Tailgate assist kits?
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
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From: PA
Tailgate assist kits?
Hey everyone, I was looking all over for any info about a tailgate assist kit for our era trucks and I couldn't find one. That said having looked at some of the kits for newer trucks, they look like it's possible to make one fit well enough. Has anyone successfully retrofitted one to their truck? The tailgate on our trucks are so much heavier than the new ones in my experience, so it can be a bear to lift or open one handed. Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 238
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Check out etrailer.com. I bought a tailgate assist from them for my '97 F350...a simple torsion bar device...easy to install...hidden. Now I can lift my tailgate easily with one hand. Price was right...prompt delivery.
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: PA
I was on there for a bit. They didn't have anything listed for my truck body style. Is that a universal part? I'm just curious because there were lots of kits specific to the 97' body style and up. I just couldn't find anything for a 1980-1996 truck. Thanks for responding!
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
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From: PA
Nevermind, I went back and after searching for a bit more, I found the torsion bar you were talking about. Looks like it should work well. I guess I was hoping for a no drill option like the little shock absorber style I saw everywhere. Oh well, you win some and you lose some. Thanks for helping me find a solution!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 238
Likes: 14
Nevermind, I went back and after searching for a bit more, I found the torsion bar you were talking about. Looks like it should work well. I guess I was hoping for a no drill option like the little shock absorber style I saw everywhere. Oh well, you win some and you lose some. Thanks for helping me find a solution!
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
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From: PA
You're welcome. I was also reluctant to drill...and was looking for a piston/cylinder arrangement, but the simplicity of this is what appealed to me. When it warms up, I may put some flexible silicone sealant in the holes. I've used shock absorber-type lift assists and lid stays on various cabinets I've built over the years...all worked...for awhile...and were quite costly. Most started to lose their oomph within weeks of installation...and were shot in a year...and that's in a nice warm, dry house or shop. How's something like that going to work on our trucks?
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
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From: PA
Their video demonstrating the spring lift is quite convincing. It would be nice to be able to let the tailgate fall without it slamming and put it up with two fingers after I'm done in the bed. Makes me wish they still made this body style with all the updates in technology added to it. Being 2000 lbs lighter than today's light duty trucks would be a boon to fuel economy and performance to say the least. That and my truck bed would have the proper sized sides. I hate how ridiculously tall all pickup truck beds are today. Like people need more of an excuse to over load their vehicle. Lol.
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