Which Tailgate Assist is best?

[Toddman45]

Daumn, 61f here now. 70s all next week. Keep that cold up north.

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[b25crew]

I bought the cheaper version on Amazon
ARANA Tailgate Assist Shock $23.96
No problems at all so far!

even cheaper now $21.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWJ15WBZ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

[RideSolo]

I went with the Dee-Zee brand as they're the original creators of the tailgate assist. I've had one on each truck since 2012.

Not being argumentative here, really. Gas struts like that have been around for a long, long time and are pretty much proven technology used on everything from hatchback lids and hoods on vehicles of different sizes on down to tool box lids and everything in between. I suspect that most of these struts are likely manufactured in only a few, perhaps only a couple, different factories. The metal bits n pieces aren't likely to go bad so failure would mostly be in the strut. If my theory is correct then probably the majority of the kits are generally the same, more or less, and the cost may be determined by the name on the package.

 

[Wilklersticks]

I chose the rough country although they all look the same to me except the writing on the side

Just an FYI if you're able to do it easily, I would swap the direction of the strut. The way you have it now encourages debris to flow down into the chamber. It's small and silly and probably isn't a true issue, but it felt better in my brain.

 

[Dave O]

Just an FYI if you're able to do it easily, I would swap the direction of the strut. The way you have it now encourages debris to flow down into the chamber. It's small and silly and probably isn't a true issue, but it felt better in my brain.

I appreciate your insight I will look at doing this - just a note funny the manufacturer or seller doesn’t put the label in the direction for the best installation practice at the very least an arrow or this side up label

 

[Wilklersticks]

I appreciate your insight I will look at doing this - just a note funny the manufacturer or seller doesn’t put the label in the direction for the best installation practice at the very least an arrow or this side up label

Yea, they probably don't even put that much thought into something like that. It's nitpicky for sure, but better safe than sorry!

 

[Snowbird]

I originally went with a cheap one because of the price and it came with the tools to install it. I think it was an Orion. It would not engage until the tailgate dropped about a third of the way which I did not like.

I sent it back and got the DeeZee and it has worked great.

As a side note, I was one of those who thought the tailgate was so light that there was no need for a dampener. After all, this is my 7th truck and none of the previous ones had this feature. Well my wife has arthritis and had trouble with the tailgate so I got one.

Now every time I drop the tailgate I think man is this thing sweet, I love it!

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I originally went with a cheap one because of the price and it came with the tools to install it. I think it was an Orion. It would not engage until the tailgate dropped about a third of the way which I did not like.

I sent it back and got the DeeZee and it has worked great.

As a side note, I was one of those who thought the tailgate was so light that there was no need for a dampener. After all, this is my 7th truck and none of the previous ones had this feature. Well my wife has arthritis and had trouble with the tailgate so I got one.

Now every time I drop the tailgate I think man is this thing sweet, I love it!

Please
Would it be possible of you to post a video of your DeeZee opening and not dropping some of the way before engaging the strut.
I would like to gauge the difference in operation between the strut that I have and DeeZee.
I'm trying to understand how a DeeZee works differently.
When the strut is fully compressed and the tailgate is at its full upright position it a has freefall pivoting through an Arc before the strut starts to slow it.
Thank You
GB

 

[Dave O]

Please
Would it be possible of you to post a video of your DeeZee opening and not dropping some of the way before engaging the strut.
Thank you.

I’d be interested in seeing a video as well my Rough Country drops about 1/3 before the strut engages which requires you to jump back or hold on to it once released

 

[Lane]

Also, you have to remove the bottle opener tie down on that side to clear the piston. But there are several Amazon replacement options for them as well.

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. And made in the USA. I have a thread here in the For Sale forum.

 

[commadorebob]

Dee Zee. Even if they are all made in the same Chinese factory, the no-name brands are likely those that failed QA for the named brand. Also, name brands have a name to protect whereas a lot of no-name brands will simply change their brand name once their Amazon rating tanks. That's how you end up with 18 random character brands on Amazon.

 

[commadorebob]

I’d be interested in seeing a video as well my Rough Country drops about 1/3 before the strut engages which requires you to jump back or hold on to it once released

DeeZee Drop:

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Thank you "commodoreBob" for posting the video.

I’d be interested in seeing a video as well my Rough Country drops about 1/3 before the strut engages which requires you to jump back or hold on to it once released

Well what do you think about commodore Bob's video??
I'm doing the playback on an Android phone and it's hard to tell. The first part of the tailgate opening seems kind of stop action on my phone.

 

[Dave O]

Thank you "commodoreBob" for posting the video.

Well what do you think about commodore Bob's video??
I'm doing the playback on an Android phone and it's hard to tell. The first part of the tailgate opening seems kind of stop action on my phone.

It appears to be somewhat slower than my rough country but I don’t know if it’s enough difference to switch it out

 

[Dave O]

DeeZee Drop:

Thanks for sharing Bob

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