OK...This is the second time that this has happened. The tailgate shuts as you would expect, but won't open. I can tell that the latch lets go on the passengers side of the tailgate, but not on the drivers side, so the tailgate won't release and open!
As it happens today, I was installing seth's gator-saver. I reinstalled the facory liner over the gator-saver after removing the tabs from the back of the liner and trimming the upper edges to get a tight fit. The gate lifted normally and rubbed just a bit on the bottom as I closed it. No Problem..
However, when I tried to open the tailback back up.........
Now, the gate is stuck closed and I have tried everything that I can think of to open it up again. I really don't think that the gator-saver is causing the problem, It's got to be a faulty latch mechanism or a maladjustment of the latch. This happened once before about a month ago but I was able to finally get it open by holding my mouth just right. I checked the latch then but could not find any obvious problem. It worked OK afterwards so I forgot about it.
Do any of you have any ideas or experience with the same problem. By the way, the tailgate is not bent, I am... What do I do now?
I don't have the mods you do, but mine fails to open sometimes and if I give a solid shove to close it again ( I hear a distinct click) it will open normally. I don't know if I'm just not getting it closed properly the first time, or if there is a problem with the latches, but shoving it closed hard has worked every time.
Sounds like a faulty latch/release mechanism. My advice "would" have been to take it to the dealer, but since you put the Gator Saver on there, they will probably laugh you out of there. Is it possible to remove the GS and get to the mechanism and release by hand? If so, I would go that route, put the stock skin back on and head to the dealer and have them fix it. Then you can put your GS back on.
Good luck
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2006 4x4 Access, V6, 6spd, TRD Off-Road, tow pkg. Donahoe Co's, TC UCA's, Dakar leafs, 5125's in the back and u-bolt flip kit. TRD exhaust, CAI. URD MAF calibrator. 17x9's, 285/70/17 BFG MT KM2. Locker-mod, fog mod and console vault.
Gilvie, did you trim the rubber bump stops before closing the tailgate? Installation of the gater saver naturally adds extra thickness, and you need to trim the rubber bump stops down a little bit to compensate. It could be that the extra thickness is causing pressure on the release mechanism. If so, try leaning/pushing into the tailgate while you unlatch it. This might take enough pressure off for it to open.
If this doesn't work, let us know, and maybe we can come up with some other ideas.
unfortunately, the gate must open before I can remove the gator-saver, reinstall to stock condition and get the truck to the dealer for a fix on the latch mechanism. I have sprayed lube down into the area of the drivers side latch to no avail. I have pulled up ,in,out and down on the gate while operating the latch with no luck. I had a crowbar in my hand just before I decided to call it a day. Now, a cocktail whilst I encourage you guys to think outside the box. There has got to be a way to open this gate!
Well, since you've pushed and pulled to no avail (I might try one more time pushing hard on the side of the tailgate with the bad latch while trying to open the handle), one thing I'd try next is driving off-road or on very bumpy roads for awhile. The jarring might knock the latch mechanism loose.
I installed the gater saver myself recently, and I thought about how I'd get my tailgate open if my electric dynolock failed on me. The only way I could come up with would be to go in through the tailgate handle. It's held on by two screws from the inside, so you'd have to cut it out. From there, it would be easy enough for me to disengage the dynolock. In your case, however, this wouldn't give you much room to work with. If the problem is with the latch cable, you could tug on it from there (harder than you could by pulling on the handle), but if that didn't work, it would be difficult to reach the latch mechanism itself. If someone could take a picture of the latch mechanism, you might be able to figure out how to knock it open with a long, thin object (coat hanger probably wouldn't be rigid enough).
The cost of replacing the tailgate handle is about $70, and is easy enough to do once you have the tailgate open. The latch mechanism is about $35 (per side), and the cable is about $10 or $12.
I'll try the bumpy road trick tomorrow. I'm not quite ready to cut the handle just yet, although if that's what I have to do........ If it comes to that, I wonder if there i an aftermarket handle,cable etc., made a little stronger than the stock parts. The inside of the tailgate becomes a vault once the Gator-saver is installed and if (or when) the latch fails, a guy could be screwed. (I'll let you how bad.)
Thanks Fluxy
Like flux said. Try pushing on both corners of your tailgate while someone pulls on the handle. My guess is that the gator savor is causing pressure on the latch that is preventing it from opening.
Do you have the POP-N-LOC tailgate handle by any chance??
I've had similar issues several times - always due to something in the bed applying pressure to the tail gate. Giving the gate a quick push always set it free.
I can pretty much guarantee that's what it is. Gilvie, did you trim those rubber tailgate bump stops on either side? I forgot to do this when I first installed my gater saver with the stock cover and the tailgate took a lot of force to close. The handle took some force to pull open. It could be a broken latch, but I doubt it because it's a very basic mechanism.
If you do end up cutting out the handle, it could just be a good excuse to get a pop 'n lock.
I probably shouldn't even be trying to advise you right now. Drunken' fix it attempts never turn out well.
John,
I'm sorry to see you're still having trouble. The mechanism is so simple, its either sprung off the handle, or there's simply too much pressure to allow it to release. All the advise here is sound, its gonna take some pushing against the tailgate at the edges whilst pulling the handle to get it to release.
Is there any chance you can get to the bumpers from behind the gate and cut them out?
forgive me if i am tired and read this wrong
i had a similar issue when i but my pop lock on
you need a flat head screwdriver and a friend with a taco
the best thing to do is look at how a working one unlatches and then you can see the spot you need to push with the screw driver and it will open right up (from the inside of the bed)
I know I'm bringing up an older thread but I have this exact problem. The passenger side latch won't close but the driver's side is stuck shut. I have the factory cover over the GatorSaver. I've pulled the rubber stoppers and can wiggle the gate a little but no matter what I do it won't open. Can someone take a picture of the latch when open? I'll see if I can try the screwdriver from inside the bed but I'll need to see the picture first. My last resort will be to have a friend cut through the factory liner and Gatorsaver but I'm trying to avoid that.
Thanks,
Scott
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