Well, I think my tailgate was abused a bit by the previous owner. I had it down the other day when I was washing the truck, and I was looking at those cables that are used to keep the gate level with the bed. One of them is rusted and splitting apart real bad, the other has broke completely off.

Where can I get some replacements, or can I just make my own?

Next: So, after washing I closed the tailgate and it latched up(or at least I thought it did), and went out for a little drive to dry it off. I was coming back to my house and hear an awful "thud", I though I had just taken out someones mailbox with my fender (gotta watch those things with duals ), but I looked in my mirror and it was just the tailgate. I was surprised it didn't rip right through that cable. Anyway, I got back to my house, and closed it, and made sure it was locked in. I tried to open it later... and nothing. So where should i start? When I pull the handle I don't see anything moving where the latches are.

 

you can buy the new cables at napa for $16

opening on it's own, it's out of adjustment. no adjustment on the rod. Take the latch handle apart, you'll see.

i had to put a slight bend in one of my rods because it would not open with the normal throw of the latch handle.

 

I know Autozone sells the tailgate cables under the "Help!" brandname, as I used them to replace mine in 2004 shortly after I bought the truck. As far as the latching mechanism goes, I'd try pushing in (or lifting up) on the tailgate while you pull the handle to see if that will "unbind" the latches so you can drop the tailgate. Then see if anything appears bent, missing, or broken. Try spraying a good lubricant into the latches & the linkage where the handle is (I believe you may have to pop the bezel around the handle out to do this.) That's probably about all you can do, since our trucks don't have the removable access panel on the inside of the tailgate like Fords do to get to the linkage. Sometimes these mechanisms actually seem to fail from lack of use, so I try to remember to open & close mine periodically even if I don't have to.

 

One more thing I forgot about; make sure the plastic "cups" aren't missing from the hinges; as that could possibly throw the latches out of alignment.