1997 f150 tailgate problem

bought a used f150 with a tailgate problem. the drivers side is completely closed but the passenger side has about an inch gap. the hanle will not pull up more than half way and doesn't open the gate. i thought that it was locked, so i tried to unlock it with the ignition key (this is the only key that came with the truck), but the key will only go halfway in. the handle assembly has a slight gap around the bottom of it also. how can i get the tailgate to work again? can i open it using the access panel on the inside or is there another way to do it?

u can get to all that from the panel on the tailgate, but u got to get it open to do that. i have had this problem and it was the sheet metal that holds the handle in was bent(from overloading the tailgate with firewood:evillol:) :evillol:just got open it up and straighten it all back out... oh try lifting up on gate while unlatching it. hope this helps

sorry it took so long to update, things got busy. finally got it taken apart and freed up. massive corrosion and a bent rod inside the tailgate. thanks for the help.