Tailgate LIFT Assist?

Curious if anyone has ever seen these or tried them out, my work truck is a newer F150 and always wondered why it closes like a feather i can basically bump it with my knee and close it. Ford has a torsion bar from the factory in F150's, rangers overseas have had it, the new 2024 ranger now does, ive seen them on hilux's as well. Its basically a U shaped torsion bar that twists when you drop the tailgate so its under tension helping slightly with dropping the gate but more so with closing it. I have a plastic flat panel on my tailgate which is a good bit heavier over the stock insert. It makes the tailgate pretty heavy to shut with your hands full and the down damper slams when i drop the tailgate not super hard but enough that i have to my hand rested under while opening. Figured this would help the damper slightly with for the added weight and assist with closing it. A few extra holes in the truck does not bother me the slightest could be a simple easy solution, its too cheap to not try.

$36 Go Gear EASYLIFT Tailgate Easylift

https://www.amazon.com/EASYLIFT-Go-Gear-Tailgate-Easylift/dp/B000CMHVJO?ie=UTF8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3L8XZBRYzg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzJ6TTg9u_k

 

I don't see any listing for a Tacoma though.

It is the same as the Hopkins Easy Lift on eTrailer, but less cost. Found a few comments saying it was too strong for light weight tailgates like Tacomas. Could be your extra weight is enough to counter that?

There must be a reason they don't market it to us, since Tacoma's are big sellers

 

Yeah same thing, 3rd gen gates are not that light 2nd gen, 1st gen are obviously lighter but its not listed since the taco already has a tailgate drop assist. They state it does not work with vehicles that have an assist. The reason being i am assuming is on some trucks that already have the down assist with this it can make the tailgate not want to sit flat while down. Like stated the tacoma assist out of the box does not damp as much as other trucks, especially with the heavier tailgate panel. That is why i think it would work, otherwise it would not be a fitment issue. I am going to order it drill a few holes put a few rubber grommets and some cable clamps to possibly keep it from rubbing if needed and post the results.

 

It appears removing the tailgate makes install easier.

If you could weigh yours when off, with and without your cover, it might help when you report your results

Especially if you could test it before reinstalling the cover, then after.

 

Just looked up some weights looks like 3rd gen gate is 60lbs and a 2nd gen is 35lbs the plastic flat panel is easily 5-10lbs over the stock thin plastic. The frontier gate in the video looks to be 50-60. It just depends if the torsion bar in conjunction with the down assist puts it under too much tension and it does not let it sit flat at the bottom. My gate with the added weight slams down slightly so we will see if its too much tension with the damper or not, installation side that is not why the companies who sell it say it "does not fit".

 

I'm wondering about this as well. I use my tailgate quote often and having an "up-assist" would be really helpful, especially when closing it from the side.

 

I never tackled this yet, its on my to do list. I always have my hands full trying it bump the tailgate up with my knee is a struggle at times. Ford and a few others have this standard on their pickups, i wouldnt want some stupid actuator but the bar assist would be nice