Are Tailgate Dampeners Frowned On Around Here?

[Zaph]

I spring loaded my tailgate so it would come down faster than gravity was doing it for me. Wasn't loud enough though, so I added a couple of nice reinforced metal stops. And then for good measure a solenoid release from the cabin.

I scared an old lady at the grocery store the other day and she dropped her bag of groceries, but I still love my spring loaded remote open tailgate. BAM!

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[aeroshots]

Not sure why I even read this thread ?. Some humor I guess. Here's more. For those that think it's less than manly to put a damper on the tailgate should remove the similar item from your glove box.

 

[Tracy Bowman]

Not sure why I even read this thread ?. Some humor I guess. Here's more. For those that think it's less than manly to put a damper on the tailgate should remove the similar item from your glove box.

It's quite entertaining in my opinion.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

It's quite entertaining in my opinion.

Hi Tracy,

Well....I removed the glove box lanyard as this is a Manly truck. Wife driving and I tried to access the owners manual sitting in the passenger seat..... My manly glove box popped open to a dire consequence to my left knee.....

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

 

[Tracy Bowman]

Hi Tracy,

Well....I removed the glove box lanyard as this is a Manly truck. Wife driving and I tried to access the owners manual sitting in the passenger seat..... My manly glove box popped open to a dire consequence to my left knee.....

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

What in the world.... Did your glove box really do that? I hope your knee recovers quickly & fully. Nothing funny about that!

 

[P. A. Schilke]

What in the world.... Did your glove box really do that? I hope your knee recovers quickly & fully. Nothing funny about that!

Hi Tracy,

Knee is real...result of a violent crash in my SuperVee Race car thanks to a fellow whose gear box I was tucked up against when he missed a shift on a 130 mph turn before the straight. His engine exploded. Oil on my front tires resulted in no steering and I shot off the track into the guardrail. Speed does not hurt but the sudden stop hurt a ton.... Oh well...would not trade my love for racing to keep the knee intact...!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co Retired

 

[aeroshots]

whats a glove box??

is that where they store the book that nobody ever reads?

Yes, but I tossed that book away. Someone told me it was more advertising junk mail. I replaced it with some gloves.

 

[chasvs]

I deliver Meals on Wheels a couple a times a week and work out of the truck bed. The damper sure makes it nice for frequent openings, I pop the handle and reach to the first cooler while it's going down and access the 2nd cooler when it's completely down, each client gets a hot meal and a cold bag with milk bread and fruit. One client lives down a road that frequently floods and was up close to my floorboards the other day, cant wait for a real test. I just read the Brazil Ranger has a 39.5 inch wading depth, not sure what the US models are rated at.

Measure from the ground to the Alternator and you may be close to figuring that out!

 

[samsd]

Measure from the ground to the Alternator and you may be close to figuring that out!

You are right, a couple of folks on here have ruined alternators with mud and water so would have to stay under that. I had a 63 Fairlane when I was a teenager and treated it like a mud buggy at times, we had a road to the gravel pits that I was racing down and plowed water well over the hood, had a foam open air cleaner that was soaked but it kept going, took off the air cleaner and continued the fun.

 

[samsd]

I spring loaded my tailgate so it would come down faster than gravity was doing it for me. Wasn't loud enough though, so I added a couple of nice reinforced metal stops. And then for good measure a solenoid release from the cabin.

I scared an old lady at the grocery store the other day and she dropped her bag of groceries, but I still love my spring loaded remote open tailgate. BAM!

In all seriousness, if there is such a thing on this thread, I would like a remote open button on the dash and some kind of indicator that it is open.

 

[Tracy Bowman]

Hi Tracy,

Knee is real...result of a violent crash in my SuperVee Race car thanks to a fellow whose gear box I was tucked up against when he missed a shift on a 130 mph turn before the straight. His engine exploded. Oil on my front tires resulted in no steering and I shot off the track into the guardrail. Speed does not hurt but the sudden stop hurt a ton.... Oh well...would not trade my love for racing to keep the knee intact...!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co Retired

Well...glad it was injured doing something you love & not some dampenerless glove box!

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I spring loaded my tailgate so it would come down faster than gravity was doing it for me. Wasn't loud enough though, so I added a couple of nice reinforced metal stops. And then for good measure a solenoid release from the cabin.

I scared an old lady at the grocery store the other day and she dropped her bag of groceries, but I still love my spring loaded remote open tailgate. BAM!

Hook up a crank in the bed and winch it up like an arbalest.

Add a remote solenoid door popper and wait for someone to walk by.

It would put all the tailgate-dropping GM commercials to shame.

 

[Glocker]

I now am a member of this exclusive club of members with dampened tailgates! LOL

 

[Fjoyner]

I use my shirtsleeve to keep the windshield clear in the rain, I special-ordered crank side windows, have no need for AC or any of that other silly stuff and I'm happy to have paid a boat load of money for it. And I put 15" wheels on the rear so I don't need to level the front end.

Oh, and tell your LT to start acting like an adult. . This ain't no backyard BBQ.

But I think you should do what makes you happy, I do.

 

[Glocker]

I use my shirtsleeve to keep the windshield clear in the rain, I special-ordered crank side windows, have no need for AC or any of that other silly stuff and I'm happy to have paid a boat load of money for it. And I put 15" wheels on the rear so I don't need to level the front end.

Oh, and tell your LT to start acting like an adult. . This ain't no backyard BBQ.

But I think you should do what makes you happy, I do.

Hahahaha
Sounds like my old 1968 Ford F100 Ranger short bed! No power stearing and manual drum brakes too!

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