Slammed tailgate on '05 Dodge P/U and now can't get it open.

[sixdogs]

I have a 2005 Dodge dually pickup bed (only) that I put on the back of a big farm truck. A hot rod of sorts. After test fitting the bed I put the tailgate on, slammed it and now it won't open. What do I do now?

Do I have to remove the tailgate inside rear plate to access the mechanism or is there an easier way? This is somewhat complicated because there is sprayed-in bedliner covering the screw heads.

When I try to lift the rear handle, nothing happens. I can feel resistance in the handle. Any advice appreciated.

 

[boggen]

is the hangle actually locked via a key?

can you slim jim on each side to release the tail gate?

 

[Soundguy]

check for a lock. my 99 f350 has a locking tail gate and once in a blue moon i will go to open it and it is locked.

 

[sixdogs]

is the hangle actually locked via a key?

can you slim jim on each side to release the tail gate?

No sign of any key.
I don't know how to slim jim or even fully what that means.

 

[amaxwell]

I have a 2005 Dodge dually pickup bed (only) that I put on the back of a big farm truck. A hot rod of sorts. After test fitting the bed I put the tailgate on, slammed it and now it won't open. What do I do now?

Do I have to remove the tailgate inside rear plate to access the mechanism or is there an easier way? This is somewhat complicated because there is sprayed-in bedliner covering the screw heads.

When I try to lift the rear handle, nothing happens. I can feel resistance in the handle. Any advice appreciated.

Can you get a couple of extra people to push in on each side of the tailgate , while you pull on the latch . Could be just resistance of the latch on the catch.

 

[Soundguy]

a slim jim is a tool to jimmy a lock...used to be more common.. way less common now.

 

[sixdogs]

Can you get a couple of extra people to push in on each side of the tailgate , while you pull on the latch . Could be just resistance of the latch on the catch.

I can try that but it sure feels really stuck and when I pull the latch, nothing happens. I just feel solid resistance.
On Saturday there will be extra guys around.

 

[WM75Guy]

That really sucks when it happens. Same thing happened with my 03 GMC. Yours is the same design. The metal handle connects to the two metal rods that connect to the latches on each side with plastic clips. When they break the rod falls out of the handle. The only way to replace them is remove the cover on the inside of the tailgate. Only one broke on mine but I replaced both. Here is a YouTube video that shows them on the Dodge Ram.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWQVqJSZTeA

 

[sixdogs]

That really sucks when it happens. Same thing happened with my 03 GMC. Yours is the same design. The metal handle connects to the two metal rods that connect to the latches on each side with plastic clips. When they break the rod falls out of the handle. The only way to replace them is remove the cover on the inside of the tailgate. Only one broke on mine but I replaced both. Here is a YouTube video that shows them on the Dodge Ram.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWQVqJSZTeA

Ugh. I watched the video and it seems easy enough but I have spray-on bedliner in the screw heads. Suppose there is a solvent for that stuff or any other way to get it out of the screws?

 

[Soundguy]

acetone likely will do it!.. or carb cleaner spray.. both of those are dangerous to paint.. some brake cleaners too.