Tailgate Assist Question

[Cherokee]

So then I can't enjoy a bottle of beer if I put an assist on my tailgate?

I'm doing what post #18 did, I can open my own beer without the help of my truck :'P

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[Glen Baker LLC]

The pointy ones I got have two screws. I like the fold down idea though... if it will hold the weight. A single screw doesn't leave much redundancy.

@Glen Baker LLC I don't have any particular load in mind. My most likely hauls are garden supplies, maybe an old washing machine or refrigerator, a couple bicycles, a kayak or two, things like that. But ten years is a long time and I am reluctant to say "never" if you know what I mean. I'm the guy who got the tow package "just because" and doesn't own a single trailer of any type.

I know what you're saying Dan and I understand. It's just that, I stopped putting myself through the what if scenarios years ago. For me it's not worth the energy.
. I wonder how many men are walking around with athletic supporters and cups? Because someone may knee them in the nuts.
You could always keep the tailgate as it is and forgo installing the tailgate assist.
That way there is no question on the strength.

 

[TwentyFiveLariat]

Can someone tell me if I have it upside down? Seems to function the same way whether I have the piston at the top or bottom.

When it’s at the top the tailgate strap gives me a hard time when closing the tailgate. This way it closes perfectly.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

.

Can someone tell me if I have it upside down? Seems to function the same way whether I have the piston at the top or bottom.

When it’s at the top the tailgate strap gives me a hard time when closing the tailgate. This way it closes perfectly.

It works fine both ways.
Some will say the black piston part that retracts stays cleaner the other way around.
Truth be told probably 90% of the time it's going to be retracted inside the cylinder anyway.
If it works fine I don't see any reason to change it.
My personal opinion is. The less you muck around with pulling it off the mounting balls and snapping it back on the less chance of anything loosening up. Don't fix it if it isn't broken.

 

[Jeff D.]

The pointy ones I got have two screws. I like the fold down idea though... if it will hold the weight. A single screw doesn't leave much redundancy.

Dan, there is a couple of tie downs just inside the bed, low on each side. You could use those if you had a heavier load.

The tailgate tiedowns are an option I don't think are often needed, given the other tie downs, in my opinion.

Perhaps in some unique situations the tailgate tie downs would be the preferred location?

 

[Jim Walker]

I'm doing what post #18 did, I can open my own beer without the help of my truck :'P

Probably took 15 min of my time

 

[cclark]

Can someone tell me if I have it upside down? Seems to function the same way whether I have the piston at the top or bottom.

When it’s at the top the tailgate strap gives me a hard time when closing the tailgate. This way it closes perfectly.

It will work both ways but most instructions I saw have the "barrel" part at the top. Your main problem is that the top plate that holds the assist should be straight up and down (aligned with the tailgate post). Loosen the cable Nader pin, straighten the plate, tighten it up pretty tight, and you should be good. Hope that helps.

 

[tom_tucker]

To each his own, but...my hand is already on the tailgate to release it. Having it not free fall requires such little effort, the cost-to-benefit of the money, time, and energy to install the strut (and come up with a new tie-down) has got to be close to a thousand tailgate open/close cycles.

It's ok. They'll never understand that TA is indeed a useless modification. When it wears out, they'll just go out buy another. Drops the bottle opener? They'll just throw more money at it. Install is upside down? They'll just take extra time to re-install it. After all, we're quadriplegics and we need TA to be a MTC member.

 

[Lane]

There is a member on the forum who sells replacement tie-downs, for those with the tailgate assist.

A long time member, @Lane , has designed a replacement tie down if you are interested.

Thanks guys. This is what I make and have for sale:

Works well and clears the new strut and no issues with the cable. I have a thread here in the For Sale forum.

Do you (or anyone else) see any reason for concern that the fold-down ring types only have a single screw to support the load vs. the two screws of all the OEM types and the "pointy" ones I found?

All the mounting holes for the in-bed side rails - I don't have rails so I installed single-screw d-ring type tie downs in those holes. It feels like they bend way too easily with a moderate pull on a ratchet strap. Not the d-ring part, but the bracket/strap part which wraps around the base of the ring which is always thinner steel than the ring itself. And with only one screw holding it down, ratcheting turns or spins them slightly. Just enough to scratch/wear the paint underneath and that bugs me. This was the reason I kept using both available screws when I built the gate tie-down, and used 1/8" steel that will not bend. Don't need any more stuff bugging me. I don't have to worry or care about it at all. It's not gonna move.

 

[Lane]

Dan, there is a couple of tie downs just inside the bed, low on each side. You could use those if you had a heavier load.

The tailgate tiedowns are an option I don't think are often needed, given the other tie downs, in my opinion.

Perhaps in some unique situations the tailgate tie downs would be the preferred location?

@MakinDoForNow posted this photo (in another thread), the BEST illustration I've seen of a situation where the tailgate tie down points did the job, but the in-bed ones probably wouldn't have been enough for this haul:

What's that saying - better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

@MakinDoForNow posted this photo (in another thread), the BEST illustration I've seen of a situation where the tailgate tie down points did the job, but the in-bed ones probably wouldn't have been enough for this haul:

What's that saying - better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Yep. It was not the best. I could not get to the bed floor tie down points without unloading and drove 40 mph for 46 miles. Damn only one oem slider per side. Stopped twice to check for straps shifting. Tailgate tie down definitely saved the day. Four additional eyelets on each side are now available.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

...I could not get to the bed floor tie down points without unloading...

That almost happened to me with a bulky load. But luckily, I realized the tie-down points would be inaccessible after loading and attached straps beforehand.

 

[Dave O]

Does this tie down need to be removed to install a tailgate assist?

Yes it will conflict with the assist cylinder when you close the tailgate

 

[Jpalmer1]

A long time member, @Lane , has designed a replacement tie down if you are interested. Here's the link.


https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...assist-strut-installed-pics.18680/post-998690

I went with Lane’s tie-down which is much stronger for my dirt bikes than the single screw (wrong screw, too) D-rings from Amazon in this thread.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

That almost happened to me with a bulky load. But luckily, I realized the tie-down points would be inaccessible after loading and attached straps beforehand.

I could see mine and reach them but the strap hook could not be inserted due to the hook bend.

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