Tailgate ?

I am not sure why this is the way it is. I bought the truck and then noticed this when I went to sit on the tailgate. It doesn't close flush unless I slam it shut and it is not at a 90degree (parallel to surface). Cables? Any other ideas?

Thanks.

 

I know my 09 sits at 90 degrees. Maybe your cables are stretched or the wrong ones. How do the hinges look? Have you cleaned and lubed the latches to see if that helps with the closing problem.

 

I'd say the cables are stretched. OEM toyota ones are kinda expensive..try camelback toyota, he's a vendor on here.

 

I know this is an old thread but did new cables fix this?i have the same problem with my tailgate. It does close ok though

 

I bought new cables and the issue was not fixed. Still searching for the root cause but not digging too deep. Let me know if you find something out.

 

Looks to me like maybe the pivots are pushed back. Maybe a PO backed into something with the gate down and then had the tailgate replaced.

 

My tailgate bends a little beyond 90° now after I used a motorcycle engine a little agressively to power up a ramp into the bed walking next to the bike. It kicked out the ramp after the front wheel was in the bed causing the m/c skid plate to whack the edge of the tailgate which seemed to bend the mounts on the tailgate a little. It doesn't bother me that much but yeah the tailgates don't like being abused.

I'll eventually design a replacement tailgate that'll fit a spare tire and let two motorcycles sit in the bed without requiring the gate being "down". I'll relocate the backup camera into a custom bumper too.

 

I was hoping it was the cables, i ordered a couple new ones for mine. It drives me nuts looking at it when it's down. Probably have to live with it.

 

Any other ideas guys? I think my rear bumper is also tilted down now that I'm really looking at it. Where do I start? It sounds like removing the rear bumper is a PITA.

 

I think your bumper is ok but the gate is hanging low. If its not cables or cable attachments, I don't know.

Mine requires a solid slam to shut fully, I do know that.

 

I have a new 2014, TRD and while I've never put more than 80lbs on my tailgate in 2500 miles of ownership. The tailgate sometimes doesn't close smoothly or all the way, it's been like that since it had 4 miles on the odometer.

Usually takes a really hard slam to shut completely. My tailgate is perfectly 90 degrees, when all the way down though. After six Tacos, this 2014 TRD is the only one that has had this minor nuisance.

 

Got a '14 and my tailgate closes super easy. I usually lightly close it and push it to click shut after it's up. I try not to slam it open or close because of the camera.

 

For yourself or for sale?

 

Mine has a slight angle to it, but is close to 90 degrees. I assume it's from loading and unloading my full size 4x4 utility quad (800+ pounds plus 240 pounds of my fat ass).