tailgate stuck

[mikethehammer]

anyone know what to do about a tailgate that stuck closed, i can pulled on the handle but it doesn't seem to unlatch to open?????

[RyanbabZ71]

Try pushing the tailgate in while trying to open it.

[mikethehammer]

yeah i tried that, i also tried left to right, right to left ,up and down , its jammed

[mmmikkke]

I had that happen on my '95 K3500. Check to see if the linkage is bent right near the handle in the center of the tailgate. You might be able to get in there with some pliers and pull the rods that link to the latches on both sides. Then after you get it released, and open, take off the tailgate and do some remedial lubrication and linkage unbending.

[GM-Tech]

See quite a few of the rods popping off at the handle. Worst case, it comes off at the latch, and it's extremely difficult to fish something all the way from the center to the latch to catch the lever and release the tailgate so you can fix it.

[asilverblazer]

If you had to is it possible to unbolt/remove the latch with the tail gate on and closed, maybe taking the bezel and handle off would provide more access.