I just got this truck and currently have to pop the hood from inside and then use a long screwdriver to horizontally push a short latch that's below the hood latch mechanism that's too short to reach through the grille with your fingers. This can't be the way it was designed - is there a piece missing or maybe the wrong hood latch? Or maybe not the original grille?

 

 

There's a secondary latch that you reach through the front grill with your fingers to be able to open the hood. The latch is only a couple inches inside the grill. On mine it opens easier if you push the hood down slightly while moving the secondary latch. Do you have a billet grill that makes it so your hand can't enter the grill?

 

After you pull the release in the cab, you should be able to slide this lever to the left to unlatch the hood. May have to press the hood down slightly while unlatching.

 

Definitely nothing like the grille on mine - this is it. Apparently an aftermarket piece. Clearly it provides more protection for the radiator. I guess this would explain why there was a long screwdriver in the glovebox.

 

 

I think the point with different grills is to keep rocks from damaging radiator cooling fins.
On my trucks, Explorer and Mountaineer, I add screening material or expanded metal to keep small rocks from costing me big money.

 

 

Right - I'm thinking of debris while going down the road. I don't think accident protection is a goal of a grille. I need to rig a pull wire or something, fishing in there with a screwdriver is a pain.

 

You have choices.

Take that piece of junk aftermarket thing off & mail it to me & I'll send you a plain jane slightly used stock black/grey item.

Or you can mod the stock latch like below. Needs a tack weld after determining how much clearance/play:

 

On my truck my cable broke over the wheel somewhere giving me plenty of cable to fish it out to my headlight assembly and I fashioned a pull loop out of the stock cable. My truck's a sweetheart, just nothin to.look at....

 

Can you clarify what the mod is, what does it do differently than stock?

 

You cut the lever off and relocate (swing it up 90*)

This one is riveted & is waiting on a bit of weld to "fix" the lever at the right angle.

Not my own creation, another member did this & is waiting patiently for me to finish it.