Anyone have experience with Redline hood lift?

First of all, calm down...it's a discussion...so here we go (my comments in red)

 

Redline are awesome ! Definitely worth the price. Easy install

 

I also have the redline strut for the tailgate. Works great.

 

They make one for the tail, post a pic. Gonna look now

 

EZ Down is the brand. It pinches the tailgate cable, from what I read.

 

I just looked. It's called EZ down.
Yes, it does pinch the cable. When shutting tailgate I hold the cable to the side.
No big deal. Better than having to lower the tailgate by hand.

 

You know, it is beyond me why ANYONE would actively pursue the means to switch from a solid prop to items which would be now a wear item which will (not an if question, it's a when) eventually fail, usually in the most undesirable and inconvenient way by method of a hard bang, concussion, or worse when the most proven and reliable version of holding an item up is with a solid fixture.

Relying on air struts to hold a large and heavy metal surface over your head is just asking for a potential medical issue down the road.

There is a reason why Lamborghini doors are not a thing anymore.

This is just my opinion, but I say walk away from this pointless and potentially dangerous mod.

 

The rod gets in the way if you work under the hood. That rod can be knocked out or bent and cause injury just like the struts. Anything is possible. However when the shock does wear out it won't hold the hood up so you cant work under there. Almost a built in safety.

And manufacturers are still designing and using Lambo style doors.

 

If the rod gets into the way so much that you can't work around it then I pity you as a mechanic. And I don't direct that towards you. I just mean in general.

I'm going to be straight here. In my 15+ years of wrenching, I have never had, or seen anyone knock out a hood prop once properly on the hood by accident or even intentionally.

Using lambo style doors from the factory? Show me.

 

If you like the rod in the way I don't pity you at all. I admire your contortionist abilities. Look up McClaren to start and you can Google others yourself.

 

If you like the idea of a hood falling on your hand or your head I don't pity you at all. Our idea of risk taking are on two different fields obviously.

I just saw them. Wow. They are still putting those on eh? Smart move by McClaren.

 

You know the 4Runner, FJ, and Land Cruiser all have hood struts right? Tacomas don't have them for the same reason Tacomas don't have rear discs brakes - so Toyota can save that $5-$10 per vehicle and continue to post $21 billion in profits each year.

Hood struts are compressed to a higher pressure when the hood is closed. If the shaft seals fail, the nitrogen leaks out when the hood is closed, not when it's open. The hood won't suddenly fall on you. It isn't a big deal. Even if the struts fail, you can still keep the hood open with vise grips around the strut shaft, until you can order replacement struts.

 

We fall under the "different strokes for different folks" category. I understand what you are saying and the vice grips are the first thing I reach for when I see vehicles using those freaking things because I don't trust them.

This reminds me of those oil threads which turn into shitshows because a guy suggests running 5-30 instead of 0-20.

I'll see my way out of here now.

 

I think Audi, BMW, and Mercedes use hood shocks

and when they wear out (hood starts to open slower, etc.) people just replace them with new ones.
Some problems that can happen with that are:
-aftermarket shock is too stiff of a replacement
-ball joint it mounts to isn't maintained enough, and comes loose from threads on it's own, which can cause some damage

Mercedes also has an extra button that lets their hood open 90 degrees

Redline sells the hardware for $15. I wonder if it's possible to find the shocks themselves elsewhere. Whether now for the initial install (and possibly cheaper), or hypothetically for later on down the road, because you never know if Redline will exist at that time or not.

And if it's possible or not to look through a shock company catalog to see what they offer in terms of pressure, size closed, and size opened.
I'm not sure if more criteria goes into shock selection.

 

Wow. Okay 12 TRDTacoma, I acknowledge your points and I accept the risk. I am more likely to drop the damn hood trying to get the rod in than have it fall on my head from a blown strut. Period. My life, my truck, my choice. I want something more for my truck, and I wanted input on the product in question. Your initial response was noted and thank you for the input. Beyond that it devolved to preference-and hijacking. First responder fire argument and crumple zone arguments make real sense; however, I acknowledge the risk and think there is real safety for me as I get older in the installation of this mod.

 

Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things.
The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have. – Louis E. Boone

 

This thread is hilarious. You don't have to remove your factory hood stanchion and could use it as a secondary if you were worried about a hood killing you.

 

THIS is why the Search function doesn't get used enough. @jkuniverse posted a perfect reply, in post number 2 as the very first reply to the OP's question, with a link to a DEDICATED extensive thread about the OP's topic of REDLINE HOOD STRUTS. Rather than that be the end of the discussion, or posters adding their comments to the linked thread, we stay on this one as it spirals downward...

Yet here I am, reading it and posting in it.... Sorry future searchers - I contributed to the problem

 

Yes. I love mine.

I got mine right before I had rotator cuff surgery so I was limited to only using one hand to raise the hood for quite a period of time.

Still I love not needing to use that stupid stick lol

 

Mine have been on the truck for abt 4 years now. No issues whatsoever. They are easy to install if you are comfortable following directions, drilling holes and can use a pop rivet tool.

As far as the dangers of hood struts, my camper shell has 6 of them (pair on the back glass and a pair on each windoor), wife's car has hood struts and trunk struts from the factory.

I still have the rod in place (because otherwise I would just lose it).