Tailgate Shifting/Play

Hey everyone! Today I heard some clunking coming from the bed while in the cab (while empty). Looked at the tailgate and noticed uneven gaps on the left and right side. I also noticed I'm able to grab it and shift it left and right probably about 1/8 inch or so. Is this kind of play normal? I never noticed it before. Nor have I noticed the clunking.

 

Mine is like that too, looks funny when not centered. Not sure if it's normal or not.

 

It’s perfectly normal if the gap is even from the top thru the bottom. Open the tailgate and pull/push it to the other side a bit to even it out.

 

Time for bed stiffners!
Your bedsides are opening!

 

^This. I recently added a set to my Taco and found my drivers-side bed side was slightly out of alignment.

And what others have said; it’s normal for the tailgate to move side-to-side a little.

 

How would that even happen? This thing sees extreme light duty jobs with the bed. If anything the bedsides would be coming inwards as I usually ratchet from side to side.

As long as the tailgate shifting is normal that's all I was looking for here.

 

You are fine then. I thought you were carrying weight on the bed sides.

 

Is the tailgate pushed all the way closed? I get wiggle until the latch is fully engaged.

Put foam spacers in the hinge cups. That should center it and eliminate side to side play.

 

Yeah it's all the way closed. I might do that to prevent it from shifting back and forth. I swear it never used to do this but I wanted to check before I spoke to a dealer.

 

Actually on second thought, wouldn't hurt to have the dealer check it. Could be that the bushing is bad.