Sticking Tailgate Latch

Recently my tailgate latch has been harder to open. I opened up the tailgate and thoroughly cleaned all latching mechanisms, blowing out the dust and lubing the right and left latches. I inspected the parts and could find nothing damaged. Yet it still sticks. I am hypothesizing that I might have damaged something when carrying a heavy load of lumber on the tailgate several weeks ago. Usually I lift the load off the gate before unlatching, but I'm not sure I did this last time.

Any ideas?

 

Tailgates are known to be weak, bending in the middle under a load. If this has happened, it could stick. Also, remove the fiberglass inner panel to inspect the mechanism inside.

 

Sticks how? Opening? Closing? Latching? Un latching??

 

Golly gee, you're feeling awfully helpful today, aren't you!

 

Totally reasonable questions to try to figure out what's going on

 

I guess you didn't bother to read the OPs post either.

 

Yep , I did

 

nope, you didn't.

 

I did , I did

your turn

 

Actually, I think it's OP's turn.

 

Oh the irony

 

iron |ˈīərn|
noun
1 a strong, hard magnetic silvery-gray metal, the chemical element of atomic number 26, much used as a material for construction and manufacturing, esp. in the form of steel.(Symbol: Fe)

 

wut

 

Ok guys. Both of you are right. The op said its harder to open. But Oz and the other guy are just trying to get more information to better assess the situation and give a more accurate prognosis

 

I see how you got all those posts up.

You win.

 

We're better asses?

 

He said irony not iron
irony
[ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er-]
noun, plural ironies.
1.
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning:

 

oh boy

 

what was the question?

 

Common issue, search.
In a nut shell you need to remove the tailgate panel and lubricare the latch and the cable guides. It will be fine after. Has nothing to do w the tailgate being weak.