[Toasterguy]

I just got my renegade about 4 months and I took it out to go fishing. There are a few spots where it flexes but nothing real bad. Today I noticed that my hatch closes evenly on one side but not well on the other. Could the weight of just a full tank of gas and a little off-roading bend this frame? Is there any way for me to check the frame?

 

[Marek K]

Welcome!

What do you mean it doesn't close evenly on the other side?

We've had our 2021 Trailhawk out several time offroad here in the Colorado Rockies -- nothing too, extreme, but everything was definitely flexing. It's definitely made for that. (I guess when you've got a wheel up in the air, that means flexing. )

Never had a problem with the liftgate latching on both sides.

That is, no permanent problem. There have been several times when one side or the other didn't latch when we had a lot of camping equipment in the back, which the liftgate would hit when I tried to close it; but some rearranging and/or, um, assertive liftgate-closing fixed it.

On your fishing trips, have you ever had the cargo compartment really full, where the liftgate wouldn't latch by itself? Maybe the liftgate got distorted a bit...

I really doubt it's a body-structure issue...

 

[Nev]

It's got a standard road-car spot-welded body.

If you're looking for additional rigidity you could always get the seams welded which is what they do to prep rallye cars.

e.g.

 

[Toasterguy]

Welcome!

What do you mean it doesn't close evenly on the other side?

We've had our 2021 Trailhawk out several time offroad here in the Colorado Rockies -- nothing too, extreme, but everything was definitely flexing. It's definitely made for that. (I guess when you've got a wheel up in the air, that means flexing. )

Never had a problem with the liftgate latching on both sides.

That is, no permanent problem. There have been several times when one side or the other didn't latch when we had a lot of camping equipment in the back, which the liftgate would hit when I tried to close it; but some rearranging and/or, um, assertive liftgate-closing fixed it.

On your fishing trips, have you ever had the cargo compartment really full, where the liftgate wouldn't latch by itself? Maybe the liftgate got distorted a bit...

I really doubt it's a body-structure issue...

No it is the liftgate itself. One side has a much larger gap and it sticks out a bit and the other sits perfectly flush with a tiny gap. There was nothing in the back give I store my kit on top.

 

[Marek K]

No it is the liftgate itself. One side has a much larger gap and it sticks out a bit and the other sits perfectly flush with a tiny gap. There was nothing in the back give I store my kit on top.

Well, like I wrote, I'd agree it is the liftgate. It'd be much easier to distort it, than the body structure. I've noticed the bottom corners do flex out when closing, when there's a lot of stuff in the cargo area pressing on it.

So it latches OK; just that one side isn't even...?

Maybe something just got caught under that side to distort it, and you didn't notice it.

I'll bet a body shop could fix it...

 

[DPauly182]

I cannot imagine that the off roading could have bent the frame. I've taken my 2015 renegade over black bear pass and I came down on my skids and rails pretty hard. I would have the lift gate looked at by an autobody mech.

 

[Murf]

The bottom right corner of my tail gate sticks out a little while the left is flush. I think I slammed it one when something was sticking out a little. No matter how hard I push on it I cannot get it to go back flush.

 

[Marek K]

The bottom right corner of my tail gate sticks out a little while the left is flush. I think I slammed it one when something was sticking out a little. No matter how hard I push on it I cannot get it to go back flush.

Well, since there's only the one latch securing it at the bottom, I'd advise the same thing I advised Toasterguy... take it to a good body shop.

Unless you want to risk bending the liftgate back into shape yourself...?