Rain in the Tailgate

[Chunk]

Winter has arrived with a few big rains already. My conscientious 4R is trying to store rainwater in the tailgate just in case the drought returns. This unfortunately makes the tailgate too heavy for the shocks to open and once fully elevated, water starts pouring from the two inner relief holes at the top of the gate... Any ideas on where the weather stripping is faulty? How can I make her water tight and winter ready again?

 

[shuly]

Winter has arrived with a few big rains already. My conscientious 4R is trying to store rainwater in the tailgate just in case the drought returns. This unfortunately makes the tailgate too heavy for the shocks to open and once fully elevated, water starts pouring from the two inner relief holes at the top of the gate... Any ideas on where the weather stripping is faulty? How can I make her water tight and winter ready again?

The typical way for water to get into the tailgate would be through the weather stripping at the base or around the window. The weather stripping around the rear door shouldn't let rain fill up the tailgate. Glad to hear you are ready though in case of drought, earthquake or other natural disaster

How old is the stripping? I just replaced the weather stripping on our rear door and the driver

 

[PredBlue]

You don't post what year you have, but my 2003 had a problem with the rubber/plastic covering that protects the wire harness running from the back of the roof to the tailgate (electrical for lights, wiper, etc.) on the driver's side. Basically because of the design which was originally round, when the tailgate opened and closed it pulled slightly on the small rubber boot where it connects (both the body side and tailgate side), and apparently it broke the small plastic clips that held the boot flush to the metal to make a watertight seal. It looked fine to the eye, but when I pulled on the boot, you could see that the broken internal clip no longer kept it sealed. It was repaired with what I presume is the current design, which is more flat and flexes without binding/pulling on those internal clips so problem fixed--no more leaks. Before the fix, however, I was getting water in both the tailgate and also inside the body where the water was running down the raar sides and would exit through those tiny backing mirrors in the rear columns.

If not the weather stripping, check that wire harness rubber/plastic boot and make sure you gently pull at it to make sure it is sealing against the metal properly.