tailgate assist
 

I have been searching for hours and can't find tailgate assist struts for my 2011 Ranger XLT. I have phoned Strongarm and DEE ZEE. They do not manfacture anything to fit the Ranger. I would like to hear from anyone who has actually installed a set of assist struts and what brand they used. I'm 76 and have torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders so really need to get these installed on my tailgate.
Thanks in advance.

Never seen them for the smaller trucks, you'll probably have to customize mounting a set of struts/dampers

I wouldn't think it would be too hard since the movement is 90deg in all pickup tailgates
But not sure about the room between tailgate and bed at the sides?

Go to website, Droptail, JSC Engineering. They have exactly what your looking for.
Grumpaw

Thanks iTrader, I thought amout that but the struts have to be of the correct strength to work correctly. The available struts are made for tailgates for full sized trucks with heavier tailgates.

Thanks Grumpaw, but their product is for an automatic strut, that's not what I'm looking for.

Look on line for the shipping weight of different tail gates, find one thats close to Rangers shipping weight
Full size aluminum tail gate may be close to Rangers steel tail gate in weight

Tailgate assist kit mod for 03 Ford Ranger
 

Greetings & happy weekend all, :) I hope everyone's doing well. I realize this thread is not recent at all I hope it's okay that I post something relating to this.
I'm happy to say that I was able to easily mod an existing kit and adapt it to work in my 2003 Ranger Flareside Let me show you what I did. I'm not sure about the very early and mid year 80s 90 Ranger fitment, love those years though, they're great.
Even though the Gen1-3 Ranger tailgate isn't that heavy, I liked the idea of that feature, bit of refinement it would add, and the annoying KLUNCK that would delete from the equipment list. I randomly went looking for a tailgate assist not knowing one didn't exist for Ranger/B3000 type pickup, like everyone else, found nothing for After a look and some measurements of the space in the tailgate area wherethe device would be installed, and at some other kits from the 2019+ Ranger, and kits for other models, including for Ram, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan and others, it looked like, surprise, the kits for it's closest sibling, stablemate the F-150, looked like the closest fit with the least amount of modding. I had an idea how it might work already after checking out the installation video and a look at that bracket, so I ordered one off of Amazon, the DeeZee brand for the F-150.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...b4d19549d9.jpg
First I had to check that the damper itself when compressed, would fit in the space if this was going to even proceed, as the F-150 gate is taller for sure. It seemed like it should work but upon looking closer at the amount of space between the bottom of the latch. the Torx bolt securing the cable where the plate would mount, and the top of the hinge at the bottom, I wasn't so sure. There was barely 9 inches of space vertically and laterally it looked like an even closer fit. For a moment, I did not think it would work, I thought the lower end of the damper would not clear the.... edge... of the outer bodywork, and would chip or dent possibly... but I didn't give up, I waited to have it all fitted to see, was still too close to call.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...6116ccd21a.jpg
Starting at the top, the plate with the ball mount would mount under the Torx head bolt securing the left cable. As I mentioned earlier I had some thoughts how this could fit from looking online, seemed like the bracket just needed some material removed off the top, to sort of sqaure it off, to fit under the latch, and line up with the Torx bolt. The photo just to show, looks a bit off there, but when i marked, I measured looking straight on, lining everything up, the hole most precisely with the center of that Torx head bolt.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...ddeed22432.jpg


I measured and put a piece of tape as well marked a line with sharpee and used a side cutter to trim it down. Sorry a bit out of focus, using a barstool outside as a workbench to clamp it, I was in a hurry, trying to beat the setting sun.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...74e00c723a.jpg
End result it fit great. I put support under the left side of the tailgate, removed the cable clip, I removed the Torx bolt and secured the plate replacing the bolt. the hole was the right size as luck would have it even though the Torx head screw is a smaller size than the one on the F-150. As the included wrench was too big but I had a few tools (from my Jeep days).
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...56b1e95c2d.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...627229d8ec.jpg
I meant to take photos of the plate in place before assembling the top joint, but I had popped it on already and was kind of moving fast as it was getting dark.
It's a slightly different arrangement than in the F-150, the plate with the ball mount strut rests over the latch plate so the cable eye rest on it and is also offset by that amount you can see in the photo above.
Now i t was on to the bottom ball mount, with the Rivnut. which thankfully, turned out to be ready to go. On my 03 Flareside driver's side has an existing hole in just the right place, right size, about 14mm.
I was not believing it could be that easy until the kit arrived and I could check fitment and I actually had it tightened all the way.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...f8650d9f19.jpg
The arrow, just kidding, cause you wouldn't see that hole.... ;)
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...da3b64996e.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...2fc73b4721.jpg

Before installing the Rivnut, I just took a look at the clearance situation, it looked too close to call.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...a35bf0ccfa.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...4d82dac5f6.jpg
Time will tell if the rive nut holds but it feels very tight now.
In action--
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/573512226" width="640" height="564" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
A closer look at the fit. If I were to change anything it would be for the shoulder of that hex stud in the rivnut at the lower end to be a bit shorter, shallower, that would straighten out the strut and add clearance with the bodywork.
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/573512890" width="640" height="564" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...54674a38f0.jpg
I hope this helps anyone looking to do this, it was a quick fun easy add on as far as these types of things go, pretty great bang for your buck$$.
A huge thanks to everyone on the site for all that you do and you've posted and contributed. It's such a great community and source of help and support.
Have a great rest of your weekend all.

Great info! Could you possibly come back and give us an update in a few months to let us know how it is working for you?

Tailgate assist kit mod for 03 Ford Ranger
 

Thank you! Absolutely, I'll see how it goes and let you know. The Rivnut was a concern so I got a box of them in case the supplied one gave me any issues with the install or in service. Wishing everyone a great day and week.

Great write up!!!! I know this is old, but I'm going to give it a shot. I'm working on my son's 2002 Edge. I was following another post somewhere else and they advised buying a Ram kit. Well, I've modified the brackets to fit. However, the shock/piston is too long. UGH! Curious what is the closed length of this F-150 piston? I can't seem to find any details online. Any info is greatly appreciated!

Greetings! Quick update, this kit is still doing the job, as tight as the day I installed it. I use the tailgate maybe not every single day but often, most days.

Thank you kindly! I can take a look for you. www.deezee.com may have the open and closed dimensions of the strut. It's the Ford DZ43203 F150 97-03, The kit was pretty easy, just trimming off that bracket. It's still working great. Can't believe it's been this long, Best.

Did the Rivetnut kit come with the deezee kit? If not is there a part number?

Hi, Yes, The Dee Zee kit for the F150 which I used does have the rivnut on one of the ball mounts. I bought spares as from what I read they can be problematic. So far it's been great. Time will tell.
The riv nut kit from Amazon description, this item isn't available anymore but a bunch of other identical looking kits are.
M5 M6 M8 White Zinc Plated Carbon Steel Flat Head Rivet Nuts Kit Flat Head Threaded Rivnut Rivet Nut Insert Nutsert Cap Rivet Assortment Kit,50pcs
specifications for this item
Brand Name KINPAR Ean 7421247856800 Exterior Finish Zinc,Metal,Carbon Steel Material carbon_steel , Zinc Opposing Screw Size M8 , M5 , M6 Part Number S-01 Specification Met As UNSPSC Code 31161700
Dee Zee DZ43203 Tailgate Assist Shock

Thank you sir..

Ordered the Deezee as well and had some time to install it today. Very easy mod for sure.
Instead of cutting the bracket, I went a different route. Putting it behind the latch.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...5db6a824fc.jpg

Plenty of clearance.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...93f9402d28.jpg

removed the cable as it was causing an issue when closing.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...1c741da60f.jpg
All in all, easy mod and didn't take long to install. Thanks are in order to the previous poster for the info.

Strange. I thought about putting mine under the latch but I would still have to trim it to fit around the rubber bumper that's behind it.

I ended up drastically cutting mine down so it would fit 'upside down' (with the ball at the top instead of the bottom). This allowed me to push it towards the cab far enough to allow keeping the cable installed.

If I had the time, I might have sourced a ball-head bolt the same size as the DeeZee part and simply removed the brake light assembly and drilled a hole to mount it with.

I have a few of those Ball-head kicking around in my tool box, may have to give that a go and see if that will work. Thanks

What was the issue with cable closing the tailgate?

The cable is stiff enough it will put a lot of pressure on the assist and try to push it out of the way.

Yup. That was my issues as well. Don't plan on putting a lot of weight on the tail gate to have two cables, but if that days ever comes i'll have the cable in the truck.

Thanks for the info.

I was able to leave the cable on my install.

Sweet, nice job!! It adds a nice touch doesn't it? No more gate slam. Just pop n drop.