Tailgate issues

[Deuce95]

Hi guys, I've been having trouble with my tailgate for a while now and it has me stumped. Tailgate closes fine latches strong and secure, decent tension on the latch handle. I can pull and shake and wiggle, stays fine. Go to drive down the road..... Flop, down goes the tailgate. At first it was just rare occasions but has gotten to the point a 2 minute up the road trip is loose, I have a rope tied across it to the hitch to keep it from just falling down. Any suggestions? Stock tailgate.

 

[GoToGuy]

Are the latches weak, not staying extended, vibration ,movement allowing them to drift to unlatch position ?
Bed flexing , or end walls moving to allow latches to slip out?

 

[thinger2]

The latches are worn out. Post a picture of the latch end.
I bet it is worn down to a thin point.
You have just enough left that you can pull on it and it wont disconnect but you dont have enough to keep it from popping loose when the bed moves while you are going over bumps.
Both sides of that latch pawl will be worn out just from wear and tear of it knocking back and forth while you drive.

 

[Deuce95]

The latches are worn out. Post a picture of the latch end.
I bet it is worn down to a thin point.
You have just enough left that you can pull on it and it wont disconnect but you dont have enough to keep it from popping loose when the bed moves while you are going over bumps.
Both sides of that latch pawl will be worn out just from wear and tear of it knocking back and forth while you drive.

Ill take some pictures this afternoon

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Even if the latch pawls are in good shape, there still can be enough bed flex to pop the gate open. Going over a real rough RR crossing a few weeks ago, the gate popped open on my crew cab. This was before I bolted the bars down tight, I would highly recommend this for anyone who has a truck with a freeflow tailgate.

 

[Deuce95]

Ok sorry it took so long to get the pictures trucks been at work. Bed flex is about the only thing that makes sense at this point. Both catches have gouges were the latches are scraping when it comes open, plenty of spring pressure.

 

[Deuce95]

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[GoToGuy]

One pic missing , show the closed , latched . How much bolt into receiver . They appear to be a little pushed outward? Not enough bolt engagement ?

 

[GoToGuy]

Here's the section in the service manual.

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[Hipster]

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^^^This one looks bassackwards, it looks like the drivers side, looks like the bolts were swapped top and bottom, and it's bent. Not that the bent area would matter much flipped back around, I would take a ball peen and hammer the bent section flat, and put it back on with the bolts properly oriented. You run the risk of losing the gate off the back of the truck if both straps are missing.


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