stuck tailgate
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stuck tailgate
I have a problem. The tailgate is stuck on my 89 f150 4x4. It is a real pain to have to load the bed over the sides and the tailgate. I removed the access panel and tried to work the connecting rods to release the latches. That didn't work. I tried to pry on the latch mechanism that didn't work. What now?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2010
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Only time I've had my tailgate not release is if I'm parked on a side to side slant. My truck has a 3" body lift which sort of exaggerates the twist of the bed. I parked it on flat ground and the tailgate opened right up.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Fort Worth
Have you tried disconnecting the rods from the latch and pulling hard on them one at a time? I agree with helomech also; if the bed is twisted funky on unlevel ground, it may make it hard to unlatch.
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The truck is parked on flat ground. It use to be easy to open after I bought it last year. the last time I had it down I had to stand on the bumper and lift the handle and get my wife to bump it on the inside passenger side of the tailgate to get it down.
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Ok, but how do I get the tailgate down without damaging something so I can check the springs in the latches?
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Sometimes spraying some penetrating lubricant like PB Blaster into the holes for the tailgate handle will help. Also try to spray some into the latches. I noticed on my truck that the lubricant made it much easier to open. The tailgate handle will break (and possibly chip the paint like mine did) if you pull too hard when it is binding. I replaced mine with one from PicknPull, and also replaced my worn looking latches with some nicer used ones.
There are also some plastic bushings in the pivot cups at the bottom corners, and they break down, allowing the latch to sag on the striker pins. This can damage the latches over time. On mine, it still needs new bushings, and the plastic sleeves on the striker pins. When the latches hit too low on the striker pins, the plastic sleeves get broken off. The HELP! brand sells new pivot bushings and plastic sleeves. The sleeves come in a kit with the ones for the door strikers.
A thought: if the sagging is causing the latches to hang up on the strikers, it may help to use some wood wedges or some safe method to lift/pry upwards on the bottom edge of the tailgate to raise the latches slightly and relieve the binding. But I believe lubrication will be the best thing
There are also some plastic bushings in the pivot cups at the bottom corners, and they break down, allowing the latch to sag on the striker pins. This can damage the latches over time. On mine, it still needs new bushings, and the plastic sleeves on the striker pins. When the latches hit too low on the striker pins, the plastic sleeves get broken off. The HELP! brand sells new pivot bushings and plastic sleeves. The sleeves come in a kit with the ones for the door strikers.
A thought: if the sagging is causing the latches to hang up on the strikers, it may help to use some wood wedges or some safe method to lift/pry upwards on the bottom edge of the tailgate to raise the latches slightly and relieve the binding. But I believe lubrication will be the best thing
Last edited by babarche; Mar 18, 2010 at 11:29 PM. Reason: added a sentence
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just figured out what was wrong with my stuck tailgate.
I tried lube but no hope
I removed the access panel and the mechanism pulled on the latch OK
but it was still stuck firm
after pulling back the weatherstrip and looking at the latch through the crack from inside the bed, I noticed something white down in the latch
It looked like a granite rock so i got a punch and hammer and crushed the rock
the tailgate opened right up
evidently there is a cup shaped pocket in the bottom of the latch.
when hauling gravel or other debris, it can get stuck in that pocket causing the latch to not fully open
I cleaned the gravel out of both latch mechanisms and it works again
I tried lube but no hope
I removed the access panel and the mechanism pulled on the latch OK
but it was still stuck firm
after pulling back the weatherstrip and looking at the latch through the crack from inside the bed, I noticed something white down in the latch
It looked like a granite rock so i got a punch and hammer and crushed the rock
the tailgate opened right up
evidently there is a cup shaped pocket in the bottom of the latch.
when hauling gravel or other debris, it can get stuck in that pocket causing the latch to not fully open
I cleaned the gravel out of both latch mechanisms and it works again
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