How do I take apart the tailgate?

[austinhiddy]

Long story short, I got a bunch of mulch in the opening at the bottom of the tailgate and it’s been in there for months without any luck of getting it out. I’m looking to take apart the tailgate to clean it out so I can put a cover on that opening to prevent this in the future. Only problem is that there’s dozens of screws on this thing and I don’t know where to start.

Any advice or images showing how?

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[Dmat]

I think about the most you can disassemble is the the panel thats held on by the 8 screws on the tailgate. that will open up a good bit though for you to get access inside it.

 

[Lane]

I think about the most you can disassemble is the the panel thats held on by the 8 screws on the tailgate. that will open up a good bit though for you to get access inside it.

Use an air compressor hose down into the gate after that panel is removed, and it might help force the junk back out of the bottom hole. Or, you could try a claw grab tool or small shopvac hose in through that panel opening as well.

If you still can't get it out, you could take the gate off the truck and shake it while tilting it back and forth to see if the junk comes out the bottom.

When I first got my Mav, I just siliconed a piece of screen over that hole because I've had serious rust problems with the gate on a prior truck due to stuff getting in there and retaining moisture.

But adding a Rok Block works even better.

This thing has been worth every penny. More details in my build thread here starting at post #7.

 

[austinhiddy]

Appreciate the advice! Will look into both of these.

 

[Oscarcat]

Long story short, I got a bunch of mulch in the opening at the bottom of the tailgate and it’s been in there for months without any luck of getting it out. I’m looking to take apart the tailgate to clean it out so I can put a cover on that opening to prevent this in the future. Only problem is that there’s dozens of screws on this thing and I don’t know where to start.

Any advice or images showing how?

Same happened to me. I just used my shop vac and a poker to coax the debris to the opening where my vac sucked it up. Did that a couple or three times while I waited for my $16 cover to arrive in the mail. Pricey but worth it.

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