How do I manually open my 2024 Ram tailgate?

[3TV]

I had my tailgate off for a slide in camper all summer. Today I took the camper off and put the tailgate back on. I had to run an errand that couldn't wait so I just left the wires hanging on the rear bumper, shut the tailgate, and planned on hooking up the wires when I got home. Well now the tailgate is locked shut, and the wires cannot be fed under the truck to be hooked up.

I removed the access panel and tried to find the manual release levers, and for 2024 they don't have any. I called the Ram dealership and talked to a mechanic. He said I need to remove the latches altogether, then open the tailgate and reinstall the latches. Except, the hardware to remove the latches is on the ends of the tailgate, which cannot be accessed with the tailgate shut.

I'm stumped. Anyone know how to manually open a tailgate on a 2024 Ram 3500? Maybe remove the rear bumper so the wires will hopefully be able to reach their connectors?

 

[Tulecreeper]

And this is a reason why I spent a lot of time looking to swap my electronic-only tailgate for a mechanical one with a key lock when I first got the truck last year. If my fob dies with it locked I have to open my tonneau cover to get into my bed. There is no mechanical tailgate for my truck.

 

[GTyankee]

This may be the answer

2019-2023 Dodge Ram 2500 3500 Manually unlocking tailgate with power locks latches

www.youtube.com

2019 to 2023 RAM tailgate fix

If you have a problem with your 2019 to 2023 ram tailgate not opening this video should show you how to fix it!!!Tools youâll need to fix are:Screw gun Smal...

www.youtube.com

 

[3TV]

I already watched both of those and removed the access panel. The 2024 Ram does not have the lever to manually open the tailgate.

 

[A child of God]

Thank you! I really truly hate the way Ram wired up all the electronics. If my powered back window stopped working, I'm sure my #4 piston would probably also. No relationship between the two, yet still connected. I wouldn't put it past them. Thanks Dodge!

 

[GTyankee]

Have you stopped by a Auto Body Shop yet ?

 

[DanAR]

Can you access the plug feeding into the tailgate itself? I’ve never looked at the wiring so I may be asking a stupid question. Just thinking that if that end is accessible you might jumper it to the battery with some long wires and get it to unlatch. But, probably not.

 

[3TV]

That's a good idea. I'll be looking at it again in a few hours.

 

[3TV]

Well, that was a pain in the ass. But I got it.

First, let me say that on the '24 model year Ram HD truck, if you don't have power to the tailgate, the tailgate is not coming open. If you have an electrical problem with your truck, and you have a fifth wheel RV attached, it is staying attached. The'24s no longer have the manual release lever.

I could not disconnect the wires coming from the truck from the black plastic filler plate you plug the wires into when the tailgate is off, while the black plastic plate was snapped into the hole on the back of the bed floor. And you can't take that plastic plate out of the back of the bed with the tailgate shut. After hours of trying, I became frustrated enough that I just broke the dummy wire plugs off of the plastic plate, which lets you pull them down low enough to unplug the wires. You can then thread the wires from the tailgate underneath the tailgate and on top of the bumper just enough to plug them into the wires coming from the truck. Then the tailgate opens as it should. Once the tailgate is open you need to unplug the wires again and remove the black plastic filler plate. Then thread the wires from the truck through that hole and connect them to the tailgate wires and insert the black plastic plate on the tailgate wires back into the hole on the back of the bed, and you're done.

I will need to buy a new plastic filler plate with the dummy plugs on it before next spring when it is time to put the camper back on.

A word of caution to others. Do NOT shut the tailgate of a '24 model Ram HD without having the power already connected.

 

[GTyankee]

Thank you for explaining that fix in enough detail, that other owners will be able to do what you did, or modify their similar vehicle by redesigning the electrical connectors.

Possibly someone can design a temporary jumper that would plug into the trucks pigtail & into the tailgate wiring, if the tailgate inspection cover was temporarily removed.

 

[DanAR]

Wow, nice going. Wonder what idiot in RAM design authorized deleting the manual release?

 

[hershey]

Probably some college hire with a liberal arts degree....I always have said that they should make every design engineer do a 5 year apprentice as a backyard/shadetree mechanic before they let them design anything...

 

[Marshall]

Just wondering, can you unplug the wiring in the access panel ? if so what about making a connection to the latches and hitting them with power from a jump box or another battery, rather them mess with the harness under the box.
sounds like a stupid set up. But not surprised.

 

[farout75]

This may be the answer

2019-2023 Dodge Ram 2500 3500 Manually unlocking tailgate with power locks latches

www.youtube.com

2019 to 2023 RAM tailgate fix

If you have a problem with your 2019 to 2023 ram tailgate not opening this video should show you how to fix it!!!Tools youâll need to fix are:Screw gun Smal...

www.youtube.com

That's really helpful! Thank you!

 

[Marshall]

He said the 24 don't have the levers on the latches, but maybe a couple small screw drivers somewhere? I guess " they" figured it an't never going to break. On my soft top, you can't open the top with the tailgate closed, But a knife would fix that I guess.

 

[MESchroder]

Wow, nice going. Wonder what idiot in RAM design authorized deleting the manual release?

Most automotive engineers do not care about a vehicle that doesn't function in the way it was designed. And they don't even think about maintenance. I had to unbolt the engine from the mounts and raise the engine/transmission to replace a starter on a previous vehicle. On another car I had to lift all of the air conditioning components to replace the distributor cap. "What do you mean you want to maintain it yourself? We have trained mechanics to do that!"

 

[3TV]

Just wondering, can you unplug the wiring in the access panel ? if so what about making a connection to the latches and hitting them with power from a jump box or another battery, rather them mess with the harness under the box.
sounds like a stupid set up. But not surprised.

Inside the access panel I think you could unplug the wiring from the latch where it plugs into the tailgate handle in the middle of the tailgate. Then supply power to the connector at the end of the wire that comes from the latch to get the latch to open. If someone had a circuit tester and new how to use it, then that method might be easier.

 

[RWlRAM]

Not familiar with these but I think I'd be inclined to rig some kind of backup switch located in the cab.
Probably have to add a connector to the tailgate to feed power in.
Who puts the actuator(s) in the panel that needs to open???

 

[GTyankee]

I see 2024 Ram owners trying to sue Stellantis for a new tailgate or Tonneau Cover, if they have an electrical flaw in the tailgate & say a GatorTrax Tonneau Cover.

Like they would take a torch to the tailgate, long before they would chop up the Cover

 

[GTyankee]

RWIRAM ,
the Original Poster forgot to connect the tailgate wiring & had to find a work around