Help tailgate won't open

How did you get the back cover off?

My friend's tailgate is stuck shut and he said because it is closed, he can't get the cover inside the tailgate off(?)

 

RedRX8 Thank you for this post. Honestly I didn't understand it until I fixed it on my own tailgate but it does make sense. I couldn't figure out if the drivers side or passengers side had anything to do with it but I don't think it does. Mine happened to be on the drivers side also and after I had hauled dirt and gravel. I was able to take the plastic off of the tailgate even though the latch was stuck and the tailgate was closed. I bent the plastic just enough to slide it out of the passenger side and wiggle it free from the tailgate. I had a clear view of the lever and had no idea why it was stuck. There were no rocks in the way and it looked normal. Here is where RedRX8 had it right: When you pull the tailgate handle it pulls the rod that pushes one bracket up and that bracket pushes another bracket up also that releases the mechanism and the tailgate opens. In my case that first bracket moved upward it missed when it got pushed up and instead of pushing the second bracket, the first bracket got stuck on top of the second bracket. Now when I pulled the handle the first bracket moved up but it was on top of the second bracket so it couldn't push anything up. Now that the second bracket was below the first I took a screw driver from the inside of the tailgate (since I took the plastic cover off the top and back) and forced the second bracket up past the first bracket allowing the first bracket to fall back down. Now when i pulled on the handle bracket one pushed up on bracket two and released the tailgate. In the process I broke the little orange clip that holds the rod in place to pull lever one. I bent the rod slightly into a U rather than the L that it was in and it works great. I knew the orange clip probably wasn't sold on it's own. I hope this long explanation helps someone down the road. I didn't get a picture and couldn't find one online, all the pictures were from the outside of the tailgate and not inside behind the plastic cover.

 

I was gonna say a sledgehammer will work.

 

Well my 2001 just stopped opening. I heard something pop and now the handle just comes up without opening the tailgate. Help.

 

there

should be two rods inside the tailgate. you need to squeeze them towards each other. that will release the latch.

 

I figured it out this morning after watching some videos. Sure glad I got it open. I'm being told I need to buy the complete tailgate handle. The metal piece that turns the two rods broke. Can that be repaired (welded)? The two screws that hold the handle on broke off down in the handle. Can those be gotten out so I can reuse the handle?

 

No I'm afraid you can't reuse the handle once it's broke its most likely pot metal. you could try j.b. weld but it won't last. you should be able to get a new one from Napa or any car parts store

 

I have a '13 Taco. I have gotten my tailgate stuck up twice this summer hauling dirt with gravel in it. The first time it happened I tried everything (you can't access the internals well with the gate stuck up). I took it to a body shop. They pulled the lever up and then pulled the gate REAL hard. It popped open. I've used that method again and opened it again. Each time a pebble pops out that had been jammed in the mechanism on one side.

I think its time I buy a dump trailer.

 

I'm looking into a dump trailer myself. I found a 5x8 locally that would keep me in the limits of my truck. Have you ever towed a dump trailer?

 

This is an old thread but useful to me. With tailgate stuck in the closed position I removed all the screws around the plastic cover on the inside of the tailgate. I then pulled the back side of the cap flap that overlaps the top of the larger cover. The ends seemed to be stuck but pulling hard enough on the flap the ends eventually came out, they seemed to be pinched between the tailgate and the bed. With that pulled back I used a hooked tool going under the flap and working it behind the large cover, then pulled hard toward the front of the vehicle. The large cover came out from under the flap and I was able to pull it out far enough to get my hand inside. For my problem one of the rods had become disconnected from the handle. I was able to grasp and pull on the rod with one hand to release that side while pulling on the handle with the other hand, opening the tailgate. Nothing broken, and it will be a lot easier the next time ;-) the first one is always the hardest.

It was warm when I did this so it may be more difficult in cold weather when the plastic would be more resisted to flexing.

 

Uhh, huh-huh. huh-huh, he said 'while you push on the rod', uhh, huh-huh., huh-huh

(Dammit Beavuss, pull on your own rod, uhh, huh-huh., huh-huh... )

 

Picked up a few loads of rock and now my drivers side won't open. Tore apart the plastics and the handle mechanism is working but won't open. Passenger side works fine. I understand one hinge pulls down which is connected to the other...which way is this supposed to move?

 

Took a pry bar to the side and moved the gate slightly in and it popped free. Had a small wrong inside.

 

Photo on left is lever out of position, right is corrected.

 

You guys just saved my bacon I’m in Joshua Tree and all my stuff is under my tonneau inside - I leaned in one side and CLICK OPENED. Wow. I owe you guys!