Tailgate Assist On An '09 Anyone?

I see a hose clamp mod!

 

Again...shouldn't the hose clamp be on the passenger side?

 

I put them on both sides. Why not?

 

Interesting that there is an ad at the bottom of this page from Autoanything.com for the same Dee Zee EZ Downs for $48.95 with free shipping.

 

I just checked on Autoanything.com
It is $48.95
Oh well,we only paid $2 more.

 

Sorry, I missed this post earlier. I put them on both sides. If one does nothing I am only out a hose clamp. I will look at it tomorrow to see whassup.

 

I am not complaining. I am well satisfied with the deal you linked me to. I just find it amusing that a cheaper deal pops up at the bottom of the forum page. I do not have an ad blocker enabled. Do you see the ad at the page bottom also?

 

Yeah,it's there.
I missed it too.

 

My wife bought one of these for me for Christmas. I have an '08.

I could not get it to work right. I was installing it in 20 degree weather, and didn't have a lot of patience.

It is not designed very well for this truck, it binds with the cable. I thought about leaving the cable off, but I decided I wanted to keep both on for strength. I just told myself when it warms up, I will try to modify it to work, because I like the idea.

I kind of forgot about it. If you guys get it installed let us know what you think.

GA

 

There are two different brands of these (I think). Which one did you get?

 

I didn't know that. I got this one

http://ezdown.com/

GA

 

There is thread on your model in the Group Buys forum. In that thread there are several links to some other threads going back to 2007. I think that they had some problems with their first models. You might want to call them and see if they can help.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/group-buys/28530-ez-down-tailgate-group-buy-anyone.html

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214823&highlight=EZdown

It would seem the EZDown by Stabilus is a bit stronger than the Dee Zee brand but I think there have been fewer problems with the Dee Zee.

 

Help, I am confused. I ordered the Dee Zee EZDown, part #43601 and the blister pack says that, plus for Toyota Tacoma 2005 - 2009. I pop open the pack and there is another snap tab plasic pack with Stabilus Ezdown on it. I thought these were two different companies and different products? I remember some having a problem with some of the Stabilus units. I bought this from Modernparts.com on ebay per the link in a previous post.

 

Ya know, I was going to say something because I thought mine said DeeZee on the outside, but I couldn't remember, so I kept my mouth shut.

So, yes, I think they are one in the same - just sold through different outlets.

GA

 

Pretty cheesy marketing if you ask me. The one I got looks nothing like the one in the ad picture. Mine has "C" spring retainers on both ends. The picture shows one end with a safety nut and the other end has a "thum clip" that allows easy no tool removal.

 

Ok, I went ahead and installed the Stabilus (Dee Zee) EZDown on my '09 Taco. Dee Zee Part # 43601.

Installation is a breeze. It took longer to find the tools. It takes a Phillips screw driver, a Torx 40 bit, and 13mm and 10mm wrenches. The pictured instructions are very easy to under stand. It took less than five minutes. I had no trouble removing the bolts as some have mentioned. I did use a Torx 40 bit in a wratchet and put a fair amount of pressure on the bit to make sure it was seated with one hand before I pushed on the wratchet handle. Everything went on very easily including the spring retaining clips.

So how does it work? Well, the first thing I noticed was the gate lowered to almost 45° before it seemed like the cylinder engaged. Then it came down quite a bit faster than the demo video shows. The first two times I tried to close it it wouldn't shut. The cable was jamming against the cylinder. I then poked the cable left of the cylinder as I closed it and it closed. I had to do that about the first dozen times I closed it. Also the cable now has a very sharp bend when closed. and shows a bit of a kink when open. I don't know if this will cause a problem in time or not. Supposedly the cable will eventually "learn" to tuck in on the proper side over time. We shall see.

So in summary:

Pros - Easy to Install. Yes, it does keep the tailgate from slamming down.

Cons - Tailgate opens quite a bit before cylinder engages and descent rate is higher than demo. The cylinder also makes the tailgate more difficult to raise. Support cable initially jams on wrong side of cylinder. Once on proper side of cylinder cable rubs the cylinder and kinks at the bottom of the loop. Upper retaining clip must be removed with a tool to allow removal of tailgate.

Overall Comment - I think my wife summed it up best when she said, "Well it does keep the tailgate from slamming down and I guess it is better than nothing."

 

I agree with you on the install, and the same thing happens to me with the cable. I just wasn't satisfied with the way the cable kinks.

I'm going to take a second look at it and try to make it work.

GA

 

After several more closings of the tailgate the cable seems to be cooperating. I went to the grocery this afternoon and came out in a rain storm and totally forgot about the EZdown. I grabbed the handle and the tailgate came down very nicely. And when I closed it the cable went where is was supposed to without help.

I also just went out for something I forgot in the truck and the tailgate came down ok and no cable bind when I put it back up.

It is working better but there is still the tight bend in the cable.