Tailgate Strap (Upgrade from cables)

When Taco owners say some aftermarket doodad is too expensive it must be REALLY expensive.

 

I have been contemplating making a set of these for my truck to replace the cable to see if the EZ Down tailgate lowering device would work since it will not work with the cables on my truck. And, a friend of mine has a CNC machine.....hmmmm.

 

With EZdown, trim panel like how this mobtown tailgate skin is and kind of mold the cable to go on side. Works good with out rubbing .It just closes in that position all the time . Best part with tailgate cap and skin, its pretty heavy .Now I just open and let it drop without slamming . Down side about 8 inches to closing it gets a little harder because of lift strut . Been 2 years or more and cable no scuffs ..

 

I bought a pair of these a number of years ago for my 2003 Avalanche through a member who was fabbing them up for our Avalanche group

if I remember correctly they were sixty bucks for the pair and made out of heavy duty stainless steel bars

I will grab some pics tomorrow

 

Stainless, nice I'm in

 

I just ordered new toyota cables for $22.
I searched for something better and couldn't find anything either.

I was thinking that it would be possible to just get a piece of flatbar, cut some holes on the ends and attach it only when needed for extra support.

 

Lot of interest in this post from the grave.

Im going to grab a set of 80s chevy straps and cut them to size and see what happens. may grab the pins to.

 

Let us know how it works out

 

I'm thinking it's gonna need some backyard engineering to make it work. Possibly a spacer on the gate to line it up.

 

Those Gate Kings are interesting. I don't think I'd have a need for something like that, but interesting nonetheless.

 

I'm gonna make a set for my truck, not adjustable like those but somthing with steel arms,

 

Right now they are 50% off and you can get a set for $114.14 using code GKST50

 

That seems like a great price for those,

 

Anybody build them out of the old truck straps. ? Love to know how it went?

 

Any chance you were able to figure out if the guy would make more for tacos?

 

Is this recommended to pair with assist struts?
When is the next sale?
Why doesn't everyone have these/why aren't they more popular/why have I never seen this on a truck before?

 

I made a set for my truck and they worked great, except they chip your paint from rattling around when the gate is closed, maybe that's why they (the truck manufacturers) stopped making them and went to plastic coated cables.

 

You got pix?

 

No unfortunately I don't, that was a few years ago, I've went back to cables, sorry

 

No worries, what vehicle did you savage the straps from to make the ones you did?