I had some empty barrels in the back of my truck last night and when I closed the tail gate it did have some pressure on it to close. now I can not get the gate to open. the handle lifts but will not open. any ideas, other than a bigger hammer?
Push in on the tailgate as hard as you can. It will take the pressure off the side latches and it should open. That is of course if the latch mechanism didn't break.
This just happen to my daughters silverdo the other day.Had to remove the trim around the handle and reach in and reconect one of the rods that release the latch.
Along those lines, the little plastic clips that hold the rods to the handle can break. They're rediculously expensive ($3-5 bucks apiece) but are necessary to hold the rod to the lever. In a pinch, you can use "bailing wire" or duct tape to hold it in place. Once you remove the trim around the handle, you'll see how the mechanism works.
Good luck!
Glen
2004 Dutchmen 27BG, Rocky Mountain Elk Edition
2002 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 8.1/Ally
2 boys, 11 & 14
a friendly black lab
a couple of decks of cards
a cold beer
coptalker wrote: Along those lines, the little plastic clips that hold the rods to the handle can break. They're rediculously expensive ($3-5 bucks apiece) but are necessary to hold the rod to the lever. In a pinch, you can use "bailing wire" or duct tape to hold it in place. Once you remove the trim around the handle, you'll see how the mechanism works.
Good luck!
Glen
Had this similiar thing happen to my Tundra. Had it in for Line-X, and the guy took the cover off the inside of the tailgate to spray it by itself, an when he did he bumped off the plastic release latch. Not enjoyable to load a motorcycle, then have to drive 25 miles to get the tool to take the cover off to fix it!! Better than tossing the bike over the side I guess!!
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