Tailgate Damper……cons?

[IdahoRanger]

I installed the dreaded "tailgate damper" on my '22 XLT yesterday. (there sure are a lot of amusing comments...) I had four previous Rangers without a damper of any kind.

Other than it seemed like a low-cost upgrade, I was concerned about accidental drops of the tailgate causing shock damage to the reversing camera.

I experienced the problem where the tailgate cable tends to go between the body and the damper housing.

I decided to try putting electrical "convoluted loom" over the gate cable. It is similar in concept to the "velcro" fix, but it seems to work very well. The OD of the loom is just large enough that it no longer gets trapped between the body and damper. I bought 1/4 inch loom by the foot at O'Rielly's. I bought four feet, but it was more than needed, 3' would have worked.

I'll post a couple of photos for reference.

Greg

Creative solution!

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[underwhelmed]

Damper is # one indicator of low T and ED. Scientific fact! ??

 

[AzScorpion]

Damper is # one indicator of low T and ED. Scientific fact! ??

Good thing there's a pill for that.

 

[Msfitoy]

Good thing there's a pill for that.

Spock...set Pfizer on "suddenly"...

 

[AzScorpion]

Spock...set Pfizer on "suddenly"...

With no rebound. ?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Damper is # one indicator of low T and ED. Scientific fact! ??

 

[Fawnbuster]

Good thing there's a pill for that.

It's even shaped like the blue oval, kinda sorta!

 

[EJH]

I bought the damper recently and installed it tonight. I've been dealing with a sore wrist from a poor snowboard jump landing, figured it would take some pressure off my wrist when opening the tailgate. Prior to now, I've been very neutral on the damper.

Sadly, I removed it after about ten minutes for many reasons

• My damper was moderately noisey when extending. This isn't uncommon with struts. My Forester hatch struts make the same sound.
• The tailgate support cable was being pinched. In just 4-5 open/closes of the tailgate, my cable showed pinch marks. I do not want to use a work around for this, as IMHO they are ugly. I'm referring to the electrical tape and velcro, or other means like miraculon posted about above.
• The tailgate required more force to fully close than without the damper. This would be harder for my wife. Ironically, she is fine opening the tailgate undamped.
• Half my year is cool to cold and I would expect the damper to be too slow for me. Especially in winter, when I park well below freezing.

I am not sure if I am immediately returning it to Amazon, or maybe I'll put it in a drawer for later in case circumstances change.

That said, I felt the brackets for the damper, and the overall kit, was made very well. I wish it accomidated the tailgate support cable better, and that is the main reason I removed the damper.

 

[Illking]

My dampener comes unbuttoned at the tail gate end from time to time which defeats the purpose. Anyone else experience this and have a solution?

 

[RANGER_MARC]

The only negative effect of the damper in my experience is that all my friends make fun of me…

 

[WolfgangVTS]

The only negative effect of the damper in my experience is that all my friends make fun of me…

At that point are they truly…friends?

 

[AzScorpion]

The only negative effect of the damper in my experience is that all my friends make fun of me…

At that point are they truly…friends?

They're true friend when you all look alike.

 

[Trigganometry]

My dad use to say when I was a boy, son, with friends like that who needs enemas

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