I have a 1988 Ranger. The tailgate is becoming almost impossible to open due to the latch mechanism not pulling the pins out far enough to clear the "d" ring tailgate support on the fender. I have to get a screw driver in there to push the pin in to open the gate. I'm trying to get in there to adjust it but I can't seem to figure out how to get the tailgate apart. Does the tailgate "shell" come apart, and if so how? All I see there are some steel "tabs" near the bottom on the inside of the tailgate and it appears as if the tailgate is made of one continuous sheet of steel that has been rolled back on itself and inserted below these tabs.

Also....a curious thing I noticed. In my Haynes manual it shows steel rod latch release links but I swear I see what looks like rope attached to each side of the release handle inside the tiny crack I can see through. Am I seeing things or is this the way the factory did it?

Anyone have any tricks they might pass on in this regard?

Thanks,
Ebrown

 

there should be three bolts in the center of the tailgate that hold the latch on. I'd take the latch off and inspect it. what I found on mine was the latch/handle was somewhat bent now allowing it to be fully pulled up to disengage the pins on each side. They're rods, they just have a protective sleeve on each end that looks like rope..

 

Also once you get it adjusted, keep it well lubricated around the handle mechinism and at the latch pins. You may need to lube it up 2 or 3 times a year to help it work normally. What you are seeing inside the tailgate by the pin is a woven fabric sleeve they put on that end of the rod so it won't rattle.

 

Thanks Buff & Rangerman.
I saw the 3 bolts holding the latch handle on the gate. I was afraid to remove them because the latch is buried inside the gate and I figured all those "little parts" might go flying around inside the gate and I'd not be able to get to them.
I guess the latch mechanism itself would come out through the "finger" hole where you normally work the tailgate? How do I keep those rods and things from "going their own way"?
I suspect I may have a bent mechanism because one side seems to disengage but the other does not.

 

After you remove the three bolts from the 'inside' of the tailgate, the mechanism will tend to drop down. Pull it towards you, and rotate the plastic clips holding the rods in place on the latch. THey may break due to brittleness of age. Or just because. They 'snap' onto the rod, and you must push them past the snap point, and rotate them to free the rods. Once free, the rods may want to fall down inside the tailgate. I don't remember. But, you can use coathanger wire or straw-bale wire to keep them loosely in place.
Check the latch mechanism for bent parts. Lube the slides at either end so they move back and forth smoothly. They should be 'compressible' and then should expand back to the latched position when released. You may be able to un-bend any bent parts, or lubing the ends may fix your problem. The guy/gal that designs latches must have some mind to be able to come up with all those bent pieces of metal, and then rivet them together on a pivot point, and expect it to work for YEARS with minimal maint, if any.
tom

 

Yes the latch mechinism comes out the hole for the handle. The mechinism bolts go into captive nuts or threaded parts of the mechinism frame, so you shouldn't have a problem with small parts flying around. While unbolting some of these parts you could leave the tailgate laying down still mounted in the truck like when you open it. That way if something gets loose inside it can't fall to the bottom of the inside of the
tailgate and become lost in there. The rod length is not adjustable. As Buffman said and as you suspect, there probably are parts of the mechinism that are bent from being used. The parts are made to slide past each other when working, but if they can't slide easily some of them will bend, making it more difficult to open next time. That's where the lubrication comes in. You might be able to straighten out some of the bent parts and get it to work pretty well once you figure out which part is bent intentionally and which part has been bent wrong from not working correctly. If the mechinism isn't badly worn or gouged you can probably get it to work normally. Or if you want to replace the latch/handle mechinism try LMCtruck.com. They also have a tailgate component kit that includes all the latch parts. You can order a free catalog for all their Ranger parts too. You could also get one from a junk yard off a newer truck that works better. Up to 1992. Either way, the parts of the mechinism that slide past each other and pivot when working need some good grease so they can work well for a long time and in bad weather. Let us know how it goes.

 

hey bud had mine replaced at the dealer on my 06 (it was ripped off) it cost me 80 bucks

 

Thanks for the replies guys. They will help greatly when I get a chance to work on my tailgate in the nextfew days (hopefully).