Previous owner had 35" tires on an aftermarket tire carrier... eventually wearing out the hinges resulting in a tired tailgate. Closing the tailgate required upward pressure on the tire and a hard slam.
First things first... I swapped the 35's for 31's, and installed an OEM tire carrier. Problem still persisted.
Next step... replaced the hinges. Closes now without the spare... with the spare, does not close properly.
Question for you guys: in the first photo, that body seam shifts left and right like it's loose. Should that be spot welded from the inside or something? In the second photo, you'll notice the tailgate gap favoring a slight hang.
First things first... I swapped the 35's for 31's, and installed an OEM tire carrier. Problem still persisted.
Next step... replaced the hinges. Closes now without the spare... with the spare, does not close properly.
Question for you guys: in the first photo, that body seam shifts left and right like it's loose. Should that be spot welded from the inside or something? In the second photo, you'll notice the tailgate gap favoring a slight hang.