How do you stop the tailgate from opening while towing. Had remote in my pocket so must have triggered it somehow. this sucks.

 

There are some interlocks to prevent that, but they might not be present on earlier models,
Can you give us some details, truck year, model, trim etc.

 

I tried to open mine while moving and it disabled the whole tailgate system until I power cycled the truck. This was a concern of mine since I tow a 5er with no clearance for the tailgate.

 

Mine is a 2017 F250 Super Duty Lariat Ultimate 6.7 long bed 4X4. Have had it in to dealer back in 2019 for recall for that but has not stopped it. I always have to check the garage door before I open it . Has happened in garage too.

 

If it were mine, I'd put a manual handle in there. Absolutely absurd to have a remote tailgate on a truck in my opinion.

 

just did a internet search on the opening of tailgate and found a new class action suit against ford for this very reason. Maybe they will fix the issue now.

 

Yeah, it is supposed to be disabled while the truck is in gear.

 

I have a small diameter stainless cable with locking clips that runs from a tie down in the bed, to a tie down that I screwed into the tailgate... using a existing screw on the tailgate access panel.

I only attach it when towing.... takes only a few seconds to put on.

 

Any way you can pos a pic of that? My 2020 lariat doesn’t have the power tailgate but my 2022 lariat ultimate I ordered has the power tailgate and I’d rather have something like that on as a preventive when I’m towing my 5th wheel.

 

That's a bummer.

One of the few things that worked right on my '82 Camaro was the safety on the rear hatch. If the car was moving/in gear it would not open and that on a manual transmission.
We have had a fleet of Dodge and Ford minivans and the door open lockout worked great on all of them. Door will not open unless in Park.
This is like saying the dome light won't work. A thing that's been around for years suddenly can't be made to reliably work?

 

i will add, ADJUST the tailgate locking pins on side of bed, if the tension placed against the tailgate and the rubber pads is to soft, it will allow the latch to open from bouncing around.
try moving the pins in 32" of an ich then slam gate and see if it open with the button and free fall. then adjust in another 32 and do this again until it will not fall open unless you push in on gate as you push the button, then move the pin back out a a bit until its tight enough to hold firm, but not so tight that it wont fall open when you press the release button.

but moving the fob should not open the gate, and the dash button should also lock out if your moving.
stop putting fob in your pocket

 

I have a 2017 350 Platinum LB 6.7 and the tailgate has opened on it's own 3 times. First time towing, it came down on it's own and the trailer handle damaged the Platinum emblem. Took it in and dealer would not cover the damage, after several months Ford issued a bulletin for the unintended opening. Took it in again and had the service done, all was good for maybe 4 months and then it opened again while towing and this time it did a number on the tailgate. This was again on a freeway and I never heard the tailgate bouncing up and down on the trailer handle, stopped to drop off an employee and as I was driving off he flagged me down and said I need to look at this which is never good. Substantial damage to the top of tailgate. After I said a few choice words he closed the tailgate and as I drove off he yelled again and I stopped and yes it was down again. I took it then to a different dealer they had no problem fixing my tailgate to as new. Currently using a safety cable until I have time to take it back so they can verify the SB work that had been done is correct. I have to give kudo's to auto nation campus drive in Fort Worth for the very quick turn around. Ask for Jerry Fisher in the service bay if you live in north Texas, third problem with my truck and he has come through with repairs very quick, I will never go elsewhere for warranty work. And yes the key fob was in the console.

 

My 2020 nor my 2021 with the tailgate on the remotes never came down. I don't have my FOB in my pocket but on my belt. or in the cup holder.

 

I added this for when the 5th wheel is hooked up. I have had the recall done, but still don’t trust it.

I have 1 on each side.

 

Yup did the same thing, I tow a 5th. The damage to the truck and trailer would be big.