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Tailgate Lift

Holey76 - Square Nut

Holey76 - Square Nut

1/2 ton status
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Western Colorado
Hi all.
Have any of you replaced the tensioning rod on your (lead filled ) tailgate ? And if so, did it help much with the weight ?
Or maybe there's aftermarket acced. To assist lifting ? I haven't found any.
 
regal403 said:
I wonder if these struts for a C10 could work with a little finagling. It might make it easier to lower, but I doubt it would help with closing the gate at all. Might make it harder in some way.

Click to expand...
Those might be a viable option. I'll check the surface areas of trucks vs blazers, to see if one can "engineer" those to work. Next Q: have any of you used them ? I do have these on my blazer hood, to delete the springs, and they work pretty well.
 
Here's a thread on the same topic from 3 years ago. Lots of ideas tossed around, but nothing seems to have popped up as a simple, go-to solution for what you're trying to do.

Tailgate torsion bar needed

my 79 K5 needs a left tailgate torsion bar or (whatever it's called) helper spring. Can't seem to find one for sale anywhere...
ck5.com ck5.com


Might be a business opportunity for someone creative in the community.
 
I'm really surprised nobody has engineered a lift system.
Maybe the way to do this is to use spring steel rod, anneal, bend, heat treat ?? Anyone familiar with creating spring steel rods ?
 
Theoretically you could copy the original torsion bar design, but go up a step in diameter. Also theoretical, the bar could be bent further to add preload. At some point, installation would become very hard.
 
Blue85 said:
Theoretically you could copy the original torsion bar design, but go up a step in diameter. Also theoretical, the bar could be bent further to add preload. At some point, installation would become very hard.
Click to expand...
It is hard as it is stock.
I can't imagine a thicker bar and with a preload.
 
It seems like a mechanism with a bolt could hold the torsion bar hook, so that once it's installed, you crank the bolt until you get the level of assist you need. Would the rods break? :dunno:.

Maybe add springs to the hinges?

You think those little torsion rods are ineffective until you take them off.
 
Blue85 said:
It seems like a mechanism with a bolt could hold the torsion bar hook, so that once it's installed, you crank the bolt until you get the level of assist you need. Would the rods break? :dunno:.

Maybe add springs to the hinges?

You think those little torsion rods are ineffective until you take them off.
Click to expand...
When i lift my blazer tailgate, i feels like I'm lifting around 40 lbs, and i know i have one torsion bar for sure. Can't recall if i have both in place. I don't think? Springs on the hinge would be enuff, but i sure could be wrong.
 
Holey76 said:
When i lift my blazer tailgate, i feels like I'm lifting around 40 lbs, and i know i have one torsion bar for sure. Can't recall if i have both in place. I don't think? Springs on the hinge would be enuff, but i sure could be wrong.
Click to expand...
The torsion bars are on the hinges.

When I had a k5, my torsion bars broke, then my glass broke, I put plexiglass in but the gate was really heavy.
I was ok I was in my late 30s.
Eventually I gutted the gate and just wedged the plexiglass in the top and put a screw in to keep it from dropping, it became easier to lift.
 
Holey76 said:
When i lift my blazer tailgate, i feels like I'm lifting around 40 lbs, and i know i have one torsion bar for sure. Can't recall if i have both in place. I don't think? Springs on the hinge would be enuff, but i sure could be wrong.
Click to expand...
If you're missing one, that's definitely the problem.

imiceman44 said:
The torsion bars are on the hinges.
Click to expand...
Not exactly. The hinges have a simple pin in them:
1739974410676.png

The torsion bar is a separate piece that bolts to the tailgate with it's own bracket and hooks to this shoulder bolt on the frame.

1739974907776.png

It's possible you could add an aftermarket torsion bar like this:

1739975532683.png

https://www.etrailer.com/5th-Wheel-Tailgate/Hopkins/74211.html
 
Blue85 said:
If you're missing one, that's definitely the problem.


Not exactly. The hinges have a simple pin in them:
View attachment 497665

The torsion bar is a separate piece that bolts to the tailgate with it's own bracket and hooks to this shoulder bolt on the frame.

View attachment 497666

It's possible you could add an aftermarket torsion bar like this:

View attachment 497667

https://www.etrailer.com/5th-Wheel-Tailgate/Hopkins/74211.html
Click to expand...
You are taking me literally, I meant they are at the hinge area, centered around the hinge, in the same axis, not remotely like a hydraulic cylinder.
 
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