my 01 with 8' bed, truck is very clean and wasn't used in a commercial aspect (Wasn't abused) the tailgate door closes but the latching mechanism is slow to engage.

i literally slam the door closed 3 to 4 times every time i close it. it never catches on first try and regularly catches on 3rd to 4th time. Moreso now, it latches on 6th try or higher.

i had some wood splits in there and the tailgate acually opened. luckily i had bed cap and that door for cap kept the door from falling all the way out.

so....what is failing? is it just a hinge or catch that needs lube? or...?

thanks

 

Cant help but I have the opposite problem. Darn thing wont open without trying 10-15 times or more. However it closes just fine. Handle moves fine and sometimes too fine as it doesn't seem to be catching anything and other times I think one side is letting go but not the other. The mechanism isn't catching to unlatch. I know I am going to have to tear it apart but since I have a sprayed in bed liner those three or four screws/bolts holding the handle mechanism on are going to be tough to get out. Anyone know what is the best way to remove Linex bed liner from screw/bolt heads?

Been wanting a flatbed for years, this along with it needing paint might be the time just not sure I want to spend the coin right now on one and if I could fix it for relatively cheap I would prefer to do that to get through the winter.

 

lube it

 

X2

Known issue.

 

Flip the bezel off the latch handle, IIRC you push up a bit in the lower middle and it gives you access to the clips, you unhook these and then pull the latch bolts on each end and slip the latches out. Unclip them and douse them in Diesel, relube and reinstal.

Repeat in about 13 years...