Tailgate increasingly hard to open
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 344
Likes: 5
From: North Shore MA
Tailgate increasingly hard to open
My tailgate is getting increasingly hard to open (and it's not me getting weaker!). I now have to pull pretty hard towards the left side of the handle to get it open, whereas I used to just pull in the center without much effort and it'd fly open. It's so bad my girlfriend can't even open it anymore. Has anyone else experienced this?
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,391
Likes: 2
From: Altamonte Springs, FL
I had that problem with my 2000 F-350. I took the panel off of the inside of the tailgate and lubed everything. That solved the problem. I don't even know if these news have that panel; my tailgate is covered by a liner on the inside.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 526
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
I used to have to remove the access cover and lubricate the handle assembly on pre 2008 trucks. I have had newer trucks in that simply needed the left and right latches lubed and that was sufficient to restore function. I used a penetrating oil to loosen them up.
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 47
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There is an adjustment in there too. I just had to take up a little slack in one side of mine to solve the "Pull handle, push on tailgate, pull tailgate down" issue I was having.
Bill
Bill
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
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Same thing was happening to me. Passenger side bolt that holds in the latch and cable both was backing out. Tightend it and it was back to normal.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 344
Likes: 5
From: North Shore MA
Lubricating, that was the trick! I didn't even have to take off the access panel like I thought I did. Just hit the handle and both latches with some WD-40 and that made all the difference. Don't know why I thought it was something more. Thanks guys!
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,225
Likes: 63
I have had to adjust the pins a couple of times since the truck was new. Left side always seems to be an issue. Sometimes if not level the gat will not open, so while I have the handle pulled I smack the left side of the tailgate to get it to pop open.
And if I am half on - off my driveway, I cannot open the gate at all.
And if I am half on - off my driveway, I cannot open the gate at all.
New User
Joined: Mar 2019
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