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My 2001 needs a tail gate latch handle…again!!

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by Adventundra, Nov 9, 2021.

  1. Nov 9, 2021 at 10:43 AM
    #1
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Gender:
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    First Name:
    Adam
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2016 SR5 Long Bed
    Cap and bed slide
    I think this is the 3rd one that shit the bed!!

    anyone have same experience or recommend what brand to get? They range from $12-$109….I shud just buy 3 at a clip n keep em at the ready!!
     
  2. Nov 9, 2021 at 12:48 PM
    #2
    shifty`

    shifty` A means to an end, but the ends don't seem to meet

    Joined:
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    Member:
    #48239
    Messages:
    25,291
    ATL
    Vehicle:
    '06 AC Limited V8/4WD
    (see signature for truck info)
    Two tips:

    1) Handles break when you don't lube the damn tailgate mechanicals, something you should do at least once every couple of years depending on your climate and use.
    2) If you buy aftermarket garbage chinesium parts on Scamazon and Fleabay, you're gonna go thru this time and time again and spend far more than OEM over time!

    I highly recommend you find a used genuine OEM part on fleabay or at the local junkyard OR go buy a new OEM unit, part number for '01 appears to be 690900C010 or sometimes stylized as 69090-0C010, and you should be able to run the same numbers thru eBay to find used parts if you don't want to spend the coin on new.

    Better yet - hit your local junkyard or find a part through car-part.com
     
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    #2
    bmf4069, KNABORES and Adventundra[OP] like this.
  3. Nov 9, 2021 at 2:38 PM
    #3
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Adam
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    Cap and bed slide
    Outstanding!!
    Thanks!! I will definitely keep up w lubing mechanicals of handle!!
     
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    #3
  4. Nov 9, 2021 at 2:51 PM
    #4
    shifty`

    shifty` A means to an end, but the ends don't seem to meet

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    '06 AC Limited V8/4WD
    (see signature for truck info)
    It's usually not the handle that causes it. It's lubing the latches on either side of the tailgate, from the inside and outside.
     
  5. Nov 9, 2021 at 6:36 PM
    #5
    chunk

    chunk New Member

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    110 miles north of Los Angeles, Ca.
    Vehicle:
    SR5 2001 Tundra, original owner
    Bone stock
    Mine was taking a lot of effort to drop the tailgate, and I knew that if I didn't lube it, something would break. So before that happened i pulled the access panel, cleaned all the pivot and friction points, lubed with some white lithium grease, and now it opens and releases the tailgate with just one finger. Took about 20 minutes.
     
    Adventundra[OP], bmf4069 and shifty` like this.
  6. Nov 13, 2021 at 3:30 AM
    #6
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

    Joined:
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    First Name:
    Adam
    NJ
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    2016 SR5 Long Bed
    Cap and bed slide
    Bought 2 handles to keep one on hand in case in happens again. Will definitely keep an eye on lubing mechanics n linkage of system. And I reinforced the new handles where they always seem to break…along the inside angle of plastic handle.

    DD56B663-9784-4407-BC8C-9900CF13C054.jpg
    A6BFFBFF-A160-4D54-A876-B1876B757084.jpg
     
  7. Nov 14, 2021 at 7:38 PM
    #7
    ionstorm66

    ionstorm66 New Member

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    The cheap ones have no glass fiber in the plastic, you can twist the entire assembly by hand. The OE ones are glass fiber reinforced. You can make the cheap ones last by only grabbing the passenger side of the handle.
     
    Adventundra[OP] likes this.
  8. Nov 15, 2021 at 3:56 AM
    #8
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

    Joined:
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    Member:
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    Messages:
    261
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2016 SR5 Long Bed
    Cap and bed slide
    Thanks
     
  9. Nov 15, 2021 at 4:55 AM
    #9
    mgxsequioa

    mgxsequioa New Member

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    #21565
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    294
    I had a similar issue on my 01 Sequoia, it broke 2 times the night before a trip (not sure why during the hot summer vs cold winter nights). It was always the plastic piece that was connected to the latch release cable. I never thought about reinforcing that part, but it makes sense. I just put a pair of needle nose pliers in my door pocket to release it.
     
    Adventundra[OP] likes this.

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