few miles down the road I found the tailgate open and immediatley retraced the road to see if I had lost any gear. That rubber bed mat is stickey stuff. nothing had slid out of the bed. I bang it shut now, but the high price stuff will ride up front!
C
Chevy_Nut
GUEST
I left my house today and could not remember if I shut the tailgate. Pulled over and sure enough wide open. I think that a sensore would be a great addition telling you on the Message Center if the tailgate is open like it does when you leave the cargo lamp on. It would take out all of the neck turning and mirror watching trying to figure out what is going on. May be for 2004?
Chevy Nut
Chevy Nut
Yeah, Mine has done that 36 times. When you close it, Give it a good tug to make sure. I believe this happens because it is a fairly sealed system with the hard covers on.
sorry not 36 times but 3 times
but 3 times
I always slam my shut and pull on it before leaving. It's fallen on me once or twice.
When it comes to the Tailgate, here is a phrase to remember "SLAMMIT DAMMIT"
SSP_BOSS: I always keep my tail gate locked. When my salesman was going over the features of my AV when I picked it up, he cautioned me about slamming the gate shut and always locking it because if it's locked it can't fall open. So, I slam it and lock it as a habit. He also said a couple of AV owners had their panels ripped off so to prevent that, lock it up. I really don't mind slamming it because it sounds solid like one of the doors. 
Truckman
it because if it's locked it can't fall open. So, I slam it and lock it as a habit. He also said a couple of AV owners had their panels ripped off so to prevent that, lock it up. I really don't mind slamming it because it sounds solid like one of the doors. Truckman
S
shafman1
GUEST
I haven't had one problem with my tail gate on my Avalanche although I test drove some where the tail gate came open. Also, there were some at the dealer that wouldn't shut even when we slammed them as hard as we could. There was a TSB on this, but either way, I would take it in and get it adjusted before it messes up something or you lose some cargo. 
Hey, (first post ever!)
Whithin the first month of purchasing my Avalanche, I had the tailgate drop on me twice. I have to say it does sound like you lost your rear axel! Also, for the first month, I was having a heck of a time with the tailgate keyhole. My key would stick in the lock, or not lock at all without playing around with it a bit. The key problem eventually fixed itself, since it is no longer an issue, just needed to be broken in I guess. I've also had no more problems with the tailgate. I slam it shut, give it a few good pulls, and lock it always. Have a good one . . . .
Whithin the first month of purchasing my Avalanche, I had the tailgate drop on me twice. I have to say it does sound like you lost your rear axel!
Also, for the first month, I was having a heck of a time with the tailgate keyhole. My key would stick in the lock, or not lock at all without playing around with it a bit. The key problem eventually fixed itself, since it is no longer an issue, just needed to be broken in I guess. I've also had no more problems with the tailgate. I slam it shut, give it a few good pulls, and lock it always. Have a good one . . . .
Slam
Tug
Lock
-- This is a common occurence but not an issue. I remember the first time it happened to me - scared the CRAP out of me that something catastrophic had happened. It's happened twice - the second time it happened my eight-year-old muscled the tailgate up best he could. I thought my wife had closed it.
Just slam it, tug on the lip to make sure it's closed, and lock it. By the way - if you go to lock it and the key is hard to remove - that means it's latched only on one side - have to open and close it again. If the problem is chronic or you can't get it to latch the dealer can adjust your strikers and/or hard cargo panels...
Tug
Lock
-- This is a common occurence but not an issue. I remember the first time it happened to me - scared the CRAP out of me that something catastrophic had happened. It's happened twice - the second time it happened my eight-year-old muscled the tailgate up best he could. I thought my wife had closed it.
Just slam it, tug on the lip to make sure it's closed, and lock it. By the way - if you go to lock it and the key is hard to remove - that means it's latched only on one side - have to open and close it again. If the problem is chronic or you can't get it to latch the dealer can adjust your strikers and/or hard cargo panels...
I usually do the same...give it a good slam....and then tug on it once or twice just to insure that it won't come crashing down on me while in transit....nothing like driving on the highway and hearing a noise like that....good enough to give you a heartattack.....not to mention I would really like to avoid spilling items all over the highway.....probably get a littering ticket on top of it all....
Got me twice - and the second time, I didn't know it had happened until many miles down the freeway when we stopped to eat. I was sure glad that I didn't have anything in the bed on that trip!
Now it's a good slam, a tug on both ends to be sure they are BOTH latched, and lock it with the key.
No problems since - I'd still like a 'tailgate open' message on the message center when the gate is open.
Now it's a good slam, a tug on both ends to be sure they are BOTH latched, and lock it with the key.
No problems since - I'd still like a 'tailgate open' message on the message center when the gate is open.
Hey brirun 95! Welcome
On the subject, my dealer slammed the gate shut, locked it, and told me this is how you do it every time.
The gate hasn't fallen yet
On the subject, my dealer slammed the gate shut, locked it, and told me this is how you do it every time.
The gate hasn't fallen yet
THEOFILOS2002
Full Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2002
- Messages
- 356
Yup,
Happened to me during steady speed, at about 500 miles. Has not happened since. I slammed the tailgate 3 or 4 times after that, thinking that it would loosen up the latching action of the tailgate latches. Now at 1250 miles, the tailgate and its lock works perfectly.
I chaulk it up to new vehicle breakin.
Cheers!
T
Happened to me during steady speed, at about 500 miles. Has not happened since. I slammed the tailgate 3 or 4 times after that, thinking that it would loosen up the latching action of the tailgate latches. Now at 1250 miles, the tailgate and its lock works perfectly.
I chaulk it up to new vehicle breakin.
Cheers!
T
G
Guest User
GUEST
My 4 year old is just tall enough to reach the handle of the rear gate. Keep that thing locked around kids! It came slamming down and just missed her head!
My heart almost jumped out of my chest!
Guest,
Yep, been there. Fortunately, it was a nine-year-old friend of my daughter's, and she was tall enough to get clipped by the taigate before it was able to reach maximum velocity on the way down.
Still trying to find a way to control that fall. Anybody have any ideas?
-kps
Yep, been there. Fortunately, it was a nine-year-old friend of my daughter's, and she was tall enough to get clipped by the taigate before it was able to reach maximum velocity on the way down.
Still trying to find a way to control that fall. Anybody have any ideas?
-kps
S
shafman1
GUEST
If you slam the tail gate shut and it still comes open then it needs to be adjusted. Either the tail-gate latches need to be adjusted or replaced or maybe even the third cargo panel is out of position. Either way, once you shut if firmly and lock it, it shouldn't come open. If it does, take it to the dealer and get it fixed.
Believe me, the dealers are aware of the problem and the fix for it. 
Believe me, the dealers are aware of the problem and the fix for it.
Bought my av in Jan 02, never had the tailgate fall until this weekend. Had my v-nose trailer hooked up & the trailer jack interferes with the tailgate (too close to allow the tailgate to fully deploy). Apparently I didn't close it fully due to the awkwardness of accessing the bed while holding the tailgate off the jack crank, & it fell when I turned into a lot. No real damage as the cladding is what hit the jack handle. The pilot(me) then turned sharply to put the rig in position to determine what the loud "cluck" of the falling tailgate was, and proceeded to jam the tailgate towards the bed. My special vehicle is now just a truck. The trailer won the battle as the tailgate now would not close. Removed it, stowed it in the trailer for the rest of the weekend. Some judicious work with the hammer, vise and pry bar managed to bend everything back into shape at least to make it function. We'll see if there are any long term effects.
Score is currently Haulmark 1 Avalanche 0
Score is currently Haulmark 1 Avalanche 0