With aftermarket rear bumper the factory torsion bar helper is a no go generally. I've just been dealing with the weight, but has anyone come up with a clever solution?
CK5
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Tailgate assist
- Thread starter Mastiff
- Start date
A few years ago I was on a mission to create a gas spring assist setup. It can be done. My problem was no companies with similar setups would offer any help, not even a 60 second phone call or return email. You basically need to buy a bunch of gas struts and do some tests. I didn't have the money to throw away on boxes of struts that didn’t work for this application. Who knows maybe you'll get it right the first time or two. Gasspringshop.com has a calculator to help you select one for your project. I can't remember why, or if it didn't help me. Good luck.
I used the torsion springs with my from-scratch rear bumper, just like with the stock bumper. You just have to use the shoulder bolts to mount it in those same two locations. What on yours is in the way?
It's been decades since my first bumper change and I've been through several. I can't even remember how the torsion bar attaches. Is it through the frame? Early on I chopped the ends off so a flat back bumper could be attached. This one now is hollow from the back so maybe some options open up. Of course my torsion bar is long gone too...
Here's some pictures I found. Basically these shoulder bolts that look kind of like the door striker bolts go on the outside of each frame rail and the hooks of the torsion bars go under them. IIRC, you can install the bolts after the gate is installed, by doing it with the tailgate up.
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I'll have to go searching for the torsion bar. Are there two or just one?
I can tell you what won't work: the torsion spring from a liftgate box truck. Too stiff. You could maybe make one of these work.....https://trisontarps.com/product/roll-rite-47230-spiral-torsion-spring/
There are two bars. They are mirror images of each other, held down by brackets at the base of the tailgate. My memory is a little fuzzy (and I haven't run the Blazer gate for some time), but I remember the shoulder bolts being offset by 1/4" or whatever the thickness of the bumper mount bracket is. This made them want to ride towards the inside of the shoulder, but it never caused any issue.
Best picture I could find from way back in my build. The upper right bolt would be the factory shouldered bolt for the spring to hook on. It's just not installed in this pic.
I wonder if the suburban spring is the same.
I know the tailgate isn't but the spring might be
