How to Install Dee Zee EZ Down Tailgate Assist w/pix

MS03 2500 · Jan 24, 2015

Dakotawilk said:
what does your mounting braket look like? Mike has a bend in it and it it was flats it would work great!

Same here I flatten it.

They sell the SACHS Stabilus EZ down at O Reillys Auto Parts.

tsac · Mar 14, 2015

Just a comment on the tail gate assist. I purchased the DZ43101 directly from DEEZEE and installed it on my 2013 AV Black Diamond in about 15 minutes. It works great and does not create any up or down problems. The cost was $30.00 delivered. Also Amazon has it on their site.

09chevyavy · Mar 16, 2015

I am going to do this next. But the install help photos on here wont let me see them. Why?

MS03 2500 · Mar 16, 2015

I'm pretty sure the the first pics have been deleted on the server they were stored on.

09chevyavy · Mar 16, 2015

well darn, I looked on the dee zee website, and they have instructions on there

4x4dreamer · Mar 16, 2015

09chevyavy said:
well darn, I looked on the dee zee website, and they have instructions on there

I installed Dual EZ Downs on the '13 last month. I had already bought one of the DeeZee brand for myself and ended up with another Stabilus brand from my secret santa, so I installed both.

The Stabilus went on first, on the driver side just as instructed, and it went on without a hitch, you've just got to be careful with the nutsert to make sure to anchor properly

I got the idea for two from DouglasOak and did just as he did. I installed a hose clamp with some padding around the nub where the tailgate slides onto the truck because otherwise it would pull the tailgate off when opening. The nutsert that came with the DeeZee shock was a huge PITA and would not compress properly.. I ended up messing with it for over an hour and finally ended up prying it out part way but not too far that it wouldn't fit in the hole in the side of the tailgate.

Overall I am very happy with the 2 shock set up, and I would recommend it if you want your tailgate going down extremely smoothly. I still had a bit of a drop with just one shock and now its smooth as silk. Just be mindful (and patient) with the nutsert(s).

WCFields · Mar 16, 2015

Silly NutSerts!

I recall we messed around for about 5 minutes with the first one on the left side. Put it in & out a few times, re-read the directions, looked at a video a few times and finally ended up doing the Opposite of Intuitive before it worked.

I put a few wraps of electrical tape under and over the Hose Clamp on the passenger side.

09chevyavy · Mar 16, 2015

Sounds good. Thanks guys

4x4dreamer · Mar 17, 2015

Cat Dancer said:
Silly NutSerts!

I recall we messed around for about 5 minutes with the first one on the left side. Put it in & out a few times, re-read the directions, looked at a video a few times and finally ended up doing the Opposite of Intuitive before it worked.

I put a few wraps of electrical tape under and over the Hose Clamp on the passenger side.

Precisely what I did. The difference in two shocks vs one is astronomical...

I do notice that when it comes down it still tries to pull the tailgate off and it comes out and hits the clamp and then goes back down. Not enough movement to hurt or scratch anything, but enough to be annoying when it clunks going down.

09chevyavy · Mar 17, 2015

So for that side you just wrap it in some electrical tape and put a hose clamp around it and tighten it?

WCFields · Mar 17, 2015

09chevyavy said:
So for that side you just wrap it in some electrical tape and put a hose clamp around it and tighten it?

That's what I did. A few wraps around the slotted opening, then the Hose Clamp, and some more tape over that to minimize the chance for getting cut by any sharp edges. The tape hides the Hose Clamp too.

09chevyavy · Mar 17, 2015

Okay I gotcha. Sweet. Thanks guys

tsac · Mar 21, 2015

The DEE ZEE works very well on the 13 and drops easy and slow. no issues.

only one installed on drivers side.

MS03 2500 · Mar 24, 2015

Just a word of warning you may want to put some type of alarm that the tailgate is open.

Mine popped open the other day and I did not notice it until I looked in the rearview mirror good thing the mat held everything in place.

Dakotawilk · Mar 24, 2015

MS03 2500 said:
Just a word of warning you may want to put some type of alarm that the tailgate is open.

Mine popped open the other day and I did not notice it until I looked in the rearview mirror good thing the mat held everything in place.

Funny you mention that last week I tried to drive away from school with my backpack still on the tailgate laptop and all in it lucky a buddy saw me pull out and called Me could have been bad :E:

MS03 2500 · Mar 24, 2015

Yeah if you use the shock and the torsion bar there is no thump if it pops open.

09chevyavy · Mar 24, 2015

So are you saying that it opens by itself sometimes?

MS03 2500 · Mar 24, 2015

Yup if I don't shut it good and do not double check it.

09chevyavy · Mar 24, 2015

I mean I usually shut it pretty good when I close it. However I do find that some people when closing it seem to want to baby it for whatever reason. They dont close it hard enough

tsac · Apr 17, 2015

How about the auto locks. Also the door open alarm. Now i'm wondering if they will warn if the tail is open.

MS03 2500 · Apr 18, 2015

It should not effect the auto locks if the tailgate is shut.

tsac · Nov 23, 2018

tsac said:
Just a comment on the tail gate assist. I purchased the DZ43101 directly from DEEZEE and installed it on my 2013 AV Black Diamond in about 15 minutes. It works great and does not create any up or down problems. The cost was $30.00 delivered. Also Amazon has it on their site.

2018 November update.

So far the tail gate assist has worked without any issues. Still drops the gate slow until the cable stops it.
The shock shows no sign of any wear or loss of control.

Loggie · Mar 22, 2020

So happy to find this old write up. This is a must have. I cannot tell you how many times I forgot the new AV I just bought does not have the easy down assist :E: