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Dee Zee EZ Down Tailgate Assist

MS03 2500 said:
You will love it, just pull it open and let it float down. (y)
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Did you install it on yours??  I have the torsion bar, but want to go with the like BlackBeautys BIG LEDs (line of fire) in that spot (bought 2 years ago).  If I take the torsion out I can put this and open that spot up right??
 
Hugz said:
Did you install it on yours??  I have the torsion bar, but want to go with the like BlackBeautys BIG LEDs (line of fire) in that spot (bought 2 years ago).  If I take the torsion out I can put this and open that spot up right??
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Yup had it on for quite some time and yes that will work
 
So I picked mine up on friday for a 2007-2011 Silverado. According to here it shoudl work.  When I go to install the "nutsert" into the hole, it doesnt stay in, it jsut flops out.  It actually looks like the entire thing will line up, but this nutsert thing from step one is confusing me.  Is it supposed to expand in the hole or something when you tighten the bolt in it.

When I hooked everything up, it does seem that the shock will work without extending it, but its this stupid nutsert thing I dont get

I have a 2012
 
spidey said:
So I picked mine up on friday for a 2007-2011 Silverado. According to here it shoudl work.  When I go to install the "nutsert" into the hole, it doesnt stay in, it jsut flops out.  It actually looks like the entire thing will line up, but this nutsert thing from step one is confusing me.  Is it supposed to expand in the hole or something when you tighten the bolt in it.

When I hooked everything up, it does seem that the shock will work without extending it, but its this stupid nutsert thing I dont get

I have a 2012
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I'll be interested in the results. Looks like a great, useful mod.
 
naylor99 said:
I'll be interested in the results. Looks like a great, useful mod.
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If it wasnt for the original anchor and having issues It would be done already.  According to the YouTube site looks like a lot of people are having issues
 
Update to this (a good news one)

So after watching the video and seeing comments, you have to turn the bolt counter clockwise so the nut sert would expand inside the hole.  The directions certain dont do that.

So after doing that I installed it, but didnt tighten it all super tight in case it didnt work and hearing that the tail gate may not lower all the way using the DeeZee assist.

Good new is, that the tailgate on the 2012 goes down all the way.  After install I took off the hydralic arm to see, and the tailgate lowers the same amount.

Not sure if they upgraded the deezee arm, or if the 2012 tailgate is a bit different than the 2007 - 2011 as others on here seem to have the issue of having to add some extra lenth to the arm metal.  Thats what I was thinking would happen here

So good new, the one I ordered does work perfect.  No mod needed what so ever to make it fit, it doesnt bind, catch or anything.  The cables are nice and tight as well.

Cost me $50 up in Canada.  Ordered through Canadian Tire, but something I missed from my old truck

PArt number is DZ 43101  Fits a Chevy 2007-2011 if that helps anyone
 
Great job spidey, and thanks for all the info. I have wanted to do this for a long time, but didn't want to mess around with lengthening.

Could you try to post some pix of the arm, and maybe a few measurements???
I would like to compare them to my 08. (Then maybe I can run out to Crappy Tire and get one too!!!)
 
Now if you really wanna look cool (or are just plain lazy) Here's a neat little item!
It is NOT cheap!!! around $369, but very cool!

http://www.droptail.com/droptail-avalanche-escalade.html
 
It may just be me, but that thing looks a little slow for my taste.  Cool idea/concept, though.  I've often wondered how to do it.  With that one I'd have to press the open button as soon as I exit out of Lowes so the tailgate will already be open as soon as I reach the truck. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks spidey. I also have a 2012 and wanted to make sure if fits without lengthening and doesn't catch on anything before I order one.
 
DouglasOak said:
Now if you really wanna look cool (or are just plain lazy) Here's a neat little item!
It is NOT cheap!!! around $369, but very cool!

http://www.droptail.com/droptail-avalanche-escalade.html
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Very cool.  But I could see myself wrecking that loading something in.  Bending the arm, etc  Plus the speed to me is to slow. 
 
DouglasOak said:
Great job spidey, and thanks for all the info. I have wanted to do this for a long time, but didn't want to mess around with lengthening.

Could you try to post some pix of the arm, and maybe a few measurements???
I would like to compare them to my 08. (Then maybe I can run out to Crappy Tire and get one too!!!)
Click to expand...

Ill give it a shot, but doubt pics will be up due to time.

As for measurements what would you like.  Im surprised that the 2012 setup is different than the 2007-2011.  Maybe the just lengthened the hydralic a bit more.

All I know is the cables look and have the same tension on them with our without the arm, so to me, that fits :)
 
Finally got a reply from DeeZee about how to make this nutsert work.  Now I know why their instructions arent good.

I explained what was happening, etc.  And their reply was "Use a wrench to insert the nutsert tool"
 
spidey said:
Finally got a reply from DeeZee about how to make this nutsert work.  Now I know why their instructions arent good.

I explained what was happening, etc.   And their reply was "Use a wrench to insert the nutsert tool"
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I believe the trick to the nutsert is counterclockwise to tighten. (I think one of their engineers must have worked at Chrysler (left handed threads)
If you could just measure the extended length from end to end that would get me close enough.
Thanks again.
 
DouglasOak said:
I believe the trick to the nutsert is counterclockwise to tighten. (I think one of their engineers must have worked at Chrysler (left handed threads)
If you could just measure the extended length from end to end that would get me close enough.
Thanks again.
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It was counterclockwise that did it.  I didnt user the locksite stuff though, just in case.  If they become loose I will for sure.  Im liking the feature, didnt realize how much I missed it until I didnt have it again
 
I just installed mine tonight in about a half hour and it is also long enough for the tailgate to go down all the way. One thing I noticed is that it doesn't appear to slow the tailgate down much until it is about half way down and then it doesn't slow it down as much as in the videos. It actually bounces a little at the bottom. Is this normal for the AV?
 
Not sure if that is normal, but I do know that the Avy tailgate is heavier than the Silverado/Sierra.
 
I agree it should open about 1/4 the way like normal then float down.
 
jmak said:
I just installed mine tonight in about a half hour and it is also long enough for the tailgate to go down all the way. One thing I noticed is that it doesn't appear to slow the tailgate down much until it is about half way down and then it doesn't slow it down as much as in the videos. It actually bounces a little at the bottom. Is this normal for the AV?
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I bought one the other day, haven't installed it yet.  But I checked and it appears you could install one on each side of the tailgate if necessary.  

Update - I just installed it this morning.  Very easy job, no problems.  Just remember to turn the NUT clockwise, not the screw, when installing the nutsert. However, as jmak said, it doesn't slow down the tailgate that much. It definitely lightens the load, but I'm going to install a second unit on the other side to improve it further.
 
DouglasOak said:
Not sure if that is normal, but I do know that the Avy tailgate is heavier than the Silverado/Sierra.
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Reading some posts on here, not sure what I did to mine, or maybe I just dont notice.

Mine slows it down alot, it defintly doesnt bounce at the bottom.  As for weight, my Nissan frontiers tailgat weighed about twice as much as my AVY and only had once shock, and the speed is about the same

Im sure a guy could install another if they want to slow it down more, but compared to not having one at all, I open my tailgate and let it fall all the time.  Maybe over time the hydralic will weaken, not sure
 
DouglasOak said:
Now if you really wanna look cool (or are just plain lazy) Here's a neat little item!
It is NOT cheap!!! around $369, but very cool!

http://www.droptail.com/droptail-avalanche-escalade.html
Click to expand...
I have been in contact with these guys and its usually $447.99 for there auto drop tailgate for the avalanche but they said they will sell these to us for 399.00 including shipping for the month of october for anyone that calls and says they are member of this club (y)
Im taking the plunge and gettin one ordered today
 
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