Tailgate assist installed

[Oscarcat]

You only have to remove one(it's a tie down/bottle opener) there is only one strut. There is no resistance raising it just slows it down when opening

The strut is like any SUV or hatchback uses. If those operate in your climate then so will the tailgate strut. The trick when installing is that the retaining nut is oval and you slide it into the existing slot then turn it 90 degrees so it catches. Keeping it at 90 degrees requires outward pressure on the screw head or the nut twists and comes back out of the slot. Use a flat head screw driver to gently keep pressure/pry towards you as you tighten the screw and that will keep the nut at 90 degrees relative to the slot.

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[Billkowski]

The strut is like any SUV or hatchback uses. If those operate in your climate then so will the tailgate strut. The trick when installing is that the retaining nut is oval and you slide it into the existing slot then turn it 90 degrees so it catches. Keeping it at 90 degrees requires outward pressure on the screw head or the nut twists and comes back out of the slot. Use a flat head screw driver to gently keep pressure/pry towards you as you tighten the screw and that will keep the nut at 90 degrees relative to the slot.

Yeah that was the only frustrating item when installing.

 

[NJBob]

I bought one a while back got it on sale for like 20 bucks. Have not put it on. I don't find the tailgate to be to heavy. Would be nice if it helped going back up though.

 

[Mavboy2023]

I like it

I have one too and luv it!

 

[rclee]

I just like the fact that if your hands are full, you can quickly pull the handle and step back and it opens itself without slamming down.

That was my first mod also.

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

to prevent the 1 handed drops when my wife is opening it... definitely will be worth it when I receive my Maverick.

 

[JEK]

Just received one today from Amazon for $28.93. Great mod even with the light tailgate. Easy to install with the proper tools. The only tricky step was the bracket screw and holding nut in the tailgate.

 

[Billkowski]

I did that one also. They are pretty simple to install. Make sure you check the part numbers before installing to make sure you have the right bracket for each side.

You nailed this one, it came with two drivers side brackets, no passenger side. They are sending a replacement.

 

[Halo9x]

Is that one from Ford or Amazon?

If it’s Dee-Zee then it doesn’t matter since Ford is selling the same dampener that Amazon has for about $20 less. Got mine from Amazon, looks and works just fine.

 

[Halo9x]

Is that one from Ford or Amazon?

They’re both selling the same product. Amazon has it for less.

 

[Halo9x]

How well do the aftermarket hood struts work on the Maverick? Is it a worthwhile modification?

I installed mine and they work great.

 

[hdave]

Any alternative tool I can use instead of a Torx 50? My socket set only goes up to 45

Thanks
HDave

 

[Sembazuru]

I got the Klutchtech tail gate dampers and am very pleased with them. Looks very similar to the DeeZee dampers, but the shock body doesn't have any printing. It came packaged with a "Maverick" transfer. Unfortunately, I didn't get the transfer on exactly true and straight. But it's close enough that I have to look at it carefully to see the error of my ways. ;-)

One thing that I discovered when I went to remove the tail-light on that side is I could no longer reach the lower tail-light screw. I tried to pop the shock off of the ball-joints, but I couldn't do that without applying what I felt was unreasonable force. So I grabbed my T50 and took off the top tailgate cable mount so I could swing the shock out of the way.

 

[Sembazuru]

How well do the aftermarket hood struts work on the Maverick? Is it a worthwhile modification?

I put the Klutchtech hoot struts on my Mav. (Same reason to choose this brand vs all the others as the reasoning for the tailgate damper... Those "Maverick" decals.) Opens nice and wide, and I don't have to work around the support stick. (I never took the support stick out just incase the hood struts die I still have it as a backup.)

I don't know if it was only because of the struts or the additional weight of the bug deflector, after installing the struts I couldn't open the hood on the second pull without either someone pulling up on the front of the hood or wedging something under the hood. So after reading this thread, I got an off-brand hood spring (which is actually sold for the Wrangler...) and installed it. The hood opens perfectly again.

 

[JustinsPressureWashing]

Yep - it was the first mod I did and it was worth it. Makes one-handed operation easier without straining the wrist. The second mod was the black letters, same as shown.

How hard was it to get the black letters perfectly in place / in line? Mine just arrived, but I am so worried I'm going to be off just the slightest bit when installing them and it's going to look bad when I stand back :-/

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