Frozen tailgate

[jayfitz]

I've had my new '23 Gladiator High Altitude about two weeks or so. Tonight, I arrived at a band rehearsal and went to open the tailgate to grab my drums. Well, we had some rain earlier and then the temps dropped so the tailgate would not open. Eventually I pulled on it enough and it came down. Is this a common occurrence? I've only had SUV's in the past so there has never been a problem with opening the rear hatch as it's been heated. How often do cold temps affect the tailgate?

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[Sweetums]

Any vehicle will freeze up with water and freezing temperatures

 

[berb]

You've never had a door handle freeze up on you that you had to break the ice off of?

 

[Zsis]

Happens to me at least once or twice every winter. Has happened on every pickup truck I have ever owned in my life. I have also had the doors freeze up. Doors were an easy fix. Remote start and within a few minutes it heats up enough for them to thaw enough to open.

 

[Jrcurrier]

Had our first freeze of the night a couple of days ago. Needed something out of the bed and the tailgate was frozen shut. Luckily I was at home, so hit it with a hairdryer for a couple minutes and got it open

 

[NC_Overland]

I’ve ever had that happen, but I have had my door freeze shut. I used the old trick my dad taught me and wiped down the door seals with WD-40 and it never happened again. I’d imagine if you sprayed the tailgate latch with something like that that displaces water it would help.

 

[GeekJT]

I’ve ever had that happen, but I have had more door freeze shut. I used the old trick my dad taught me and wiped down the door seals with WD-40 and it never happened again. I’d imagine if you sprayed the tailgate latch with something like that that displaces water it would help.

Boy that's old school, old timer trick i learned in the late 80s

 

[Maximus Gladius]

When I head out to the alley with a loaded stinky bag of garbage, sometimes my alley garbage can lid will freeze shut and I’ll line up the big boot and pretend I’m an all star NFL kicker and kick it like my life depended on it. Sometimes I miss and end up on my back with garbage all over me but, I don’t miss twice and that lid comes loose every time.

 

[Sweetums]

I’ve ever had that happen, but I have had my door freeze shut. I used the old trick my dad taught me and wiped down the door seals with WD-40 and it never happened again. I’d imagine if you sprayed the tailgate latch with something like that that displaces water it would help.

It works, but petroleum based oils can dry out and damage rubber seals over time. Since my truck has remote start, I just fire it up and let it heat up enough to melt the ice.

It also helps that the snow in my area is very, very dry - sometimes less than 5% water.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I think the OP is talking about his back tail gate freezing. No seals to oil or silicone and the cab heat won’t reach it.

If I’ve washed my truck in the winter, water will get into places and will freeze up. Fortunately, my truck gets parked in a heated garage so it will dry out.

 

[Sweetums]

I think the OP is talking about his back tail gate freezing. No seals to oil or silicone and the cab heat won’t reach it.

Shhh, just let the thread derailment happen. It's inevitable.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Shhh, just let the thread derailment happen. It's inevitable.

Ok, being quiet now….

 

[DylanM]

I think the OP is talking about his back tail gate freezing. No seals to oil or silicone and the cab heat won’t reach it.

If I’ve washed my truck in the winter, water will get into places and will freeze up. Fortunately, my truck gets parked in a heated garage so it will dry out.

Spray the tailgate latches and pivot points, and maybe a touch on the two stops/bumpers as well.

 

[IamPro2A]

Happens to mine a few times every winter, but it's always been where the tonneau cover seal meets the top of the tailgate. Keeping that edge dry (making sure it doesnt have snow or water on it when I close it, and draping plastic over it if I know were are going to have an ice storm) and parking it in the sun usually minimizes That. If I REALLY need to get in asap I have a Dewalt cordless heat gun that I very very carefully use to warm things up faster.

 

[jayfitz]

Thanks all.

I guess I'm not used to a tailgate, just need to remember this can happen. Usually all the doors would be frozen also, in this instance they were not, that's why I didn't think of it.

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