WTF?! I broke my Tailgate!

So I loaded a 200 lb garage rack (NIB) into my long bed. Had to cram the tailgate shut. Well, an hour later I got home and tried to open the tailgate and the handle just lifted up and didn't open. After an hour unscrewing, ripping and pushing, I finally got all of the plastic liner off. I eventually found the problem to be the latch(?) on the driver side. I had to force it open with a screwdriver and the gate finally popped open.

So now I am tailgateless until I feel like putting it all back together. Anyone else experience this?

 

I have to say it sounds like you asked for something to break by "cramming" the tailgate shut...

Never force stuff like that...

 

can we say OOPS? should have left the tailgate down and used a tie down to secure your cargo. id chalk it up to a lesson learned.

 

In my days when I did something stupid I kept it hidden.
Now we brag it on Internet or TV for that matter.
How old am I? I am that old?
take care
vbibi

 

what he said "CRAMMING" never works unless you are studying

 

Yeah well...I ACTUALLY USE my truck to haul stuff and have crammed it shut on full loads of sand (much heavier) so...I'm thinking maybe it's getting worn. It looked pretty grimy so I'm gonna hit it with WD40 and go from there.

In the future I won't be cramming anymore though.

As for the Internet...Don't be scared about sharing your screw-ups...It's free entertainment.

 

Do a barrel roll!

e: I'm still waiting for mine to break. The back tire of my bike always sits on it.

 

dont cram!!

 

x2... and with two bikes

 

words of wisdom right there.
x2

 

not much wisdom comes from me and

 

ummmmmmm. sorry. "mind out of gutter, mind out of gutter, MIND OUT OF GUTTER!"

 

hahaha

 

Good one,vbibi.
I am that old also.

 

BS. It's a truck. I've done this very thing time and time again with Chevys, Fords and Dodges, and never thrashed the latch.

 

I would say you've been lucky- Ask damn near anyone who works with tools/nuts and bolts/hardware and they'll tell you you don't ever use a tool when hand tight will do and you never ever force stuff.

I don't care if it's a truck or a space shuttle. Cargo spot is only so large-Try to fit something that is an inch of two longer and close the tailgate/door/cover- you are asking to break something.

 

So I fixed my tailgate. I used brute force to mash two pieces of metal on one of the latches back together, allowing it to engage. "brute force"....Huh! That's how I broke it in the first place.

 

agree. i have slammed my gate on heavy loads..one time i tweeked my handle. until the day i sold the truck, that handle pulled out skewed, but the gate shut and opened everytime. this was on my ZR-2 S-10..i love my tacoma, favorite truck ever..but my S-10 tailgate was like hoover damn in holding things back. tacoma's gate? not so much.

i wont roll my motorcycle on my toyota gate..it just feel flimsy.
here is my S-10 with gardening loads. couldnt get the gate closed this time.

 

Don't use WD40, it's garbage not much use other then killing flies. It attracts dirt. and dries up into a sticky mess over time, a better product for that application in just plain old silicone spray. It does not attract dirt.

Don't think so? Spray a little WD40 in the cap of the can and sit it up on a shelf some where. Just a little bit. After a month stick your finger in that mess and then thrown the WD40 away.