i have a loose or rattly tailgate. Anyone else have this? how to fix it?

 

I have a 2010 with 13000 miles on it and have no problems with the tailgate. Have the original 31" tire on it.

 

I have original also!

 

I never understood why people post to these threads when they have nothing to add...

I had a rattly tailgate and I just about went crazy trying to figure it out before I finally found the problem. I tried tightening the striker, then replacing the striker, I tried restoring the seals with Back to Black, but nothing worked. I finally realized that it was the upper hinge that was loose. I ended up just replacing it with a new one. It came bare steel, so I rattle canned it with primer then paint, and it's been good to go ever since. It was pretty easy to find once I took the tire off and rested my hand on the hinge as I closed the gate. Try that to see if it's one of the hinges.

 

I had a rattle also and tightened the striker and no more rattle since then.

 

thanks for the replies! what's the striker? sorry If that's a dumb question! picture would be great!

 

The striker is what the latch grabs on to when you close it.

 

If all else is fine, a little black electrical tape applied like this will sometimes quiet things down.

 

not wanting to hi-jack the thread...
but as the answers seem to have covered the OPs issue...

i have a rattle 'inside' the tailgate...
how do i get in there to find out what it is and fix it...

it started as i fitted quadratec brake lights in my spare wheel...
when i removed the spare bracket to cut it down something 'dropped'...

i have taken off the plastics on the inside...no good...
can i remove the 'air plate' on the outside and get in there...

thanks for any help ...

 

the striker is not loose. everything seems tight. but where the tailgate attaches it seems like the rod has room between where it attaches. I hope that makes sense. so if I lift up on the spare tire it lifts a little.