New 2023 Tailgate issue
Trailering
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
From: MN
I had the same issue. This was included on my 2022, but is not on my new 24 Lariat, The dealer did some digging and it is only included on the ultimate package now. I will be adding as I use it frequently, and the banging down can't be good. You would think they could put this in the order information so we could add it?! I guess this went the way side like the transmission dipstick!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 188
I searched first and couldn't find anything. I just purchased a 2023 Lariat Ultimate with Sport package. I did not purchase the power up/down tailgate option. When I double hit the button on dash or key fob the tailgate opens and slams down super loud. Shakes the truck. My 2022 limited and 2019 platinum had a soft open feature on it where it wouldn't slam down just slowly lower down.
I couldn't find anything on this forum. Also all the videos on youtube of the lariat show the tailgate soft opening not slamming down like mine does. Even one that they say does not have the power up/down option. So same truck as mine.
Any help or explanation would be greatly appreciated.
I couldn't find anything on this forum. Also all the videos on youtube of the lariat show the tailgate soft opening not slamming down like mine does. Even one that they say does not have the power up/down option. So same truck as mine.
Any help or explanation would be greatly appreciated.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,634
Likes: 2,429
😆, seriously? You never cease to amaze me with these issues you had that no one else seems to have. The damper slows the opening of the tailgate and does not make it harder to close.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 188
Oh better yet ask Ford why they made these changes. Another bitch I had since day one in the 19? well it was the height of the truck. Oh and they dropped it 2" the next year and also now have the tailgate step able to drop down 3 in more. Thank God they listen to guys like us instead of others.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,634
Likes: 2,429
Sure does. I've owned many Super Dutys? have you? Do you use it for work all the time in and out of the bed loading work? Or do you just drive it and not work it in a business and it's always spotless and shining? I now own a 2024 and like I said so much easier to lift and it feels like it lost a 100lbs. And yes my dealer said the steering was much harder do to the system ford used back then. Now has electric assist. And yes the seat is softer and nicer. Again. How many superdutys have you owned in the last 23 yrs? how many miles a year ? 40k like me? And I'm not the only one friend that has talked about how bad the seats are or steering over previous models of Super Dutys.
Oh better yet ask Ford why they made these changes. Another bitch I had since day one in the 19? well it was the height of the truck. Oh and they dropped it 2" the next year and also now have the tailgate step able to drop down 3 in more. Thank God they listen to guys like us instead of others.
Oh better yet ask Ford why they made these changes. Another bitch I had since day one in the 19? well it was the height of the truck. Oh and they dropped it 2" the next year and also now have the tailgate step able to drop down 3 in more. Thank God they listen to guys like us instead of others.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 188
Yeah yeah yeah, the big bad dirty work truck that is too difficult to steer and work out of....no, my work doesn't require continuous opening and closing of the tailgate or driving many miles a year but I have opened and closed my tailgate enough to know it is not in any way difficult. And yes, I do (reluctantly) spend the 3 hours washing my truck at least once per month, that must be the problem. I have never questioned your opinion or experience on seat comfort, but you do seem to put blame on features in your old truck that basically only you seem to have a problem with. Find me one other person who owns or owned an Adaptive steering equipped 17-19 who adamantly believes Adaptive steering made it difficult (hard) to steer. Now you come out with this idea that the tailgate assist damper makes it difficult to lift the tailgate and are actuallyadvisingother to avoid it lol. How many people have you known who share the same experience or opinion that it makes the tailgate difficult to lift? Did you maybe have a step in the last one and not this one? By the way, Ford lowered the trucks 1" in the rear, about 1/2" up front.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 176
The tailgate damper has nothing to do with closing the tail gate, The newer tailgates are light as a feather compared to older models and I've been running them in my Landscape co since 1973. Steers like butter also . My trucks are hand washed and dried couple times a week and always look clean, I rotate my trucks every 4 years.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 188
The tailgate damper has nothing to do with closing the tail gate, The newer tailgates are light as a feather compared to older models and I've been running them in my Landscape co since 1973. Steers like butter also . My trucks are hand washed and dried couple times a week and always look clean, I rotate my trucks every 4 years.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,634
Likes: 2,429
It is what it is. If you love those older funtions, systems,etc. go for it. Ford made those changes for a reason. My opinion is not a stand alone one. If you don't like them don't contradict them or me. Let the op get educated based on part of my expierience. But the facts are what it is. They have changed these features or hardware and again thank you Ford for the changes.
Ford hasn't changed the damper, sorry to let you down, and the fact that the OP's truck has the remote tailgate release means it should have come with the damper installed. Like Deadbuck(OP) posted, it was not installed correctly on assembly.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,634
Likes: 2,429
I had the same issue. This was included on my 2022, but is not on my new 24 Lariat, The dealer did some digging and it is only included on the ultimate package now. I will be adding as I use it frequently, and the banging down can't be good. You would think they could put this in the order information so we could add it?! I guess this went the way side like the transmission dipstick!
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 51
Likes: 12
The damper sure did make a difference in closing with my 2019 Lariet F350. WIfe loves this 2024 with out it.Going down isn't bad at all being a light tailgate basically with out the damper at least the damper installed in the 2019. Glad I off that truck. Hated it since day one. The lumbar was the worse and first thing I yanked out. THis 2024 xlt with lumbar is the way it's suppose to be.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 1,333
This is about the time I would start talking slower if having an in person conversation with you. My intent was not to get you off on a tangent comparing old to new, this to that and the other, I just found it comical that you have managed to blame yet another feature as being the cause for difficulty in function. So let me try this again....did your last truck have a tailgate step? The reason I ask is because if your last truck did have the step and this one does not, that would be a much more plausible reason for a noticed difference in weight and effort on closing. Like I said, you would be the first person I have ever heard of to claim the damper causes an increased difference in effort on closing, so much so that you advise against it.
Ford hasn't changed the damper, sorry to let you down, and the fact that the OP's truck has the remote tailgate release means it should have come with the damper installed. Like Deadbuck posted, it was not installed correctly on assembly.
Ford hasn't changed the damper, sorry to let you down, and the fact that the OP's truck has the remote tailgate release means it should have come with the damper installed. Like Deadbuck posted, it was not installed correctly on assembly.
the dampener doesn’t make it more difficult to close in any way.
I’ve had all versions of the ford alumiduty tailgate. With and without the step and with and without the dampener.
the only difference I noticed the dampener make was that it was great at slowing the tailgate when it dropped. If I ever get a truck without it in the future I’d add it because it’s great when you only have 1 hand to open the tailgate and it doesn’t have to slam down and get messed up