2021 Silverado 2500HD Tailgate Removal & Back On

tortiseshell · February 28, 2021

I'm looking at truck campers and it seems many of them require removal of the tailgate. Youtube has been lean with how to do this on a 2021 2500HD. With cameras, wiring, connectors etc... does anyone have experience or advice on this? Also wondering about putting the gate back on and issues around connectors getting worn from the process. Once my camper is on, it won't be always on. I'll need the truck for utilitarian needs as well. So looking for a helpful guide into the best way for tailgate removal and re-install. Thanks so much!

ssowie · March 1, 2021

Unfortunately I had to replace mine due to damage. I watched them take my old one off. It takes two people. Only took about 5 min. One guy crawled under to disconnect wiring harness and pop some clips. Then up top take out a security bolt on passenger side hinge. Finally with two people lift the passenger side up and out a little. The other guy had a screw driver as a pry bar to get the driver side popped out. That was it.

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mmmikkke · March 1, 2021

The rear camera signal and the power door lock signal run in the same harness to the distribution panel about 30" behind the driver side rear tire, on the bottom side of the truck bed floor. You'll need to unplug this at the distribution panel and free it from whatever clips or zip ties confine it as it traverses the 30" or so toward the middle of the tailgate and crosses into the tailgate at the middle of the truck just above the bumper. Once you have freed up and exposed this end of the harness, the rest should be obvious. Note: this distribution panel is in a bad place for trucks driven in mud and or salt spray. The plug at this end of the harness is weather-protected but if you are sloppy about handling it you might accidentally let some mud or salt into the weather protected internals causing corrosion and unreliable connections "down the road." It's the little things like this that make me do my own work, rather than pay some guy who doesn't give a hoot about what distribution panel port corrosion occurs "down the road."

Also there may be dummy placeholder plugs for this port on the distribution panel and you should use one to maintain the weather protection for this port while using the truck w/camper and without rear camera and power lock. Buy a dummy plug from the dealer if necessary. Resolve to keep this dummy plug in a plastic bag in the truck's glove box throughout the life of the truck while not in use protecting the port w/camper installed. Similarly tape or zip tie a plastic bag around the tailgate harness connector to protect it while it and the tailgate are away from the truck.

CMillSilverado · March 1, 2021

I'm getting a new Lance 855s in May(it's on order) and after digging through a bunch of threads on the Lance Forum I can leave my Tailgate on and it will clear. I did have to put a plywood layer under the rubber matt to raise the camper to clear the angle of the tailgate. I didn't want to have to take the thing off as I did that with my old TC and Tundra and it sucked, plus these now have more weight and plugs for camera's and power. One other thing I read was that when you unplug the rear tailgate camera it affects some of the camera veiws. Anyway you might want to check the TC forum for your model to see if you have options.

tortiseshell · March 4, 2021

super helpful... thanks for the replies and insights all!

Bob 3500HD · March 6, 2021

I’ve got a long bed so I can get to the connector easily. It unplugs pretty easily. I’ve seen videos where you need to remove the spare tire on standard beds to reach the connector. Once unplugged the tailgate come off just like any truck (not a fancy power tailgate). I bought a camera setup to plug in and protect the plug and will mount to the back of the camper. Chevy should have supplied a dummy plug like I had in my Ram. I don’t think dummy plugs are even available to buy

ssowie · March 6, 2021

My 3500 is a standard bed and did not need to remove spare tire to get to it.

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Bob 3500HD · March 7, 2021

Maybe that was a short bed

ssowie · March 8, 2021

The standard bed(6’-10”) is the shortest bed for a 3/4-1 ton.

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RND4mGuy · June 23, 2021

So glad I found this thread. I want to run a truck camper (TC) too and was wondering about removing these fancy new tailgates. I'd like to alternate between TC and 5th-wheel so maybe it's best to just leave the tailgate off all summer. Remember those cargo nets that everyone used to install in place of the tailgate because it was supposed to increase your gas mileage back in the day.

Another JR · July 2, 2021

My 93 k2500 tailgate was an easy one man job. The new one is too big and too heavy for one. The first time you pull it off the driver side hinge is really tight. I didn’t use a pry tool (cringe) on my new 2021 multipro tailgate. Instead, after freeing the passenger side, my son and I rocked it up and down while applying pulling force until it finally came free. The main thing is not to smack it into the truck when it comes free. When it goes back on I’ll be applying teflon or silicone lube of some kind.

Another JR · July 2, 2021

Back the OP’s original questions ...

On my truck if you disconnect one camera the whole network of cameras goes down. I bought the camera that goes in the tailgate ($97) and a universal FAKRA cable from Pasternack ($40 shipped) and built a housing from a 45 ell PVC fitting. I mounted it on the camper at roughly the same position and it works fine.

The big connector for the tailgate is a heavy duty connector and should be good for many matings. It just needs to be protected from dirt and water while it is disconnected. The separate little FAKRA camera connector is less stout but was tested for something like 50 matings. If you are gentle with it I think it will last.

Another issue with camper mounting is, if you use the trailer marker light circuit to power your camper marker lights, the truck detects a trailer and disables the rear parking assist system. My camper is bed length so I wanted that system operative. I ended up tying into the truck marker light circuit at the left rear wheel well marker light wire bundle and parking assist now works.

Edited July 2, 2021 by Another JR

KLawless · August 11, 2021

Hey there, any feedback on getting the tailgate back on? My dad and I are trying to do so now on his 2021 silverado and we accidentally latched the top before getting the bottom on...and now can't get the top unlocked/unlatched to try again -- the automated unlock doesn't seem to be working.

dps79cj5 · November 18, 2021

KLawless, or anyone else, did you ever find any more information on reinstalling the tailgate? I have reinstalled mine, and plugged it all back in, but the tailgate will not open.

Another JR · November 19, 2021

Are you sure you properly seated the large tailgate electrical connector? The use of the gray swing arm that pulls the connector in and latches it is counterintuitive. I had to review a youtube video and watch how the connector worked because it had been a few months since I pulled it off. If you do it wrong it kind of seems like it seats but it isn’t really connected.

Unless you are positive you did it right, I would suggest reviewing a video and then remating the connector.

Edit: Another possibility is the tailgate is locked. Do you have the truck unlocked (not just the drivers door) or a fob in your pocket when you try it?

Edited November 19, 2021 by Another JR