Tailgate Handle

[bucks77ford]

I recently replaced my tailgate handle and rods and I ended up having more of a problem than what I started with. The cheaper handles are junk and just bent so I wasn't even able to open the tailgate. The reason why I replaced the old handle was that in order to get the tailgate to unlatch, I had to pull up on the handle so far that the handle hit my chrome trim. There just seemed to be too much play so I figured it was bent and got a new one. The new junk one bent right away and that was that. So I replaced it with my old one to get the tailgate open. It opens fine now with the old handle, but still have to pull way up on it and it scuffs my chrome trim around the handle. Does it sound like my handle is bent a bit to do that and if I order a more expensive OEM handle, will that fix the issue. I haven't opened a tailgate other than my own for a long time so I can't remember the amount of play there is in the handle, but it shouldn't open up so far as to hit my chrome trim.

 

[Jolly Green]

They come out pretty far. My handle comes all the way out of the hand hole when it's pulled out, and any other dent I ever opened the gate on did the same.

That said, I have the chrome trim around there too, and I honestly can't remember if the handle hits that or not. Now I'll have to look!

 

[LEB Ben]

The only time I recall my tailgate handle hitting my trim or the gate was when I had a cheap LMC tailgate on there. And then it hit every single time regardless of handle used. When I went to a DC gate and retained my OEM handle, everything was fine.

 

[mrfixit]

Either the rods are too long or the springs are too weak, if you're having to raise it that high. That is, assuming there ARE rod springs on your model. The springs are actually there to KEEP the handle from being bent, when other factors keep the gate from opening.
Make sure the latches are well-lubed, and if you have the patience to take the rods out one more time, shortening them is not that difficult, with a good set of Vise-Grips, which have a cutter capable of taking a snip off the ends and are strong enough to make re-bending them easy.