'18 Tacoma Tailgate is not centered when closed...anyone else?

Keep in mind that your bed could be out of square. Mine was and only figured it out after a collision. The bed wouldn’t lineup with the cab after they fixed it. The repair shop pulled the bed off and the locating pin , it looks like a mushroom, was broken and so my bed wouldn’t align properly. Once they replaced that it was all good

 

@mauidogg but out of the factory like this...really?

 

Yes. Out of the factory some of them are off. The locating pin is not an exact alignment. It’s meant to get it close and then tightened in the correct alignment. So said my body shop guy. I believe him since he is the one that actually got it straight.
For reference I had my revolverx2 bed cover prior to the accident. The cover had a hard time closing properly because it was out of square. I thought I did a bad install I tried to adjust it many times. After the accident when he said my bed was out of square and fixed I adjusted the bed cover and it works great. I also have installed the total chaos bed stiffeners to help keep the bed square as well. I know it’s in a different plane from the bed cover but I figure the more reinforcement I can give it the better

 

Same “issue” here, going to leave as is. Assuming it is normal. Don’t want scratches!

 

I think mine's off too, but most pickup trucks have this issue to varying degrees. Body on Frame means never being as well aligned as a unibody car, for any panel gap between body segments.

 

mine is centered, however, there is rubbing on the right side where the bed meets the plastic cover on the tailgate. The constant shifting from driving/flex has caused the area to scuff and turn white. If I stand inside the bed and close the tailgate, I can see where it touches. As far as I can tell, the bed is flat and and the tailgate is level with the side.

 

I know this post is old but just discovered this today on mine ('17 SR5). Left side has much bigger gap than the right. Will leave as is.

 

I left it too...once you start shifting and moving things, you potentially open a can of worms in which it may not age the same way. Think creeks lol. However I did add a tailgate seal since I have a tonneau cover, trying to keep water out.

 

I have a tonneau as well and haven't noticed any leaking through the gap of the gate. Most of the water flows off of the sides of the cover, at least in my experience.

 

Same here..17 TRD Sport. Left has bigger gap. Leaving as is.

 

Bumping a very old thread BUT the alternative is starting a new one.

so my tailgate is off too. I’ve tried pushing it over and adjusting it without any luck. Any suggestions on how to fix without taking to the dealership? I’d rather avoid if possible. And yes, I have bed stiffeners but it seems to be more the tailgate is off.
I don’t really care except for it seems the paint of the bed side and tailgate are occasionally rubbing. Thanks for the help!

 

That gap is TIGHT! Do you have bed stiffeners? Usually they pull the bed inwards, but maybe in your case they might spread it a bit?

 

I do have bed stiffeners and I get the pull the bed in but not sure why the gaps are uneven (and that tight specifically). I’ve taken them off right now and the gap is a little better. Just trying to see whether to keep my appointment at the dealer—and take RTT, Rack off and drive an hour each way or deal with it as a result of the stuff I have

 

just a bummer on the paint rub... prolly worth getting it looked at, be it at a dealer or someone on here that's local to you that knows there stuff.

Good luck!

 

Thanks! Honestly, the thing I find most annoying is just the effort to get it looked at/done. I'm not really excited to take off my rtt and bed rack (gotta convince my wife to help) then drive an hour, wait with another hour drive home whenever it's done just to put that all back on. I wish I could just leave it on but I fear they would somehow try to blame something for it

 

I noticed this too months ago. I opened the tailgate then manhandled it to the left. It moved. I think that the tailgate floats in the hinge and just shimmy’s over during driving. There is definitely some play there. Try opening the tailgate and sliding it left and right.

 

I’ve heard that too and have given it hell with no noticeable movement. I even took off my stiffeners on the passenger side and put washers in between it and the bed to hopefully push it out. No change. Makes me wonder whether it’s worth a trip to the dealer

 

I was actually thinking of the washer idea but thought somebody would think thats too ghetto haha

 

I doubt anyone would even notice if I left them in. I only did 1 washer though because I didn’t want to drill another hole, have Cali Raised stiffeners that bends around, but I might try putting 2 washers in and see if that does anything. I don’t need much, just that little push out.

Also, having washers in between the stiffeners and bed seems to have at least one positive, dust and debris don’t get wedged between the two metals and could reduce those rubbing/rusting. I’ll update if that works tomorrow

 

I know this is an old thing.. but I have that problem too. My driver side sticks out further than my passenger.