If you have ever had your hand full while trying to open a tailgate, you, therefore, realize that a big slam will greet you as your tailgate falls free. That happens the moment you fail to hold it on the way down. The tailgate stops when the cables catch and jerk it, which is not good and easy for the wires and the hardware mounting the tailgate.
Luckily enough, the problem is fixable to ensure that you have a pleasant and smooth opening tailgate that can go down without having to hold it down. The dropping tailgate is solved by a simple slight hydraulic damper or an assist. The struts attach directly to the tailgate and the bed, allowing a slow and easy descending of the tailgate. This article discusses the different models of the tailgate assists and other models of truck used.
Add a tailgate drop assist to your truck
There are only a few manufactures that make tailgate dampers. Below, we are only going to check the best deals for each different model truck listed. Therefore, if you are doing the installation by yourself, the guide will help you notice that it is straightforward for the most part, and installation difficulty for most of the kits is about 3 to 4 over 10.
Tailgate assist for the 2015-2017 Ford F-150
1. Ford OEM Tailgate Assist Kit FL3Z-99406A10-A
Without a doubt, the best tailgate damper kit that you can get for 2105, 2016, and 2017 Ford F-150 would be the one made by Ford. It’s designed to fit directly into factory mounting points, so no messing with aftermarket accessory fitment, which can be tricky in some cases.
Features:
- Product Type: Auto Part
- Item Package Weight:0.771 Kilograms
- Item Package Dimension:10.668 cm L X15.24 cm W X19.304 cm H
- Country Of Origin: United States
Tailgate assist for the 2005-2014 Ford F-150
2. Dee Zee F-150 Tailgate Assist DZ43200
If you own a 2005-2014 F-150, then the best option for a tailgate damper is this retrofit model by Dee Zee. The kit comes with everything you need to add to your truck, including the strut and all required hardware. Only one damper is needed; there’s no need for a second kit.
Features:
a) It is a tailgate assist that fits 2004-2014 F150 and 2004-2014 Lincoln mark LT. the assist does not match the FLARESIDE models.
b) These types of assistance are very new, and it is an improved model. The outset is improved, and therefore one does not need to have a blue thread lock bottle to mess with since the NUT SET contains a thread lock which makes it ready to be installed. one does not have to worry about how to apply the thread lock and getting the thread lock on the fingers, clothes or even the truck.
c) The Dee zee assist is simple to use. When you install the assist on your truck, you will be able to release the tailgate with one hand and relax since the loud bang is well taken care of as the tailgate drops down. When the assist is used, there is always a smooth, controlled drop that makes it easy for the children to lower the tailgate safely.
d) When you install a heavy-duty tailgate assist on your truck, the assist eases the cable and hinge point strain by lack of free falling. Again the assist reduces the attention drawn when people hear a bang during the dropping of the tailgate.
e) The assist installation is easy as there is no drilling required, and all its parts are specific to the model of the truck and the year of make.
Tailgate assist for the Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty
1. DeeZee Tailgate Assist kit DZ43203
This kit is the one designed for the 1999-2106 Ford Super Duty trucks. Just like the other kits from Dee Zee, this one includes all required hardware and installation instructions in the box.
Features:
1. The DZ43203 assist fits the 1997-2003 f150 and the 1999-2016 ford super duty f250/f350. However, it cannot match the f150 SUPERSCREW of the flareside models.
2. These types of assistance are very new, and it is an improved model. The outset is improved, and therefore one does not need to have a blue thread lock bottle to mess with since it contains a thread lock which makes it ready to be installed. one does not have to worry about how to apply the thread lock and getting the thread lock on the fingers, clothes or even the truck.
3. The Dee zee assist is simple to use. When you install the assist on your truck, you will be able to release the tailgate with one hand and relax since the loud bang is well taken care of as the tailgate drops down. When the assist is used, there is always a smooth, controlled drop that makes it easy for the children to lower the tailgate safely.
4. When you install a heavy-duty tailgate assist on your truck, the assist eases the cable and hinge point strain by lack of free falling. Again the assist reduces the attention drawn when people hear a bang during the dropping of the tailgate.
5. The assist installation is easy as there is no drilling required, and all its parts are specific to the model of the truck and the year of make.
Tailgate assist for the Dodge Ram 1500-3500
1. Dee Zee Tailgate Assist kit DZ43301
If you own a Ram 1500 from 2009-2017 or a Ram 2500 and 3500 from 2010-2017, this is the tailgate assist explicitly made for your truck. As always, Dee Zee has provided a Dodge Ram-specific all-in-one kit that includes everything you will need for an easy, complete install.
Features:
- Safely Controls The Drop Rate Of Truck Tailgates
- Custom Designed For Each Make And Model
- High Quality and Extensively Tested For Heavy Use
- Works In Conjunction With Factory Cables
- Only One Tailgate Assist Required Per Vehicle
Tailgate assist for the Chevy/GMC 1500, 2500 and 3500HD
2. Dee Zee Tailgate Assist kit DZ43102
The Chevy trucks have finally started to include a tailgate dampening system in the higher small trucks like the SLE/SLT and LT/LTZ packages in the more recent model years. However, if you have an older truck or a base model, you were out of luck with this installed from the factory.
Thankfully, Dee Zee steps up to the plate to offer their all-in-one kit for GM trucks once again. It is certified to fit 2009-2017 1500/2500/3500 and is more of universal equipment adapted to many Chevy/GMC platform tailgates.
Features:
- Safely Controls The Drop Rate Of Truck Tailgates
- Custom Designed For Each Make and Model
- High Quality and Extensively Tested For Heavy Use
- Works In Conjunction With Factory Cables
- Only One Tailgate Assist Required Per Vehicle
What the truck owners have to say about Dee zee
Dee Zee has made quite a good name for themselves in the truck accessories market, and you can see that in their reviews, which reflect a lot of praise for their products.
A couple of hiccups in how the product fits initially or wears over time like anything aftermarket. It is standard for all aftermarket accessory manufacturers and doesn’t necessarily mean that the products are junk if they have a couple of issues across a wide range of models.
What matters is how the company handles feedback from their customers about issues that need resolving in the next iteration of the product, and also how they handle the current customers that have the problems in the first place.
Below, you’ll see how they’ve dealt with the only real problem with the Dee Zee assist kits and how they have resolved the issue in the future.
Common problems for the tailgate assist
The early versions of the Dee-Zee assist, in particular, did have a frustrating issue that has since been fixed. The problem is with the nutsert that they provided to install the strut. The nursery allows you to add threads to a bare hole in your tailgate that wasn’t originally designed to have lines in it.
The problem is that the early version nursery tended to loosen up in the hole with the repeated rotation that the end of the strut subjects it to. Either the nutset was just a little off in size or didn’t have enough friction to hold itself in the tailgate.
The good news is that Dee-Zee has realized the issue, eliminated the nursery problem for all the new versions of their kits, and has even been assisting previous customers in fixing the original version.
Conclusion
Most of the time, when we are opening the tailgate with a harmful thing in our hands, the gate slips and drops, which can lead to a potential accident. In addition to that, the shock was experienced by the tailgate cables. In addition to that, that drop can lead to the weakening of the structure of your truck.
Therefore, it is essential to install an assist that will help you reduce accidents and ease the work. Finally, I hope this guide is vital and has helped you know the available options for a tailgate assist and get the best kit for your truck.