Cheapest upgrade - tailgate assist

jaws8817 · 01-31-2012, 07:00 AM

My Titan S didn't come with the tail gate assist. That's something the stealership gets you to pay thousands extra for the next model.

For Christmas, my wife got me a $20 part that is the coolest thing. (a Nissan part, btw, she got it from the dealer)It's just a little shock that goes inside the passenger side tail light compartment. The truck is already 'plumbed' for it too, there are two ball joints or knuckles and the shock just snaps right on. It literally took all of 3 minutes to unscrew the tail light and pop it on. Then I spent ten minutes in the driveway playing with it.

**beason** · 01-31-2012, 08:07 AM

I love my tailgate assist. Its nice to not have to catch the tailgate every time. Sucks though when you go to open someone elses and just let it drop because you are used to yours.. lol

Radtitan · 01-31-2012, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaws8817

My Titan S didn't come with the tail gate assist. That's something the stealership gets you to pay thousands extra for the next model.

For Christmas, my wife got me a $20 part that is the coolest thing. (a Nissan part, btw, she got it from the dealer)It's just a little shock that goes inside the passenger side tail light compartment. The truck is already 'plumbed' for it too, there are two ball joints or knuckles and the shock just snaps right on. It literally took all of 3 minutes to unscrew the tail light and pop it on. Then I spent ten minutes in the driveway playing with it.

Anyone have a link to this? I have an 04 that didn't have anything originally. I added a Happy Tailgate assist and it works OK but the tailgate still drops pretty fast.

hokie2334 · 01-31-2012, 09:11 AM

subscribed!

dnfab1 · 01-31-2012, 09:32 AM

Funny Story:

I was unloading something from my brother-in-laws Dodge 2500, not thinking and dropped the tailgate. I realized very quickly that his truck didn't have the tailgate assist when the 200lbs gate reached max length and about pulled through the cables. It sounded like it hit the driveway. $h1t, he was not happy.

Bro: "Hey, my truck doesn't have those fancy tailgate shocks like your little Japanese Truck."
Me: "I guess you need a better truck. Woop!"

It's the best having the tailgate assist. Oh, btw he went out and bought an after market version as well...hehe.

nismotitan08 · 01-31-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beason

I love my tailgate assist. Its nice to not have to catch the tailgate every time. Sucks though when you go to open someone elses and just let it drop because you are used to yours.. lol

You have no idea how many times that has happened to me. At work when I open someone else's tailgate and accidentally let it slam they look at me like WTF! Then I have to explain and show them how mine operates, then they are impressed and how ask how much, and where did you get that? haha I just tell them "you shoulda bought a Nissan"

nisracer · 01-31-2012, 04:06 PM

Lol, @ shoulda bought a Nissan! I've literally said that word for word to a gmc owner, haha!

**beason** · 01-31-2012, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnfab1

Funny Story:

I was unloading something from my brother-in-laws Dodge 2500, not thinking and dropped the tailgate. I realized very quickly that his truck didn't have the tailgate assist when the 200lbs gate reached max length and about pulled through the cables. It sounded like it hit the driveway. $h1t, he was not happy.

Bro: "Hey, my truck doesn't have those fancy tailgate shocks like your little Japanese Truck."
Me: "I guess you need a better truck. Woop!"

It's the best having the tailgate assist. Oh, btw he went out and bought an after market version as well...hehe.

did that!!

**beason** · 01-31-2012, 04:49 PM

My tailgate assist saved a little girl from serious injury over xmas break.

I was backed in at my grandparents place. We were all outside chatting and stuff. My cousins daughter was being the little 4yr old heathen she is, and was jumping back and forth from my hitch step to a concrete curb thing. I kept telling her to stop, and that she was going to get hurt, but her mom kept letting her go at it.

She jumped short and was falling backward. She reached out and grabbed the tailgate handle. On a normal truck the tailgate would have opened, and pile drove her into the concrete driveway. My tailgate, opened slowly, and gently sat her on her butt on the curb. She just looked at me, like she had seen her life flash before her eyes. She thought it was OVER when that tailgate came open.

jaws8817 · 01-31-2012, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radtitan

Anyone have a link to this? I have an 04 that didn't have anything originally. I added a Happy Tailgate assist and it works OK but the tailgate still drops pretty fast.

I can probably look up the part number for you. That's what they did at the dealership to find it. Took a tail light off of an S and an SV and compared them. Pull yours off and see if it has the upper and lower balls that will accept the shock to be sure.

VK56DEHAN · 01-31-2012, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beason

I love my tailgate assist. Its nice to not have to catch the tailgate every time. Sucks though when you go to open someone elses and just let it drop because you are used to yours.. lol

lol...I just did that earlier today to my buddies f150. I felt like an idiot.

sumair · 02-20-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beason

I love my tailgate assist. Its nice to not have to catch the tailgate every time. Sucks though when you go to open someone elses and just let it drop because you are used to yours.. lol

lol i had a escalade ext that i used as a back up. i got so use to driving my titan around and everytime i would switch over....id drop the tail gate...WHAMM!! id cringe everytime.

Cmon cadillac you can put tail gate assists on ur trucks.

You guys, know whats the part number on it? my tail gate assist mechanism thingy is starting to show some age.

jaws8817 · 02-21-2012, 07:25 AM

Look at part number 19 on the diagram on this link. It's called the 'Strut Rod'. 2011 NISSAN TITAN Parts - Genuine Nissan Parts - Factory Nissan Parts - OEM Nissan Parts - Cheap Nissan Parts

renlo · 02-21-2012, 03:29 PM

Can anyone with the tailgate assist take a picture to see whats involved in doing this, i called the dealer and they wanted to sell me a bracket to go with the shock and they were also saying I might have to modify the tailgate. Of course I wont believe them until I see it for myself. I have an XE if it helps

hokie2334 · 02-22-2012, 05:52 AM

Can this be done on an '04 LE?