how do you align a tailgate?

I have a 2001 SuperCrew and if I look at my rear-end at about 10-15 feet away, it looks like my tailgate drops a little to the right side.

The tailgate locks and opens fine, just looks kinda off. I have looked at the maintenance manuals from Chilton and Ford an they mention about the "striker bolts" but doesn't have a picture of them.

where are the striker bolts and how do i adjust these things?

 

I believe the striker bolts are the bolts on the side of the inner bed that the tailgate locks onto when you close it. You can loosen and then move them a little bit.

 

You could, but that wouldn't change how it fits up/down. I think you need to remove the gate and adjust the hinge pivots.

 

thanks for the reply logical and AjRagno

I tried to loosen the strikers bolts and failed. They have these groves on the center and man they are snugged tight!

All my Allend wrenches wouldn't move it.

I looked at hinges, they also use the same type of bolts. Can't find the right tool for them.

Anyone know what type of tool I should use for the striker bolts and for loosening the hinges?

 

chesterc,

I can't recall the technical name of the socket tool for loosening the striker bolts but you can get them in various sizes at any auto parts store. They don't get used very often but when I do need one I'm glad that I have a selection of sizes for our different trucks because an allen wrench will not grab.

 

I believe the tool that you are looking for is called a TORX, a great tool to have in various sizes.