Whats wrong with my tailgate?

So my tailgate has a hard time closing, and I can see where its hitting. I am just wondering what is causing this. Bent tailgate? Are the 09s even covered under the bent tailgate TSB?

I do carry a 500lb quad in the back from time to time and the back is on the tailgate due to the DC reg bed size, but that shouldn't hurt anything. Its not too big of a deal its just kind of irritating. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

It is hitting like this on both sides, no contact in the middle

 

Just looks like it needs adjustment. I dont have my truck here w/ me, but check out the mounting tabs on the sides. Loosen it, see if you can pull it further away from the bed when its in the lowered position. If not, yea, might have been bent a little from loading/unloading?

 

No, they are not

 

Pull the bed liner that is on the tailgate farther toward the top of the tailgate? I do ride the quad up there so at times there can be 680 or so on there, but I would like to think the tailgate could handle that.

 

I thought the tailgate was rated for 200 pounds, no?

 

Ya it looks like that it is. And now that I think about it the quad really wouldn't taco in the middle as the weight of it is mostly on the outer sides of the tailgate by the cables. Oh well I guess ill just have to live with it.

 

My '08 did that after helping a friend move... Granted, he's like 265 plus the TV he was putting in the back.

 

If you can't adjust the gate , I bet you could get yourself some clearance with a piece of 36 grit sandpaper ( belt sander belt works best ) and some elbow grease .

 

You might want to check this out too

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/29117-weak-tailgate-reinforcement-solution.html

also here :

tinker troy's post # 50 http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/116004-tacoma-tailgate-bending-3.html

 

Thanks, I will have to try that. I would like to know what exactly Toyota did to the 09, 10 tailgates and the TSB tailgates to make them different from the older weak tailgates.

 

They are supposed to be reinforced , but are still only rated for about 200 lbs .

 

I have an 09' and never had a load in the back as of yet, I am about 215lbs and when I climb on the tailgate to wash the truck it seems real flimsy so I stand on the corner where it seems meatier.

I notice a TSB through the 07's and it has part numbers on it. Do you think I could just go down to the dealer and order those part numbers and put the pieces in myself rather wait for this thing to bend on its own?

 

Has that truck been hit from the back before?