Generic Tailgate Struts
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 11:40 pm
I really wanted to install a set of Grunt struts, but couldn't find any stocking distributor who would ship to Germany. The next best thing was trusty Amazon. I found lots of offers, but decided to buy the Outbit Gas Pressure Lifters for €29 and free shipping. I ordered them on 6 June and they arrived today, 8 June.
The downside is they are not the same as the Grunt product as they don't allow one-finger lifting of the tailgate, but for the price, I can't really complain much. They definitely make a difference in lowering the tailgate and it is now a hands-off process. The value will be determined by how long they last.
The total installation time was about 25 minutes, but this included laying everything out, picking out the tools, prepping and cleaning the parts, and putting my tools back.
The strut kit came as you see it in this image. The yellow envelope was folded and stuffed into the white envelope. The white envelope was in a large Amazon box with lots of packing paper.
This is the complete kit showing the struts and mounting hardware. As described in the Amazon page, there are no instructions included. Fortunately, there are plenty of examples of how similar struts are mounted and the videos on the Grunt website helped.
Here is the layout showing the tools I used. I printed off a screenshot from a webpage that showed a similar product. I believe in hardware remaining where I put it, so I used blue threadlocker on the four bolts I installed. I had to clean the threads on the four large bolts, as they were covered in light oil or grease. I used some carb and choke cleaner and a paper towel to clean the surfaces so the threadlocker would work. I also removed the ends from the strut shafts, cleaned them, and reassembled them with threadlocker. They were loose and I don't like loose hardware.
I used a 1/2-inch impact wrench and a T50 Torx driver to remove the two bolts on the tailgate. I used a T40 Torx driver on a 3/8-inch ratchet handle to remove the cable bolt on the truck bed. The right side T40 bolt was loose and I easily removed it with my fingers. The left side T40 bolt required the ratchet handle, but I used blue threadlocker on the new bolts.
Here are two images showing the right side strut installed. I had to file the tailgate bracket a bit to remove the burrs created from drilling the hole for the pin.
It might be my imagination, but lifting the tailgate seems to be a bit easier now. However, it does require more than one finger. If I could find the lifting strut, I would replace one of the existing struts, as I am confident the mounting hardware will work for the new strut.
As with most of these kits, it included a small bracket and spring. I assume this is for some applications to help stow the tailgate cable or keep it from interfering with the strut. I didn't find a place to mount the bracket, but I didn't need it since the cable doesn't interfere with the strut.
The downside is they are not the same as the Grunt product as they don't allow one-finger lifting of the tailgate, but for the price, I can't really complain much. They definitely make a difference in lowering the tailgate and it is now a hands-off process. The value will be determined by how long they last.
The total installation time was about 25 minutes, but this included laying everything out, picking out the tools, prepping and cleaning the parts, and putting my tools back.
The strut kit came as you see it in this image. The yellow envelope was folded and stuffed into the white envelope. The white envelope was in a large Amazon box with lots of packing paper.
This is the complete kit showing the struts and mounting hardware. As described in the Amazon page, there are no instructions included. Fortunately, there are plenty of examples of how similar struts are mounted and the videos on the Grunt website helped.
Here is the layout showing the tools I used. I printed off a screenshot from a webpage that showed a similar product. I believe in hardware remaining where I put it, so I used blue threadlocker on the four bolts I installed. I had to clean the threads on the four large bolts, as they were covered in light oil or grease. I used some carb and choke cleaner and a paper towel to clean the surfaces so the threadlocker would work. I also removed the ends from the strut shafts, cleaned them, and reassembled them with threadlocker. They were loose and I don't like loose hardware.
I used a 1/2-inch impact wrench and a T50 Torx driver to remove the two bolts on the tailgate. I used a T40 Torx driver on a 3/8-inch ratchet handle to remove the cable bolt on the truck bed. The right side T40 bolt was loose and I easily removed it with my fingers. The left side T40 bolt required the ratchet handle, but I used blue threadlocker on the new bolts.
Here are two images showing the right side strut installed. I had to file the tailgate bracket a bit to remove the burrs created from drilling the hole for the pin.
It might be my imagination, but lifting the tailgate seems to be a bit easier now. However, it does require more than one finger. If I could find the lifting strut, I would replace one of the existing struts, as I am confident the mounting hardware will work for the new strut.
As with most of these kits, it included a small bracket and spring. I assume this is for some applications to help stow the tailgate cable or keep it from interfering with the strut. I didn't find a place to mount the bracket, but I didn't need it since the cable doesn't interfere with the strut.
