Tailgate hinge bent?

I have a 2022 Tacoma with 7k miles. I use it occasionally to haul my kids dirt bike but would call any loading into the bed minimal. IE: Not hard use or close to abuse.

The other day I noticed the tailgate no longer dropped slowly and nearly fell off when I opened up. I since discovered the right side tailgate bushing was destroyed. Is the latch also bent? If so, what in the world would case this issue?

I by no means am hard on this truck and if loading up an XR50 a few weeks ago can damage this truck, perhaps I need to rethink my truck choice.

Any advice would be appreciated. I understand I have a warranty but it’s a pain to lose half my work day taking the truck in, especially if I’m told parts are back ordered. Thanks.

 

Don’t know about the bend but this thread has part numbers and info
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/who-else’s-tailgate-soft-open-has-blown-up.772482/

 

too much weight on it, bushing might have failed first, people and a bike might be too much, get new bushing, bend it back with a pair of channel locks and you are fine

 

Looks like it was overloaded, but I highly doubt an XR50 was the culprit. Not what I wanted, but I’ve 2-3 giant guys sit on mine no problem. I now leave my tailgate shut at matches, so it doesn’t become be public park bench.

 

My '21 SR5 has the exact same problem. I've posted about it in a couple other threads, I never put any strain on it other than standing on it when climbing in and out a few times, and I only weigh ~185lbs. Poorly designed shit that needs a voluntary recall really.

 

I just went through this problem. I was hauling a load of 10’ lumber over a county road. Bent the right hinge and destroyed the plastic bushing. I thought maybe the wire cable strap had stretched too. Took both straps off and put them back to back and the right side one was longer. Bought two new straps and the right side hinge with bushing and dampener. I changed it all myself with a few choice words and I did not lower the bumper.

 

That's pretty weak. What are your options really? If you can't load a dirt bike on the tailgate without it bending the hinge, what's next? Can you put down something to distribute the weight more evenly so it isn't focused all on the tailgate but divided between the bed and the tailgate?

 

Its not bent mine looks the same, the plastic bushing broke thats why it wont drop slow pretty common ive replaced mine 3x and have a spare in the glove box. Its like 5-6 bucks at toyota buy 2 its cheap crap plastic

 

So the plastic bushing is there to drop the gate slowly and nothing else? In theory, could you remove the bushings and just have an old fashioned drop tailgate?

 

Thats not the way it works the plastic bushing just locks in and indexs with the slow down hinge or whatever toyota calls it. You take the bushing off or break it, theres slop and the tailgate slams since its not rotating the hinge but it would screw the hinge quick

 

bushing. noun. bush·ing ˈbu̇sh-iŋ 1. : a usually removable cylindrical lining in an opening of a mechanical part to limit the size of the opening, resist wear, or serve as a guide.