Is there a Tailgate Lift Support Kit for 2003 Ranger ?

[saxtech]

I can't seem to find a Tailgate Lift Support Kit (with gas spring and brackets) for a 2003 Ranger Tailgate to lower the tailgate gently without holding on to it.
Is there a kit made for our Rangers ?
If you know of one, please provide link or please private message me with link or required parts and part numbers to make a DIY kit myself.

Thanks
Gary

 

[97RangerXLT]

Not sure if I have seen such an animal for the Ranger... the good news is that if there is one, it will likely fit all years of the Ranger except for the new one.

If you are handy with fabricating, you might get away with ordering one for an older F150 and adapting it to your Ranger.

AJ

 

[sgtsandman]

I don’t recall ever seeing anything like that for anything earlier than a 2019. The concept is a very new thing

 

[saxtech]

Actually, I installed a lift support kit on my 2013 Frontier tailgate which works incredibly well.. I bought it on Amazon complete with brackets and gas spring and instructions.

The trick is to get the correct gas spring with correct overall length and the correct travel length with proper spring strength. Unless one has several different gas spring configurations laying around to experiment with, I have no idea which one to order.

I'm amazed that with all of the lift support kits out there, no one has made one for our Rangers (yet) unless I just can't find it.

If anyone's done this very helpful mod, please send pics and part numbers.

Gary

 

[97RangerXLT]

I would imagine that the support kit for your Frontier would probably work with some minor mods... see if you can contact the manufacturer of the kit and ask what the specs on the spring are. you can weigh the tailgate of your Frontier and then the one on the Ranger and look for a spring with same length and a rate to handle the tailgate weight of the Ranger. Amazon might be helpful there again, and you might be able to return the ones that don't work out as well.

And if you do get it to work out, create a write up, sounds like a cool project.

AJ

 

[97RangerXLT]

is this what youare talking about?

Hopkins EasyLift Truck Bed Tailgate Lift Assist Hopkins Tailgate 74211

Install this torsion bar between your truck bed and tailgate to make it easy for you to raise and lower the tailgate on your truck. The EasyLift ensur

www.etrailer.com

 

[saxtech]

is this what youare talking about?

Hopkins EasyLift Truck Bed Tailgate Lift Assist Hopkins Tailgate 74211

Install this torsion bar between your truck bed and tailgate to make it easy for you to raise and lower the tailgate on your truck. The EasyLift ensur

www.etrailer.com

No, it's more like this one below that I'm looking for, except for a 2003 Ranger:

Amazon.com: Sachs SG325900EZ Lift Support: Automotive

Buy Sachs SG325900EZ Lift Support: Lift Supports & Struts - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[8thTon]

I don't understand what is the purpose of the thing?

 

[Dirtman]

Me neither, I've seen them before but wouldn't they just make shutting the tailgate harder? Is a ranger tailgate really that heavy anyway? Not mocking anyone, just dont get the point?

 

[saxtech]

These lift supports are actually a very good idea and are very useful (I have one on my 2013 Frontier). I'm sure all of us have had our hands full at times or in an awkward position when we opened the tailgate and it just "fell hard" - What an uncomfortable feeling that leaves me with. Well these lift supports allow you to just touch the tailgate latch once to unlatch it and let it fall. It will gently and slowly, lower itself to the end of the cable. No the tailgates are not really heavy on a Ranger, but they can be awkward to gently lower it when your hands are occupied or slippery. Especially if you have a disability (which I don't have). A lot of new trucks are now equipped with this kind of support system from the factory assembly line, to gently lower the tailgate with no hands.

With my Frontier tailgate lift support, I simply flip the latch upwards and let go of the tailgate. The tailgate lowers itself slowly and gently with me not having to touch it again after pulling the latch. Without the lift support kit, I had to lower the tailgate slowly with both hands. No, these lift supports do not make it more difficult to raise the tailgate back up at all. None at all !

For the price that most of these kits cost (under $40.00) they are one of the best mods I have done on my Frontier and a very useful mod. I just can't find a kit available for my Ranger which is hard to believe !

With the millions of rangers out there, Maybe this would be a good project for you entrepreneurs looking for a new invention or business venture.

I'm willing to piece this together if any of you have done this and have pics and part numbers to accomplish this.

 

[Dirtman]

Ahhhh now I understand. I thought they helped pick the tailgate up not let it down smooth... I could see where that would come in handy.

 

[Snoranger]

Ahhhh now I understand. I thought they helped pick the tailgate up not let it down smooth... I could see where that would come in handy.

It was a nice feature on my '15 F150... I could open the tailgate with a button in the cab or from the remote. It seemed kinda useless when I was standing there though.

 

[RonD]

Think trunk lid or hood, gas assist shock, it just equalizes the weight of a heavy truck lid or hood

Does the same for a tail gate

No, no one every made these for a 1983-2011 Ranger

But do this:
find the shipping weight of your years tail gate, just look online for a new one
Then find these gas assist units for other pick ups and their tailgate shipping weight, if you find one thats close it will work, if it weighs a bit more thats fine, you can always add a few pounds to Ranger tailgate, inside, if its an issue, which it shouldn't be

The geometry is the same, all tail gates open 90deg.
Then follow the instructions for mounting points