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How to Replace Tailgate Handle 1998-2011 Ford Ranger
How to Replace Tailgate Handle 1998-2012 Ford Ranger
Created on:
Tools used
T27 Torx Driver
Rust Penetrant
10mm Socket
Ratchet
1. Remove the tail gate handle
Remove the tail gate lining by removing the eight T27 Torx bolt
Unbolt the two 10 mm nuts securing the tailgate handle.
Hit the latch mechanism with penetrating oil and white grease to combat squeakiness.
2. Install the new tail gate handle
Place the tail gate handle onto the tailgate.
Thread the 10 mm nuts onto the bolts and tighten them up to secure the handle.
Install the tail gate lining and bolt it down with your T27 Torx driver.
Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality auto replacement parts and the bets service on the internet. Hi, I'm Mike Green. I'm one of the owners of 1A Auto. I want to help you save time and money repairing and maintaining your vehicle. I'm going to use my 20 plus years experience restoring and repairing cars and trucks like this to show you the correct way to install parts from 1AAuto.com. The right parts installed correctly, that's going to save you time and money. Thank you and enjoy the video.
In this video, we'll be showing you how to replace the tailgate handle on this '04 Ford Ranger, just the same as any '98 on up Ranger and also Mazda. You'll need T27 Torx bit and driver, a 10 mm socket and ratchet, some penetrating oil and some grease. Okay, to replace the tailgate handle on one of these Ford Rangers, it's pretty easy. What you have here, some T27 bolts holding this line on. There's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight of them so I'm going to remove all eight of those. Okay, now this comes up. Put it up there for right now. Okay. One of the access panel here. Looking down there at the back side, you can see two 10 mm bolts right here. I'm going to remove those. While I'm doing this, just a note, usually what happens is this mechanism gets frozen up and the plastic tailgate handle breaks. What you want to do is when you're replacing this, take some time and use some penetrating, get this mechanism working really well and put some grease on it to make sure it stays working well.
You can see the handle as it pulls right now. There's you handle out. You can see these levers are just plastic. Like I said, this gets frozen up and those break off. It's all going to be the same. Okay, it's got a bolt in there just like the original. Okay, I'm going to actually bolt this one back in because it is in okay shape. As I said before, spray this down really well. I'm also going to spray the latches on both sides. This is white grease. Okay, spray everything really good. It's all working right and easy and smooth now. You just basically feed your handle right up and in. The studs will come through- where are you guys? There they are. Replace the mechanism down in with the two 10 mm bolts. Just put it right on there. Just a quick test. It works nicely. You put this panel down. Make sure it's lined up pretty good. Okay, I'll put all these eight Torx screws. We're all set.
We hope this helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality auto replacement parts and the bets service on the internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that serve you on the internet and in person.
Tools used
Flat Blade Screwdriver
T30 Driver
10mm Socket
Ratchet
1. Lowering a Stuck Tailgate
Pull the bed liner lip from the tailgate
Wedge a screwdriver between the tailgate and the bed liner
Remove the eight T30 Torx bolts from the tailgate cover panel
Pull the latch rods toward the middle
Lower the tailgate
2. Removing the Tailgate Handle
Pull the bed liner off the tailgate
Remove the two 10mm nuts from the tailgate latch
Pull off the tailgate handle
3. Installing the Tailgate Handle
Put the tailgate handle into place
Fasten the two 10mm nuts onto the latch
Put the tailgate cover into place
Insert the eight T30 Torx bolts into the tailgate cover
Snap on the bed liner
Close the tailgate
Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet.
Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.
In this video, we're going to be working with our 2001 Ford Ranger. We're going to show you how to remove and replace your tailgate handle. Sometimes these break and the tailgate gets stuck open here. Ours is fine, but we're going to show you how to get inside and open the tailgate with a broken latch with it in the up position like this to make it easier to work on.
If you like this video please click subscribe. We have a ton more information on this truck as well as many other makes and models. If you need this part for your vehicle follow the link in the description over to 1AAuto.com. Here are the items you'll need for this repair.
Our truck has a bed liner, if yours doesn't you can skip this step but we'll have to push up on the top lip here. Slide our cover back. I'm going to take a flat blade screwdriver and just kind of wedge it in there to keep it back and give me a little more room to work. Then we're going to take a T30 Torx bit and a ratchet and remove these eight T30 Torx bolts here on the inside cover.
The other reason I have this screwdriver here is to keep this plate up. If you don't have this cover or you don't have the screwdriver wedged the way we do here, you're going to have to support this when you take the last bolt out. We'll remove our screwdriver and the back cover.
Here you can see our latch rods. Sometimes this door handle breaks and it doesn't actuate these rods properly. These plastic clips can break or they just come out of adjustment with old age. They can stretch out or this plastic can wear out and allow them to slide and not unlock both sides evenly. If any of these components are broken you can simply grab both latch rods and pull them to the middle and lower your tailgate.
Again, if you don't have this plastic cover, you don't have to worry about it but since we do, you simply push back and remove it once the tailgate is in the down position. Remove these two 10 millimeter bolts with a socket and ratchet. When removing the second one, be sure to support the latch from the bottom. Now rotate the latch and remove it from the vehicle.
Reinstall the handle. You may have to squeeze the mechanism together here to make sure that the mechanism lands under the arms of the tailgate handle. Line up the bolts, and reinstall your two 10 millimeter nuts.
Reinstall the cover and all eight of your T30 screws. Tighten these down with the T-30 Torx socket and a ratchet. If you have the plastic tailgate cover, insert the bottom first. Make sure that it hooks over the bottom of the gate. Line it up to the center. Push the top over. Close your tailgate and ensure that everything still functions properly. You're good to go.
Thanks for tuning in. We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.
DHA69385
In Stock
Product Reviews
4.9/ 5
★★★★★
90 reviews
5★
82
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★★★★★May 8, 2025
Ford Ranger tailgate handle
Installation was simple and the handle's quality was great! One piece popped off the handle in transport and it wasn't immediately obvious it was part of the handle assembly. I held on to it just on case and I recommend you do the same.
★★★★★March 25, 2025
Easy Install, decent quality.
Watched your installation video, bought your handle and it went in super easy. Thanks to A1, I'm now a mechanic.
★★★★★October 10, 2024
Perfect!
★★★★★September 17, 2024
I got to my event on time.
The timing of me getting this part was crucial. I had planned for a few weeks to attend an event which involved loading my truck the night before. I received the handle just in time to install it and get everything loaded. Shipping was FAST! Since I am a DIYer and had watched a few install videos, it took about 30 minutes to install the new part (I already had the old part off. Easy-Peezy.
★★★★★July 6, 2024
Tailgate handle was as described as the original in every way. Vide provided by 1A Auto on YouTube was easy to follow and made removal a made reinstallation a breeze. Couldn't be more satisfied.
★★★★★January 29, 2024
Very satisfied
Replaced the broken tailgate handle on my 2008 Ford Ranger a few years ago. This replacement fit perfectly and has been performing well ever since.
★★★★★January 22, 2024
Trouble free tailgate handle repair
Part arrived on time. OEM quality part Video was very helpful. Installation was trouble free
★★★★★December 14, 2023
Tailgate Handle that works great!
It fit perfectly and worked great. Looks just like the orginal.
★★★★★September 17, 2023
Excellent experience!
Quality product and exact fit. The video for installation was spot on. Thanks for being wonderful!
★★★★★July 26, 2023
Worked perfectly
Showing 1–10 of 90 reviews
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