darylpendley
Newbie
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
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Tailgate torsion bar needed
- Thread starter darylpendley
- Start date
They're very hard to find. I've been trying to find a spring shop to make them. Unfortunately none of them can do it. When I get time I'm gonna try and make a set.
Good luck finding some.
Good luck finding some.
rampage
3/4 ton status
You could new school it and try to find some lift struts to help lift the gate. Something like this:
https://www.arb.com.au/ute-lids-tub-accessories/tailgate-assist/
Or here’s another one.
https://www.grunt4x4.com.au/collections/tailgate-strut-systems
They’re out there, just need to do some research to find something that fits and will take the weight.
https://www.arb.com.au/ute-lids-tub-accessories/tailgate-assist/
Or here’s another one.
https://www.grunt4x4.com.au/collections/tailgate-strut-systems
They’re out there, just need to do some research to find something that fits and will take the weight.
I never knew they had an aftermarket up and down system. My pickup has the down strut but I'll have to check if there is enough room on the side of a Blazer tailgate.
This might be the best option.
This might be the best option.
Interested to see if this works.
Please post it if you’re able to make the lift work
I certainly will. No luck from the 2 companies listed above. Now I'm trying to start from scratch with a gas shock manufacturer.
rampage
3/4 ton status
I didn’t think those companies would have what was needed, I just listed them as examples. What you’re looking for is called a traction gas strut. Grainger has a bunch of them but all the ones I looked at were just over an inch in diameter and I doubt they’d fit between the gate and quarter panel support post.
Might have to get creative if you can’t find something that’ll fit. What you could do is mount the strut horizontally under the bed rail and run a cable through the bed post using a sheave/pulley and attach the cable somewhere to the side of the gate.
You’ll need to figure out the weight it needs to pull in order to find the correct strut. If you’re using one on each side then each one would be half the needed pull weight. To figure out the needed pull weight you could stand on a scale, note your weight and then look at the scale to see how much more weight is added to the scale when you lift it. Just an idea.
Might have to get creative if you can’t find something that’ll fit. What you could do is mount the strut horizontally under the bed rail and run a cable through the bed post using a sheave/pulley and attach the cable somewhere to the side of the gate.
You’ll need to figure out the weight it needs to pull in order to find the correct strut. If you’re using one on each side then each one would be half the needed pull weight. To figure out the needed pull weight you could stand on a scale, note your weight and then look at the scale to see how much more weight is added to the scale when you lift it. Just an idea.
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Yea I figured that they would only have kits for newer trucks. I was surprised to see that they have up and down assist. I didn't know that was available for aftermarket applications. I was hoping that they could sell me the struts or brackets if I gave them dimensions and the weight of the tailgate. Thanks for the info. I'm very slowly moving in the right direction.
