Gm truck tailgate adjustment?

[Dr. Teeth]

HI all. Every time I go over a bump I hear a rather large clank after the truck goes up and down, and I think it's my tailgate. Doesn't seem looser than it ever was (bought it new in 03) but I'm wondering if there is an adjustment to keep it tighter?

It's an 03 GMC Sierra.

Thanks.

-Teeth

 

[1BADAIR]

The strikers on each side are torx and can be adjusted. Does it have trouble latching? If you look under the handle you can see some pivots that need lubed once in awhile or they stick and one side of the gate may not latch

 

[Dr. Teeth]

No trouble latching. It is missing some tiny rubber bumper on one side, but they're $21 apiece. Screw that. I'll make my own and try Badair's idea. Trucks 10 yrs old and I think I need to go around and tighten shit up.

 

[TooSlo86]

Or you can prematurely strap an engine down with ratchet straps to the eye hooks on the corners with the tailgate still down. Unknowingly I solved my ker-thunking tailgate on my S10 using that method :laugh:

One note on that, don't close the tailgate with that tension still there. I'm not endorsing this fashion in any way, I really did this by accident. But I can't complain about the lack of the thunking anymore.