Are Tailgate Dampeners Frowned On Around Here?

[Subduction]

I never had one, my father never had one, and my grandfathers never had one. That settles it.

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[UncleBob]

I have one and glad I made the purchase. While the tailgate is not all that heavy, I didn't like the crashing down against the stop limit (cable) if I 'forgot' to hang on to it when I opened it.

 

[JaysOnTheEDGE]

Best mod ever, the most useful mod i have added i'm a office machine tech so i open and close my tailgate 10-15 (if not more) times a day it helps alot.

 

[SubVet]

I bought it. Should have been stock. It's one of my favorite accessories

 

[mtbikernate]

Then there's a huge group of people in the middle who may or may not appreciate one, and don't care whether other people do or do not want one, but are are annoyed that people on either side make such a big deal of it.

This is me 100%

 

[banerjek]

To each his own.

Seems like it would make removing the tailgate more of a pain -- I find the ease that this can be done on the Ranger to be a big plus.

 

[chasvs]

Just scrolling through some random posts and I seem to be picking up some disdain for tailgate dampeners. Is that my imagination or are they frowned on?

Personally, I wish I had them just because of experiences at work. I had both an unmarked Ford Ranger and an unmarked Ford F-150 for work. I loved them, but my lieutenant would crack open my tailgate all the time so that it would fall when I drove away. I hated that!!!!

Nope! Was one of the FIRST to get one and install it and I love it!

Not my video, but this is what it's like installed! Takes all of 10 minutes to put it on!

LInk to posted Tailgate video: #574

 

[AzScorpion]

I purchased one when I first got my Ranger, after a year I ended up removing it. The dampener kept pinching the tailgate hanger and removed some of the rubber coating exposing the steel bands. It also took a little too long to open when you just wanted to drop the tailgate, but I can see why people love them it is definitely convenient if your hands are full.

There's a 5 minute fix for this. Get a velcro tie and wrap it around the cable the add some electrical tape below it to keep it from moving. Problem solved.

 

[RCMUSTANG]

Get if you want it. Who gives a crap what everyone else thinks.

 

[Craig]

Yup. There's a group of Manly Men who don't need any sort of assistance and seem to have some disdain for the idea that anyone is so weak that they can't even handle the weight of our aluminum tailgates.
Then there's a group of folks who enjoy the benefits that come with refined luxuries and don't want a truck without them, and thus are horrified that Ford would dare force them to make an easy and inexpensive after-market modification to get such refinement.
Then there's a huge group of people in the middle who may or may not appreciate one, and don't care whether other people do or do not want one, but are are annoyed that people on either side make such a big deal of it.

I don't have one, nor do I want want one. That's my preference. If you want one, great! Get one.

a wife with two arms of groceries loves it

 

[Texasota]

Yup. There's a group of Manly Men who don't need any sort of assistance and seem to have some disdain for the idea that anyone is so weak that they can't even handle the weight of our aluminum tailgates.
Then there's a group of folks who enjoy the benefits that come with refined luxuries and don't want a truck without them, and thus are horrified that Ford would dare force them to make an easy and inexpensive after-market modification to get such refinement.
Then there's a huge group of people in the middle who may or may not appreciate one, and don't care whether other people do or do not want one, but are are annoyed that people on either side make such a big deal of it.

I don't have one, nor do I want want one. That's my preference. If you want one, great! Get one.

This is the perfect answer to the OPs question.

 

[SOHK_Alumni]

I love mine. Like others, mine is a working truck and the gentle tailgate when hands are otherwise occupied is a very nice feature.

I don't get the venom and disdain so many keyboard warriors deploy against others with differing needs, likes or wants.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Hi Folks,

I bought a damper mostly out of amusement not even planning to install it...just give it a few thousand miles of desk durability as we used to joke with the design engineers. I did finally install it and amazing found myself liking it. Being a Manly man (squeek!) I still like it!

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Sashimi_Moto]

A MUCH bigger problem would be avoiding doing something you want/like because randos on an internet forum aren’t into it.

F that! Get your (dampened tailgate) freak on.

 

[HTX1811]

I never knew there was such a thing because who the hell needs a tailgate to open softly??? Not getting one nor do I encourage the use of such a solution to a non-problem.

I am pretty sure zero tailgates have failed because they open as designed and stop with a nice hard thud. I'm thinking Ford knows a few things about tailgates and the opening of such without a damping device.

But to each their own. Some guys like girls (or boys) with a little more cushion. Some like them thin. Get what you like and enjoy. Just don't push your damping agenda on me!!!

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