four months ago I replaced the tailgate handle after the plastic broke on one side and the tailgate could not be put down.
Now four mo later, it broke again.
Its less that $10 to replace but its a pain in the *** to do.
Has anyone figured out a real fix for the problem? I dont want this to happen again.
The handles that are advertised at "metal" are not metal where the metal is needed. Its still plastic on the two arms and that is where it breaks.

 

have found a tailgate latch that is Magnesium it will arrive tomorrow. I will report on it after I install it.

 

If the tailgate is adjusted to tight in the closed position or any pressure is against it when closed, the handles break real easy.

If you have to really slam it shut, it's adjusted to tight.

 

Its not too tight, I can open it with my little finger and its well oiled. But I have gone thru two plastic handles, We will see what the magnesium handle does.

 

Just finished the install. Went very easy except for the fiddly work of getting it into the hole in the right place to tighten everything down. That part is always fiddly but it just takes patience.
The new magnesium handle is not as tall as the original plastic one. so it gives you less leverage to pull it up. They probably did that on purpose to cut down on the pressure you could apply and prevent breakage. I greased up all the moving parts but did not adjuist the latches because it closes with just a slight pressure on it and opens without any assistance. The magnesium structure will be much stronger.
its $20 most places.