Locking tailgate handle install 4th Gen Ram by Smoothbassman
#1
05-31-2009, 08:53 AM
Locking tailgate handle install 4th Gen Ram by Smoothbassman
OK, Its taken me a week and two stops at two different dealers to get all of the parts needed to do a full conversion of the non-locking tailgate over to the locking tailgate that is now a standard option on all trucks built after December of 2008
This post is for all those who desire the option but have not been provided all the information. It is a very simple job and it takes 3 parts to make it all happen.
Part 1 - Handle - Part #68044904-AB - $64.99
Part 2 - Control Unit - Part #68044867-AB - $49.39
Part 3 - Link - Part #68049240-AA - $11.25 (need 2 of these)
Just open up the back panel of your tailgate and you will find a very simple latch that looks like this:
Remove the 2 bolts holding this whole thing together and disconnect the rods connecting to the latches on the tailgate. Remove both rods and the latch (control unit). Make sure you keep the rubber isolators off of the old rods and put them on the new rods. Take the old handle out of the back of the tailgate.
Insert the new locking handle and the new latch (control unit) into the inside of the tailgate. Make sure the key cylinder lines up with the back part on the new latch. This controls the locking portion. The rod of the key cylinder should be inside of the black ring as displayed in the photo.
After that is complete bolt it down with the nuts you took off earlier and connect the new rods to the latch. Your pretty much done, but make sure you test it before closing up the gate. Just flip the black lever to to disengage the locking clutch and open the handle. The rods should not move. Move the latch back and move the handle again and the rods should now move. Leave the cover off and close the tailgate with the gate UNLOCKED
Now this next step is very important because you have one shot at getting this done or you will be buying a new handle.
Take your key for your truck and insert it fully into the key cylinder. Turn the key to the left and then back to the right 180 degrees to set your key to the cylinder. Again if you do this wrong you will have to purchase a new handle.
Your install is now complete. You should be able to lock and unlock the tailgate. Open the tailgate and reinstall the cover panel and your done.
That's it. Its a 15 minute job and now you know exactly what parts you need to order to make it happen.
You can even take it one step further and order the Locking Rear Tailgate and Keyless Lock Actuator Kit for the truck and tie it into your keyless entry. I don't plan on adding that option yet since its another $100 bucks that I don't have right now. You need to do this 1st before doing the kit.
Ram4thGen
This post is for all those who desire the option but have not been provided all the information. It is a very simple job and it takes 3 parts to make it all happen.
Part 1 - Handle - Part #68044904-AB - $64.99
Part 2 - Control Unit - Part #68044867-AB - $49.39
Part 3 - Link - Part #68049240-AA - $11.25 (need 2 of these)
Just open up the back panel of your tailgate and you will find a very simple latch that looks like this:
Remove the 2 bolts holding this whole thing together and disconnect the rods connecting to the latches on the tailgate. Remove both rods and the latch (control unit). Make sure you keep the rubber isolators off of the old rods and put them on the new rods. Take the old handle out of the back of the tailgate.
Insert the new locking handle and the new latch (control unit) into the inside of the tailgate. Make sure the key cylinder lines up with the back part on the new latch. This controls the locking portion. The rod of the key cylinder should be inside of the black ring as displayed in the photo.
After that is complete bolt it down with the nuts you took off earlier and connect the new rods to the latch. Your pretty much done, but make sure you test it before closing up the gate. Just flip the black lever to to disengage the locking clutch and open the handle. The rods should not move. Move the latch back and move the handle again and the rods should now move. Leave the cover off and close the tailgate with the gate UNLOCKED
Now this next step is very important because you have one shot at getting this done or you will be buying a new handle.
Take your key for your truck and insert it fully into the key cylinder. Turn the key to the left and then back to the right 180 degrees to set your key to the cylinder. Again if you do this wrong you will have to purchase a new handle.
Your install is now complete. You should be able to lock and unlock the tailgate. Open the tailgate and reinstall the cover panel and your done.
That's it. Its a 15 minute job and now you know exactly what parts you need to order to make it happen.
You can even take it one step further and order the Locking Rear Tailgate and Keyless Lock Actuator Kit for the truck and tie it into your keyless entry. I don't plan on adding that option yet since its another $100 bucks that I don't have right now. You need to do this 1st before doing the kit.
Ram4thGen
