Sticking Tailgate Latch

Wow, leave my phone at home and all kinds of traffic on this thread!

Thanks; I will try again. All of my searches turned up other tailgate problems (bending, stuck, stuck, bending, etc.)

I will try to clarify to issue: the handle requires more force to open the latch and the latch is louder. If I push on the tailgate when opening, it goes back to normal.

 

If you sight the tailgate top is it straight on the inside ?

 

Either / or, just open the panel and you'll find the problem.

 

What happened to canufixit? We really need his opinion now!

 

Yes, all looked fine inside. I'll try some PTFE lube on the inside guides tomorrow

By the way, if anyone can point me to a previous thread about this, I'd be grateful. I haven't found anything on this being a common issue.

 

Check to see if adjusting the end latches or catches in the body can help. It might be that the door is being held a little too tight and the latches are dragging on opening ??

 

I think it might rain tomorrow ??? IMHO

 

He's alive!!!!!!!!!!!!
The weatherman agrees.
Yeah, tweaked from the weight of the lumber load.
Just look at those tailgates wrong and they git funked up.
My truck is brand new, never hauled anything significant, but I gotta be careful how I close it or only one side will latch. Piece a crap.

 

OP , once you get your issue figured out you may want to look into getting one of these , I'm glad I did

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...er-coated-tailgate-cap-system-ready-ship.html

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Oz!

 

Problem seems to be solved. I opened up the bed and liberally applied WD-40 to the latches as a cleaning agent. After letting it soak for a bit, I used compressed air to clean all the moving parts. Then I liberally applied silicon lube to the latches. Working nicely!

 

Mine is starting to stick also.....only when I open the handle. I pull the handle the whole way out and sometimes you can't tell if its unlatched or not. When the weather gets warmer (lol in 4 months), I'll open it up and look inside.
I have a tailgate lock - could be something with that also.