Tailgate latch

[Vasa1]

All these new trucks these days have some sort of electronic or push button latch, no more manual. So if you had a tonneau cover on and the battery goes dead, how can you open the tailgate?

 

[CharlieP]

All these new trucks these days have some sort of electronic or push button latch, no more manual. So if you had a tonneau cover on and the battery goes dead, how can you open the tailgate?

You have a tail gate release inside the truck not just on the key fob.

 

[Konrad]

You have a tail gate release inside the truck not just on the key fob.

It's still electric / electronic, right? I think he's talking about the truck battery, not the keyfob one.


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[Snwjnky]

Good question.

 

[Vasa1]

Yes both batteries. If the truck is dead, then what?

 

[Konrad]

Yes both batteries. If the truck is dead, then what?

Then proceed with the regular "dead car / truck" routine, I guess. Open your door with the key, open the hood, charge / replace battery or jump start.


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[Mood93]

Then proceed with the regular "dead car / truck" routine, I guess. Open your door with the key, open the hood, charge / replace battery or jump start.


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That’s when you realize your jump starter and jumper cables are in the bed...

 

[thetalonguy]

You have a tail gate release inside the truck not just on the key fob.

There’s a tailgate release inside a 5th Gen?

I don’t see one in mine (base BH) unless it’s part of an package/trim.

 

[STR]

This was a good question that was never answered. I read the manual and could not find anything. Hatches and trunks on most vehicles can be open with a key in the event of a dead battery, even the tailgate on Chevy truck could be opened with a key.

 

[mikeru82]

That’s when you realize your jump starter and jumper cables are in the bed...

Another good argument for the rambox. You can use a key to open them even if the truck battery is dead. That's where I store these types of things.

In all honesty though, it's likely that even if the battery isn't charged enough to start the truck, it should still have enough residual charge to open the tailgate. It would have to basically be completely dead or disconnected to not be able to actuate a solenoid. That's the click you are hearing when your battery is too dead to turn the starter motor. The starter solenoid. I doubt it's ever going to be an issue for anyone.

 

[Luciank]

this just happened to me. My jump starter was in the bed and could not open up the tailgate. I had to find someone to give me a jump. I am surprised that there is no way to open the tailgate if your battery is completely dead.

 

[Quint]

I keep one of those battery jump packs in the beer cooler....I mean "floor utility box" in my crew cab. I can access that even if I can't access the jumper cables in my bed

 

[Amerinamese]

You have a tail gate release inside the truck not just on the key fob.

There’s a tailgate release inside a 5th Gen?

I don’t see one in mine (base BH) unless it’s part of an package/trim.

Only on the Laramie above trims. The BH and below don't have a button on the interior to drop the tailgate.

 

[Neurobit]

I keep a jump pack under the rear seat along with a bag of jumper cables, just in case.,

 

[Snwjnky]

I keep one of those battery jump packs in the beer cooler....I mean "floor utility box" in my crew cab. I can access that even if I can't access the jumper cables in my bed

You guys with the Jump Packs have them plugged in and charging by USB while driving? I see the NOCO ones use USB to charge.

 

[Neurobit]

You guys with the Jump Packs have them plugged in and charging by USB while driving? I see the NOCO ones use USB to charge.

I don’t. Just top them off every six months or so. They keep the charge a long time.

 

[Quint]

Mine maintains the 100% charge for a long time. I usually bring it inside in January to charge it up again, but it's rarely below 90%-95%. On one of those -25 nights, my neighbor was outside trying to jumpstart her minivan. I walked out, grabbed my jump pack, put it on and her car started right up. At that point it had been sitting in my truck probably since August or September without being charged.

These things are great.

 

[KCViper]

Mine maintains the 100% charge for a long time. I usually bring it inside in January to charge it up again, but it's rarely below 90%-95%. On one of those -25 nights, my neighbor was outside trying to jumpstart her minivan. I walked out, grabbed my jump pack, put it on and her car started right up. At that point it had been sitting in my truck probably since August or September without being charged.

These things are great.

Can you share which unit you have? Might have to pick one up just in case.....

 

[Rebelguy2020]

Can you share which unit you have? Might have to pick one up just in case.....

This is the one I bought, from Amazon.ca it was the cheapest place, it can boost the Hemi or the ecodiesel, I used it for my 4 wheeler today, my battery is not good.

 

[Rebelguy2020]

Only on the Laramie above trims. The BH and below don't have a button on the interior to drop the tailgate.

My Rebel has the tailgate release in the cab, might be because of the level 2 option, but I don’t have the tailgate open indicator like in the higher trim levels.