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Dee Zee EZ Down Tailgate Assist

Well i just off the phone with them and they are great ppl very in depth details bout how this works and all the features it can do! So needless to say i had to order 1. It was 399.00 shipped since i promised i would do  install pics on here. I cant wait to start the install should be here late nxt week :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
 
This is the next thing to go on my "Mod List"      :laugh:
It appears this mod is just like me... Cheap and Easy!!!
 
spidey said:
PArt number is DZ 43101  Fits a Chevy 2007-2011 if that helps anyone
Click to expand...

Picked this up today from 4wheel parts. Easy install. Unfortunately the shock is a little short leaving the cables a bit slack. The stud on the jam is carrying the full weight of the tailgate. I'll have to take a closer look tomorrow to see how I'm going to mod it.
Also, as jmak and 314pie stated, It slows it down enough that it doesn't slam but it definitely doesn't float as it does in some of the videos out there.
(2011 LT)
 
DouglasOak said:
This is the next thing to go on my "Mod List"      :laugh:
It appears this mod is just like me... Cheap and Easy!!!
Click to expand...
Torsion bar is cheaper, and in some cases better..  I should be demodding that one, and installing one of these instead..  Opening the area under the tailgate for a bigger line of fire..
 
1oldsalt said:
Picked this up today from 4wheel parts. Easy install. Unfortunately the shock is a little short leaving the cables a bit slack. The stud on the jam is carrying the full weight of the tailgate. I'll have to take a closer look tomorrow to see how I'm going to mod it.
Also, as jmak and 314pie stated, It slows it down enough that it doesn't slam but it definitely doesn't float as it does in some of the videos out there.
(2011 LT)
Click to expand...

I have been hearing this as well, but I tested with the shock on and then off, and the cables have the exact same tension.  I was all set to mod it as well, but then after testing didnt think it needed to.

Maybe I got a weird hydralic.  It also doesnt bounce at the bottom like others have said either.
 
spidey said:
I have been hearing this as well, but I tested with the shock on and then off, and the cables have the exact same tension.  I was all set to mod it as well, but then after testing didnt think it needed to.

Maybe I got a weird hydralic.  It also doesnt bounce at the bottom like others have said either.
Click to expand...

ARGGGH!!!!  :E:
I really want to do this mod, but keep hearing conflicting stories of it is/isn't long enough.  :cautious:
I guess I won't really know until I try it.
 
MEDICO said:
Attention people... Your tailgate is not safe when Hugs is around....lol :laugh:

I know :E:  I had to say it Hugs :beating: feel the love my brother :love:

Old story from long ago... :laugh:
Click to expand...
HUmmm...  There have been a few of thoses over the years..  BUt only once I think we put in cup holders, in someones AV, that didnt want them at first..  hehe
the other was a VERY LONG drill bit..  :beating: :cry: :cry: :needhug: :needhug:
 
DouglasOak said:
ARGGGH!!!!  :E:
I really want to do this mod, but keep hearing conflicting stories of it is/isn't long enough.  :cautious:
I guess I won't really know until I try it.
Click to expand...

Thats what I would do.  Unless Im looking at it wrong.  But after I installed it the first time, I took it off and watched the cables.  And they looked exactly the same with the assist on or off.  I even measured the tailgate from the bumper, and the heights were exactly the same
 
spidey said:
Thats what I would do.  Unless Im looking at it wrong.  But after I installed it the first time, I took it off and watched the cables.  And they looked exactly the same with the assist on or off.  I even measured the tailgate from the bumper, and the heights were exactly the same
Click to expand...

Sweet! Thanks for the update spidey!
 
Well i installed 1, it was the correct length and it slows down my tailgate at just the right speed where it doesnt bounce.

One thing i have noticed from the pictures is that mine does not look like the one biggmachz has on his. My cable goes on first followed by the shock, which clips onto the extended bolt. Also, my kit came with a bracket that attaches to the tailgate and it moves the shock mounting location closer to the front of the truck. Could this be why i did notbhave to extend the shock?
 
noogie said:
Well i installed 1, it was the correct length and it slows down my tailgate at just the right speed where it doesnt bounce.

One thing i have noticed from the pictures is that mine does not look like the one biggmachz has on his.
Click to expand...
Biggmachz has the Canadian version... they take out all the good stuff and then ship us whatever is left over!!!!  :E:
 
DouglasOak said:
Biggmachz has the Canadian version... they take out all the good stuff and then ship us whatever is left over!!!!   :E:
Click to expand...

(y) i installed mine 3 years ago, there was none available for the avy at that time, just 07-08 silverado...
probably why the install is a bit different, and the shock extension is not required...

maybe later today i'll take a video of opening the tailgate... i just love how it floats open    :love:
 
For anyone interested, following is how I modded the stock mount plate to take the load of the tailgate off of the ram and back on the cables.

Additionally, as stated before, the ram in kit #DZ 43101 slows down the tailgate so that it doesn't slam but it doesn't float. I installed a second kit to on the passenger side to get that easy float that we see in the videos.

If you are thinking of adding a second ram, don't. IT WILL NOT WORK. The ram adds enough additional drag that while it's falling the tailgate will lift up off of the hinge just like when you remove the tailgate. (I hope that's clear) I could probably modify the tailgate hinge but I just didn't feel like doing it so I removed the second ram kit and re-modified it for the drivers side. I'm going to send this kit to my cousin for his AVY.

I have a mill so I used it. This mod can be done with a grinder or a Dremel with a little time.

Basically the idea is to elongate the bottom of screw hole and recessed area in the mounting plate. This will allow you to lift the plate enough to take the pressure off the ram and put it back on the cables and still allow the ram to do it's job. I elongated the recessed area and hole about 1/4 inch. I also replaced the screw in the kit with a bolt.

Full weight of tailgate on ram...Not good.
slack01.jpg


mill01.jpg


mill02.jpg


plate.jpg
 
Looking at the top pick of the cable slack mine is defintly not like that, in facxt watching it yesterday the cable actually does a little vibration as it does taut at the bottom.  So I must of gotten lucky with mine, as mine is as straight with the assist on or off.  Wonder why if they are all the same model.

Not to sound smug or anything, but Im glad I didnt have to do any extra work  :D
 
spidey said:
Looking at the top pick of the cable slack mine is defintly not like that.  So I must of gotten lucky with mine, as mine is as straight with the assist on or off.  Wonder why if they are all the same model.

Not to sound smug or anything, but Im glad I didnt have to do any extra work  :D
Click to expand...

Yea I was wondering why they are different as well spidey. Does your ram attach with a bolt or is it a ball and socket.
Obviously the rams are slightly different.
I had to move the ball maybe 5mm at the most to make it fit.
 
1oldsalt said:
Yea I was wondering why they are different as well spidey. Does your ram attach with a bolt or is it a ball and socket.
Obviously the rams are slightly different.
I had to move the ball maybe 5mm at the most to make it fit.
Click to expand...

Ball & socket on both ends
 
Weird. Must be something with the cable length. I can't imagine the hole for the nutsert or the posts for the cable being different.
 
1oldsalt said:
Weird. Must be something with the cable length. I can't imagine the hole for the nutsert or the posts for the cable being different.
Click to expand...

Unless it deals with how far the hydralic comes out.  As others have said on here their tailgate still bounces when it hits bottom (but still slower than normal)  While mine does not boubce at all
 
Yea mine bounces like the others. I looked at the ram for a part number but couldn't see one. Guess you got lucky.
 
Finally learned how to post photos.  As you can see the cable is straight, and I dont have any bounce at the bottom when it stops.  Not sure why mine is different than others.

MedicineHat-20121205-00220-1.jpg


MedicineHat-20121205-00221-1.jpg
 
Hello there,
I have a cladded 03 AV. I want to do this mod. Is there anybody who have this TG assist on their cladded tail gate. I saw a picture on this thread but mine doesnt have that flat plate where one end of the assist is attached. Can you please post a picture/instruction how you modified your assist to fit the cladded TG? Instructions = better... thanks!!
JB007
 
Hey JB I have one and I used the silverado one, I had to straighten the part the curves so it would not rub the cladding on the bumper. Also get the EZ up bar the tail gate will float down and weights like 3 pounds to get back up.


http://chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,82521.msg1991249.html#msg1991249
 
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