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Tailgate Problem

T

tator

Full Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2002
Messages
202
Location
Lakeville, MN
My tailgate has dropped open by itself when I'm accelerating and it's not locked. I lost a computer and monitor out the back as I was accelerating up an onramp to merge into traffic I heard a thud when I locked into my review mirror cars behind me were dodging my monitor tumbling down the ramp! :7:
It has also happened when going straight down the road. So I have to make sure it is locked and pull on it to verify it's secure.
 
Yeah, you have to shut the tailgate with some authority, just give it a tug to make sure it is latched.
 
Sorry to hear about your monitor, that stinks.

I've heard of this happeneing to other people, it has not happened to me.

I always keep my tailgate locked even when there is nothing in it, just so I know that it is closed properly.

-Mark
 
Sorry about your losses, but more than likely it's not a problem with your tailgate. It's happened to me twice. The gailgate is sealed pretty good so you have to slam it to shut it properly. I always tug on the top to make sure it's closed tightly. If you do this it won't fall open on you again. :B:
tator said:
My tailgate has dropped open by itself when I'm accelerating and it's not locked. I lost a computer and monitor out the back as I was accelerating up an onramp to merge into traffic I heard a thud when I locked into my review mirror cars behind me were dodging my monitor tumbling down the ramp! :7:
It has also happened when going straight down the road. ?So I have to make sure it is locked and pull on it to verify it's secure.
Click to expand...
 
That's happened to many of us . . . fortunately I had nothing in the back of mine when it happened. . . . I am sorry to hear that you weren't so lucky. Once, I didn't know about it for miles - found out when I stopped at a rest area!

Give it a good slam, tug on it to be sure it's latched, and then lock it - the lock won't work right if it's not completely latched.

 
This has been discussed in the past and you may want to search for the threads....

Some are adding a switch near the tailgate so the cargo lights come one when it is open to remind them the tailgate is open and to tell them when it opened on its own....
 
This use to happen to me everytime I pulled out of my drive way. I took it into the dealer and they said this is a very common problem, and there was no real solution except to slam it closed real hard and lock it. The problem was this was happening when the tailgate was locked also. A couple of monts laer it stopped happening. ???
 
Tator,

I cured this problem on my AV after the first time my tailgate fell open. Scared the stuff out of me.

Look at the latches on the tailgate. One actuates from the bottom up, the other from the top down. I noticed that my LH latch was not latching and the LH latch action was weak/sloppy.

My tailgate was not shutting/latching on the LH side. I repositioned the LH latch inward, so that it would be closer to the pin on the bed and lubricated the latch guts with WD-40.

Having the latch closer to the pin causes the throat on the latch to move farther around the pin (on the bed) allowing the locking pin (in the latch) to fully secure the latch.

My tailgate stays shut and is still aligned with the tail light/fender. Hope this helps.

Aloha,
Murman :cool:
 
Midlife,

I need a digital camera, Midlife! I am also an engineer and not capable of deciding on a digital camera to purchase. Therefore, I create vivid descriptions like I posted. :rolleyes:

Aloha,
Murman
 
I'm not a engineer but I know you have to slam the tailgate to keep it closed. My son-in-law one day thought I was crazy when I went and slamed the tailgate after he closed it gently thinking he would damage it. I have slamed the tailgate to close it from day one and have never had any problem with it falling open.
Normally if its not latched you can't lock it. I lock my tailgate any time I have something in the bed.
Some time if you don't have your bed covers in place good and tight it will be harder to close the tailgate.
 
MurmanZ71 said:
...............the first time my tailgate fell open. ?Scared the stuff out of me.
Click to expand...

I think this happened to me twice. The first time was on a test drive about two blocks from the dealer........"Scared the stuff out of me" :-X

It happened one more time with my Avy a couple of weeks after I got it ........."Scared the stuff out of me" :-X

Since then I have learned to SLAM it hard (it won't break) and lock it. Over a year later and it has not dropped on me again.

 
It's happened to me a couple of times also, but fortunately nothing fell out. In addition to slamming the door shut, it helps to give the door a tug as suggested earlier in this thread.

I have also noticed that the left side does not latch (ever). I'll try adjusting the latch as suggested by Murman. Thanks for the tip! (y)
 
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