tailgate assist
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 510
Likes: 4
tailgate assist
OK, I'm looking at a tailgate assist for my 18 STX. DEE ZEE makes one that looks pretty simple. The Ford assist is much cleaner, the install I saw on youtube has the shock behind the tail light. My question is, do all of the trucks have the anchor behind the tail light or just some higher trim levels?
New User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Clear Lake area, Texas
OK, I'm looking at a tailgate assist for my 18 STX. DEE ZEE makes one that looks pretty simple. The Ford assist is much cleaner, the install I saw on youtube has the shock behind the tail light. My question is, do all of the trucks have the anchor behind the tail light or just some higher trim levels?
Mine is a 2017 Lariat and it DID NOT have the mount on the inside. I bought the "shock" and the ball mount separately CHEAPER than I could have bought the whole kit with both of those parts. I painted my bracket Ingot Silver to match. Installation was easy, and did not have to completely remove the tailgate.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 221
Likes: 3
OK, I'm looking at a tailgate assist for my 18 STX. DEE ZEE makes one that looks pretty simple. The Ford assist is much cleaner, the install I saw on youtube has the shock behind the tail light. My question is, do all of the trucks have the anchor behind the tail light or just some higher trim levels?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
Mine is a 2017 Lariat and it DID NOT have the mount on the inside. I bought the "shock" and the ball mount separately CHEAPER than I could have bought the whole kit with both of those parts. I painted my bracket Ingot Silver to match. Installation was easy, and did not have to completely remove the tailgate.
....Are you saying that your 2017 Lariat didn`t come with the tailgate assist already installed from the factory? Wow....I guess Ford changed it in 2017.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 91
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Yes, I am surprised to hear that as well ^. Regardless, the Dee Zee option is a very popular "go to" for many truck owners. As you mentioned Ford's has a cleaner appearance but both will get the job done and should have close to identical installation.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
Regardless of which kit is chosen, the installation should be close to the same as well as very easy to do.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
I owned an F250 and now have an F150. I found once you install a tonneau cover this no longer works. I've adjusted the hell out of both trucks and it seems the cover prevents it from opening, it just unlocks now.
New User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Clear Lake area, Texas
Yes, that's right. I had read where some did some did not have them. Mine didn't. I have the tailgate step, so maybe that had something to do with it.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 818
Likes: 55
From: houston
My undercover Ultraflex tonneua cover works just fine with my tailgate. It still unlock and opens down when I press the key fob on my 2017.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 221
Likes: 3
Sorry about saying they all had the socket head. I thought they all did because it’s part of the inner box. Mine had it. 2017 XLT. The Ford one is much nicer than the Dee Zee as there is no shock to see. But that’s my opinion.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
There literally is no difference with or without my tonneau cover.