Ordered yesterday and they estimated delivery 3rd to the 7th. Today I got a notification that Varsity will be "receiving from the supplier in 7-10 days"... So much for January 3rd to 7th....
It has nothing to do with the weight,it's convenience. I use my truck for work therefor I'm in/out of the bed many times during the day. Most times my hands are full so it's convenient for me to just grab the handle with my finger and let it fall rather than drop everything on the ground so I can guide it down by hand. It's it necessary,no but it's a convenance I've grown to like when I had my Tacoma just like power windows and door locks that we all think are necessities now a days.
This was the first thing I noticed after installing mine too. I'm going to steal your idea and add this to mine once I'm back home this weekend.I installed the Ford/DeeZee unit and love it. But I noticed that the cable tends to want to rest BEHIND the cylinder, putting outward pressure on the ball/socket retainers. It would slightly catch on the cylinder and 'pop' on decent. While this might never push the cylinder loose, it can't be good for it. Here's a guide I fashioned out of velcro strip and electrical tape, It forces the cable to rest on the outside of the cylinder, putting pressure inwards. Like I said, it may not cause a problem but this insures that it won't .
You can't steal shared stuff !! lolThis was the first thing I noticed after installing mine too. I'm going to steal your idea and add this to mine once I'm back home this weekend.
All I did was loosen the fitting holding the cable (tailgate side) just a hair so the cable moves freely when opening/closing. Instead of the cable pushing against the cylinder and trying to go behind it when it closes, it rests in front of the cylinder with no pressure against it.I installed the Ford/DeeZee unit and love it. But I noticed that the cable tends to want to rest BEHIND the cylinder, putting outward pressure on the ball/socket retainers. It would slightly catch on the cylinder and 'pop' on decent. While this might never push the cylinder loose, it can't be good for it. Here's a guide I fashioned out of velcro strip and electrical tape, It forces the cable to rest on the outside of the cylinder, putting pressure inwards. Like I said, it may not cause a problem but this insures that it won't .
I used to thunk that too, especially after lowering a much heavier steel tailgate on my 1997 Ranger for 18 years without a damper. Then we had to move my daughter to a new apartment using my new Ranger. I'd walk up to the tailgate with a full load of stuff in my hands, then have to put it all down to lower the tailgate. (I can't stand it when it slams down) What a pain! I ordered a damper from someone on flea-bay, currently waiting for it to arrive. Ford should have put these on in the first place.
I was going to insert a thrust washer to accomplish that same thing, but didn't have one in the "existing resources" drawer of the toolbox!
I just use an elbow or a knee to lower it. I guess I can see why some would want one though. An automatically opening/closing tailgate will be next.
Not sure where the DEEZEE package came from as I have been told by DEEZEE as recently as 12/9 that their assist is not going to be available until early spring. Knockoff??Part info. Do it.
The Ford ones are coming from DeeZee. I'm assuming they have a contract with Ford and have to fulfill them first before selling them direct.
Yeah... people are making this way, way more of a big deal deal than it actually is. On the last ranger I had, I put almost 200K miles on it and never once did I feel the need to have a damped rear tailgate, and it was a heavier steel tailgate too.
Don't hurt yourself LOLStepping down off my soap box.
