Tailgate Damper……cons?

[subquark]

Ok so I know the tailgate damper is extremely popular but for me it’s take it or leave it I guess. I’ve not been in situation where I couldn’t just lower it by hand so it doesn’t slam. But hey it’s only like $40 so why not right? Before I get one I’d like to know if there’s anything any of you don’t like about it.

It can pinch and cut the plastic coating on the tailgate metal wire doohickey.

BUT ... that can be alleviated with a small velcro strap wrapped around that cable.

There are a few pics on the forum showing what to do. It seems to be working so far (three months for me so far).

UPDATE: I see that @DukeCanBuildit showed you here: https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/tailgate-damper……cons.21655/page-9#post-477237

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[subquark]

Hey Mel, there’s a simple fix for that….

It’s a bit of Velcro wrapped around the cable with some electrical tape below it to keep it from sliding down. The Velcro guides the cable away from the damper. You guessed it, this was all @AzScorpion ’s doing and that’s his truck in the photo.

When you think about it, and I am because I don’t have better things to do this early, the damper is a mod for the tailgate, the Velcro is a mod for the damper and the tape is a mod for the Velcro. Man, I sure hope that tape holds out or a fourth mod will be needed.

OHH!!!

I never saw the tape mod to keep the velcro from sliding down! Derr, I keep sliding the velcro up but now ... weekend project and the need for at least a 12 pack of beer! =D

 

[Grumpaw]

Actually, I did consider that. If you will look closely (red arrows), when two dampers are installed on the same tailgate, the Dipole-Tadpole relishivity is compromised making the angle of dangle proportional to the beat of the meat when the assmass is constant. In other words, the higher, the much.

You're welcome.

But, wouldn't two dampers lower the constant velocity of the colafriction ?
Two dampers would have to be in a permanent state of harmony to work in conjunction with the ability to lower the tailgate in an even and level state.
If you look closely at the first item the arrow is pointing at, it indicates that one damper would be going up, whild the second is going down.
Your observation of relishivity and assmass are in direct oddsabation of the original purpose of a single damper.
I think you need to rework your formula to account for the proper install of two dampers, with one pointing up and the other pointing down....up on the right and down on the left, as looking at the truck from the rear.
If properly installed that would eliminate the possibility of flexing/twisting the frame of the truck, while at the same time easing the tailgate both up and down.

 

[RedDakooter05]

Well, they're one of the many reasons for obesity in this country.

 

[got3fords]

....................................................still waiting for a reason........

Go back and see my previous posts.

 

[myothercarizahearse]

Go back and see my previous posts.

I don't see a single reason

edit in case ther is a language barrier:

Mainū ika vī kārana nazara nahīṁ ā'undā

Chan eil mi a’ faicinn aon adhbhar

我沒有看到一個單一的原因

Jeg ser ikke en eneste grunn

ikh ze nisht keyn eyn sibh

 

[got3fords]

I don't see a single reason

You ain't lookin'.

 

[Fordup]

Well, they're one of the many reasons for obesity in this country.

Do they taste good with a nice crunch going down.?

 

[Msfitoy]

....................................................still waiting for a reason........

Simple...The Law of Conservation of Energy...as one person who insists on manually lowering their tailgate, another damper is adopted and cancels out the stubbornness of the manual user...

 

[got3fords]

....................................................still waiting for a reason........

JasonTremor
Sure comes in handy when you got your arms full. Open the tailgate with one finger and it lowers to open position without slamming open. Well worth that alone.
I was thinking of tools and other stuff I use around the farm, but groceries I always accept the challenge of carrying as many plastic bags on one hand as possible so I can avoid the shopping cart with the wobbly wheel.

Got3fords
But yeah, arms full of stuff and the damper comes in really handy.
I haul stuff other than groceries to my truck all the time. Gas cans, trash bags, work out stuff, bikes, kayaking stuff you name it.
Need it? No. But put down crap in one hand, pop the tailgate latch, bend over pick up crap, by that time gate is down and throw crap in. Time saver.

Floyd (best one yet)
Its cheap, effective, and easy to install (also easy to remove if disappointed.
The Damper prevents the hard impact if you just pop the tailgate....
It helps prevent tailgate damage when towing to prevent striking the tongue jack.
It allows others to open the tailgate without the hard drop surprise.
it allows reaction time in case you place an intended load too close.
it reduces "drop" damage to the reverse camera.
It might prevent cargo falling out if it was leaning on the gate.
It helps the injured or the physically weak.
It is quieter when dropped and for old guys its a lot quieter when closing.

LostMy65
My kid went running by just as I was opening the tailgate. If it wasn't for the damper, my tailgate would have a dent in it

Rhino
its nice to have when im messing with stuff when camping open the gate and walk away and it open when i come back

Grumpaw
The biggest benefit for me is when I have our travel trailer hooked up. When dropping the tailgate, it comes within about 2-3 inches of hitting the trailers electric tongue lift head. The damper allows the gate to drop slowly. Without it, should it slip, and if the truck were parked in a front end up situation, the tailgate would hit the lift head. It's also much easier to control the gate when hitched up and not being able to stand directly behind the latch.

Mr.Mel
I hate doors or anything slamming or hitting the limits of travel just me from my old machinist days I guess.

 

[Motorpsychology]

But, wouldn't two dampers lower the constant velocity of the colafriction ?
Two dampers would have to be in a permanent state of harmony to work in conjunction with the ability to lower the tailgate in an even and level state.
If you look closely at the first item the arrow is pointing at, it indicates that one damper would be going up, whild the second is going down.
Your observation of relishivity and assmass are in direct oddsabation of the original purpose of a single damper.
I think you need to rework your formula to account for the proper install of two dampers, with one pointing up and the other pointing down....up on the right and down on the left, as looking at the truck from the rear.
If properly installed that would eliminate the possibility of flexing/twisting the frame of the truck, while at the same time easing the tailgate both up and down.

The first arrow is a flowjyston photo-eneggma curve depicting the relative travel of our solar system in spacetime while the dampers are lowering the tailgate. The tailgate rotates 90º, extending the dampers 0.208 fathoms each, over a period of 6 seconds, while the solar system travels 819.684 miles around the Milky Way. This breaks down at the quantum level, thus, no matter where you go, you aren’t there.

 

[lawrench]

Ok so I know the tailgate damper is extremely popular but for me it’s take it or leave it I guess. I’ve not been in situation where I couldn’t just lower it by hand so it doesn’t slam. But hey it’s only like $40 so why not right? Before I get one I’d like to know if there’s anything any of you don’t like about it.

Really nothing except the ribbing you will get from the Damper-Haters. lol

 

[rydfree]

only people who hold their wife's purse use a tailgate damper

Actually the damper haters arguments sound like a wife .
"Do you really need that for your truck honey ? "

I hope they don't apply that same logic to everything they buy for their truck , lol

 

[jph55]

Not sure if this con has been stated before, and I really don't feel like reading through 10 pages of back and forth as to the "manliness" of a damper, but I will say for me the pros far outweigh the cons. The only con I have is that if you live where it freezes in the winter the one on Amazon that is the direct Ford equivalent will make a noise when lowering as the fluid inside gets close to freezing.

 

[Bullet]

None, zilch, zip, nada, zero, nenhum, ingen, ninguno, aucun.....

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