Tailgate Assist?

[OrCoaster]

Yes, it was one of the first things I did. Is it useful??? Not particularly except it gives you a more elegant tailgate open. Certainly not as useful as a powered closing but it’s still cool watching it open.

This was the first thing I put on the Maverick the day after it arrived. I picked one up off Craigslist for less than the Amazon one.

I just like the way it slows down the drop at the end of the stroke. It kind of looks like a powered tailgate but it is not. I also generally have both hands full of tools or a bucket of tools when I walk up to the tailgate. So all I need is one finger to open the latch then I stand back a step and wait for it to come to a rest. Then I can dump my stuff in and close it all up. I don't need to stop, drop, and open the tailgate then have to pick up the tools from under it to pack them in.

I do like it and wish I had put one on the Ranger long ago but I have sold that truck once I got the Maverick.

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[dlhort1955]

Anybody get this installed? Is it useful?

I think it is fantastic. I want to keep my truck for a while. I hate when things slam down and for what $30, this works great. I also put the hood struts on my hood. Now I do not have to use that stupid rod to hold my hood up. I got it from MRT, one of our sponsors. When you get to be 70 years old it is nice to have an assist from something. Much more useful than Ford Co-Pilot 360 that just shakes the steering wheel once in a while.

 

[OrCoaster]

I think it is fantastic. I want to keep my truck for a while. I hate when things slam down and for what $30, this works great. I also put the hood struts on my hood. Now I do not have to use that stupid rod to hold my hood up. I got it from MRT, one of our sponsors. When you get to be 70 years old it is nice to have an assist from something. Much more useful than Ford Co-Pilot 360 that just shakes the steering wheel once in a while.

I did the hood struts as the second mod to the truck because I hate that rod thing. I have found that at times those struts push up on the hood and latch the safety latch and then you have to go pull on the cable release a few times. Might even need another person to push slightly on the hood to keep it down off the latch.

 

[yamahaSHO]

I've got one on our Maverick and Ranger. I never liked when tailgates slam down... Even though they're pretty light these days.

 

[Halo9x]

I did the hood struts as the second mod to the truck because I hate that rod thing. I have found that at times those struts push up on the hood and latch the safety latch and then you have to go pull on the cable release a few times. Might even need another person to push slightly on the hood to keep it down off the latch.

I’ve also noticed that my hood has problems since I did the hood struts. I’m wondering if I took one off if that would help.

 

[yamahaSHO]

I did hood struts on my Ranger and it's been fine... I didn't do the hood struts on the Maverick as I've read that people have had issues with them. When someone perfects it, I'll do them... But I don't want to be the person to fix the issue. I've got enough projects.

 

[AlsMaverick]

I had the tailgate assist before I had the Maverick. One tie, before install, I had groceries in on hand and opened the tailgate with the other. The tailgate slipped and banged down. I didn't like that.
On the other hand, I frequently find myself a little impatient when I open the tailgate and have to wait for it to go down fully.

 

[Lane]

Old thread, but for anyone reading this in the future - these photos from this thread show something that's now missing.

If you want to replace the tailgate tie down bracket that had to be removed to fit the assist strut, I've made a few that I'm selling.

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

 

[flyswatter]

Old thread, but for anyone reading this in the future - these photos from this thread show something that's now missing.

If you want to replace the tailgate tie down bracket that had to be removed to fit the assist strut, I've made a few that I'm selling.

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

Worth every penny IMO. I bought this from Lane and was very happy with it.

 

[Toddman45]

The OEM version that comes on the F-150 is my favorite. It installs behind the passenger tail light and uses a shock as well but the passenger side tailgate swivel is where it mounts to and it's nice because it's out of sight you don't see the strut at all.

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