[rouxbicon]

Anyone familiar with adjusting the latch and/or striker bolt on the tailgate? My tailgate is slightly out of flush (mostly at the driver's side upper corner of the tailgate). The spare tire is therefore not pulled as tightly as it should be against the lowest rubber snubber (the one mounted to the tub). I am thinking that adjusting the tailgate closure inward about 1/8" should reduce or eliminate the "out-of-flush" condition and pull the tire just a little more snuggly against the snubber.

Anyway, is such an adjustment made by moving the striker bolt 1/8" inward on the body, or moving the latch mechanism outward 1/8" on the tailgate? Either one seems like it would accomplish the same thing, but I haven't looked closely enough to determine which is the proper way.

If adjusting the striker bolt is the answer, then do I loosen the four torx bolts that hold the bracket to the tub and move the entire bracket with the striker bolt on it, or loosen just the striker bolt and move only it, leaving the bracket alone?

Any advice is appreciated. Note everything here is bone stock.

[ImaginaryFriend]

When I was routing some wires for my auxiliary reverse light and CB I took off the whole striker bolt assembly (4 torx bolts). It certainly had a bit of adjustment allowed when tightening it back down.

Loosen it up and see if it moves enough. I bet you can tell where it was mounted previously by dirt/rust/wear marks/etc. if it doesn't work out.

[kloppk]

Yes - loosening the striker bolt is the way to adjust it.
Just loosen the striker bolt, move it forward the 1/8" and re-tighten.
Repeat as necessary to get it "just right".