Tailgate opened while in the garage - significant scratch followed

[AZT9]

I don’t have answer to the how to prevent. But I think you can make a change on the big screen to make the gate manual. That might help, because you will have to be standing at it when it opens and when you close it.

I am also a little frustrated with the performance of the automatic tailgate function. It has raised itself but failed to latch several times. Usually a do over will get it, but not always.

I had that exact problem too I did note however it was after my spray liner was installed. The problem is the rubber stoppers on either side of the bed towards the top of the bed. Dense rubber to isolate the tailgate so not much give. Took out the handy dremel and slowly shaved some rubber till it was happily locking again. ZERO issues since

Sponsored

 

[AZT9]

Well, I had a nightmare or two about this happening. We have a short garage that fits our truck. The other day, I opened it to the sound of friction. The garage door hinge scratched the tailgate and gouged it down to the steel.

Now, I recall shutting the tailgate earlier in the day and not being super confident that it shut based on the sound I heard. The power tailgate has not given me a ton of confidence either opening or closing...

I guess my question is this: is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening? It is possible that I inadvertently double-pressed the tailgate open button on my keyfob, but it's unlikely.

is there anything I can put on my garage door to prevent this? I'm kind of at a loss, but now I have some mild PTSD caused by opening my garage door.

Thanks for input....

Not that it helps the initial issue but that top piece with the gouge in it is actually plastic that can be replaced. It pops in. I don’t know the cost but Certainly cheaper than a whole tail gate FWIW

 

[GDN]

Well, I had a nightmare or two about this happening. We have a short garage that fits our truck. The other day, I opened it to the sound of friction. The garage door hinge scratched the tailgate and gouged it down to the steel.

Now, I recall shutting the tailgate earlier in the day and not being super confident that it shut based on the sound I heard. The power tailgate has not given me a ton of confidence either opening or closing...

I guess my question is this: is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening? It is possible that I inadvertently double-pressed the tailgate open button on my keyfob, but it's unlikely.

is there anything I can put on my garage door to prevent this? I'm kind of at a loss, but now I have some mild PTSD caused by opening my garage door.

Thanks for input....

You are looking for this:
https://www.bumperhero.com

 

[The Weatherman]

I had that exact problem too I did note however it was after my spray liner was installed. The problem is the rubber stoppers on either side of the bed towards the top of the bed. Dense rubber to isolate the tailgate so not much give. Took out the handy dremel and slowly shaved some rubber till it was happily locking again. ZERO issues since

I’ll check that today. Thanks.

 

[Typoman]

Well it could just be due to the angle and lighting of the picture, but that only looks to be down to the color layer or primer at worst. And the entire body of the truck is aluminum so no steel to worry about! But that still sucks, and I'm really sorry to hear that happened

I had a friend with a mid-70s Chevy truck and the only way for it to fit in his garage was for him to back it in that gave him a little bit more space because the water heater was on a raised area of concrete. Then of course there is the packing of a ball or something similar on a string that will give you the right space to back into. Good luck I have had to fill one scratch in my star White metallic tri coat which was an excellent match but the depth of the scratch was quite deep.

 

[Basis0439]

Just to be clear - I did not reverse into my garage door. I fit comfortably inside the garage. The tailgate opened *while* the garage door was shut and I did not see this when I went to open the garage door. Hence...

 

[VTbuckeye]

@Basis0439 : Any resolution. I just had a similar issue. My tailgate was open this morning (parked outside so no scratches). I closed it, then later my alarm was going off, tailgate open. No buttons were pushed. I cleaned out the garage so I it is inside now and I can leave it unlocked. Garage is long enough to be able to clear the open tailgate. While cleaning, every few minutes, I kept hearing the beeps from inside the truck warning of tailgate opening.

 

[Basis0439]

Update.
I fixed my tailgate and 2 weeks later the exact same thing happened.

Neither my wife or I have any idea how the tailgate opened again. We will be living with the dent / scratch and not paying a grand to fix it this go around. Sigh.

EDIT: Neither one of us deliberately pushed any button. The keys were in my front pocket. I should have followed the advice posted here and put something on the garage door hinges, but who's to say whether that would have completely prevented any scratches.

In any event, I consider it a flaw that the tailgate opens when there's clearly an obstruction blocking it from opening. I am even worried now when I back into a parking spot that has another vehicle behind me, that during my trip, the tailgate will open onto another vehicle. Now *that* would be a massive headache.

 

[AlaskaFlash]

Pool noodle. Not my pic but it gives you the idea.

This is a great Idea. Heading to the hardware store today to buy some. My garage is very small and my Lightning barely fits. There is about 14 inches of space between the wall and the front of the truck when parked. I have painted a red line on my garage floor to indicate the edge of the garage door and I use the tailgate camera to make sure I have cleared that line before I park the truck. I always open the garage door from the kitchen when the truck is parked inside. I haven't had the issue of the tailgate trying to lower while in the garage yet, But it's worth looking to make sure that it is closed before trying to open the garage door.

 

[jimfigler]

can you back into the garage? I do that as it allows me to hug the wall and the passenger side of the truck.

 

[RaspPiDude]

I put 1" thick foam sheet on the inside of the garage doors. Works like a charm, hides all bolts and metal stuff

I would love to see this!!

This is a great Idea. Heading to the hardware store today to buy some. My garage is very small and my Lightning barely fits. There is about 14 inches of space between the wall and the front of the truck when parked. I have painted a red line on my garage floor to indicate the edge of the garage door and I use the tailgate camera to make sure I have cleared that line before I park the truck. I always open the garage door from the kitchen when the truck is parked inside. I haven't had the issue of the tailgate trying to lower while in the garage yet, But it's worth looking to make sure that it is closed before trying to open the garage door.

Stop bragging! I have 3 inches in the front and about 3-4 inches in the back. Super tight fit! Thank goodness for the cameras.

Sponsored