2018 XLT with step insert. You have to pull the handle all the way and at the very end it will unlatch the tailgate, pulling fairly hard. My wife can't do it. Is there any adjustment on the linkage?

 

Just to follow up. I removed the access panel. I unlatched the two plastic clips that hold the long rods that go to the latches. I wiggled the long rods back and forth, pulled the slack out and clipped them in. Works great now and doesn't require as much handle travel to open the gate.

 

Well heck. Worked fine for a while then recently it was back to requiring a full hard pull on the handle to unlatch it. Today it would not unlatch at all. Pulled the access panel off. I thought it looked like the short rod from the handle to the mechanism was bent. I straightened it but now the yellow plastic thingy keeps popping out. Is there a repair kit? Does the main latch require some lubrication? It seems to need a pretty hard pull.

Edit: I took some lithium grease spray to the main and outer latches and have got it moving easier now. One of the plastic clips keeps popping out so I ordered some aftermarket ones from Amazon.

 

Usually once you bend those rods they will just continue to bend after you straiten them. I would just replace the rods and if it was me i would do the handles at the same time. Would also clean and lube the latches as that is usually where the issue starts..