Best Tailgate Assist Struts for Pickup Trucks
A tailgate assist is worth adding if your pickup tailgate drops hard, your kids use the truck, you often open the tailgate with tools or groceries in one hand, or you plan to add a tailgate ladder or bed step. The best kits are vehicle-specific gas struts that slow the tailgate as it opens. Buy by exact year, make, model, bed/tailgate style, and factory cable setup, not by a generic “fits pickups” claim.
Key Takeaways
- A tailgate assist controls drop speed; it usually does not make a heavy tailgate feel weightless when lifting it closed.
- Fitment is everything. Multi-function tailgates, RamBox beds, older step-side beds, and aftermarket liners can change the answer.
- Most aftermarket kits install on one side and work with the factory support cables.
- Read the install PDF before buying if the kit uses a nutsert, threaded insert, or tight bracket near the tailgate pivot.
- Cold weather can slow gas struts, and cheap hardware can loosen if it is not installed cleanly.
- We compared current manufacturer/retailer fitment information, product data, install notes, and practical truck-owner use cases. We did not perform hands-on product testing.
Quick Picks
Start with your truck, then pick the kit that matches it. Tailgate-assist products are not interchangeable across brands and generations.
| Product | Best For | Practical Reason | Check Before Buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dee Zee DZ43301 | Ram 1500 and Ram HD owners in listed fitment years | Known vehicle-specific kit with one-strut design | Exact Ram generation, RamBox exclusions, nutsert install details |
| Dee Zee DZ43204 | Ford F-150 owners in listed fitment years | Common F-150 kit with no-drill style listings | Tailgate step, liner thickness, current fitment table |
| Dee Zee / direct-fit Chevy-GMC kits | Silverado and Sierra owners | Keeps the product choice close to the exact platform | 1500 vs HD, model year split, Multi-Flex tailgate exclusions |
| OEM accessory kit | Newer trucks still under warranty | Best match when factory integration matters | Dealer price, install requirements, warranty language |
| Budget aftermarket kit | Older work trucks | Cheap way to tame a heavy drop | Hardware quality, unclear instructions, fitment reviews |
If the truck already has a factory damped tailgate, spend your money somewhere else. If the tailgate is bent, the cables are frayed, or the hinges are worn, fix that first. A gas strut is not a repair for damaged tailgate hardware.
What Does a Tailgate Assist Actually Do?
A tailgate assist is a small gas strut or damper that controls the tailgate’s opening speed. When you pull the handle, the tailgate still pivots on its hinges and still hangs from the support cables. The strut slows that motion so the panel does not free-fall to the stops.
That matters more than it sounds. A full-size tailgate is wide, heavy, and awkward. If you open it while holding a toolbox, cooler, bag of mulch, or grocery bags, the tailgate can get away from you. Add a bolt-on ladder and the assembly may be heavier still. A damper turns the drop from a slap into a controlled swing.
The Physics of Damping: Hydraulic vs. Pneumatic Struts
A quality tailgate assist operates as a specialized hydraulic damper, not just a simple pneumatic spring:
- Pneumatic Behavior (Gas Spring): Standard pneumatic struts rely solely on pressurized nitrogen gas inside the cylinder to act as a spring. While they can support weight, gas is highly compressible. A pneumatic-only strut compressed by a heavy tailgate can store energy and expand rapidly, leading to a bouncy, uncontrolled drop.
- Hydraulic Deceleration (Oil Metering): Tailgate assists use a hybrid design combining high-pressure nitrogen gas (which handles the expansion force) and a chamber filled with hydraulic fluid (oil). Inside the cylinder, a piston head divides the oil chamber. The piston contains tiny metering orifices (valves).
- Velocity-Sensitive Resistance: As the tailgate opens and extends the strut, the piston is forced through the oil. Since oil is non-compressible, it must squeeze through the metering orifices. This creates hydraulic resistance that is directly proportional to the speed of the tailgate’s descent. In the last 20% of the tailgate’s travel, the internal valving is designed to restrict oil flow even further. This creates a cushion effect, decelerating the heavy panel smoothly just before it hits its full extension limit, protecting both the tailgate hinges and the support cables from high shock loads.
The physics are simple: the tailgate is a lever rotating around the hinge. The farther your hand, ladder, or cargo load is from the hinge, the more torque the hinge and cable system see. The strut does not eliminate that torque, but it adds controlled velocity-sensitive resistance during the opening motion.
Who Should Buy One?
This is a small accessory with a narrow job. It makes sense if that job annoys you weekly.
| Truck Use | Tailgate Assist Fit |
|---|---|
| Family truck where kids open the tailgate | Good idea, as long as the kit fits correctly |
| Work truck loaded with tools | Useful if the tailgate gets opened all day |
| Camping or hunting truck | Useful when your hands are full of coolers, bins, or boots |
| Truck with a tailgate ladder | Strongly worth considering because the ladder adds weight and movement |
| Factory damped tailgate | Usually skip it |
| Damaged tailgate, worn hinges, frayed cables | Repair first, then reassess |
The real moment is not the showroom demo. It is opening the tailgate with one hand while the other hand is holding something you do not want to drop. That is the use case.
Fitment Checks Before You Order
Tailgate assists look universal because the parts are small. They are not. Check these before clicking an Amazon listing:
| Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Year, make, model, and generation | Tailgate hinge geometry changes between generations |
| Bed and tailgate style | RamBox, step-side/flared-side beds, and multi-function tailgates can be excluded |
| Factory tailgate step or handle | Some brackets share the same space as factory hardware |
| Bed liner type | Thick drop-in liners can interfere with brackets or fasteners |
| Tonneau cover and bed rack | Usually not a direct conflict, but check the tailgate-side rail and latch area |
| Install method | Nutserts and threaded inserts require more care than simple bolt-on brackets |
Best Tailgate Assist Struts by Use Case
The products below are examples to compare, not universal fit guarantees. Recheck current fitment on the product page and manufacturer site before buying.
Best for Many Ram Trucks: Dee Zee DZ43301
Dee Zee DZ43301 Truck Tailgate Assist
- • Vehicle-specific tailgate drop assist
- • Common Ram 1500 and Ram HD application family
- • One assist typically used per vehicle
- • Recheck RamBox, generation, and current fitment before ordering
Best for: Ram owners whose exact truck appears in the current DZ43301 fitment list.
Dee Zee’s tailgate assist line is the safest first stop because the company has made truck accessories for decades and these kits are designed around specific tailgate geometry. Retailer listings for the DZ43301 commonly describe a one-strut kit that works with factory cables and mounts to the driver’s side.
The nutsert can be the fussy part of this kind of install. That does not mean the kit is bad. It means you should slow down, square the insert, and follow the instructions instead of attacking it like a normal bolt.
Skip it if your truck has an excluded tailgate style, if you already have factory dampening, or if you are not comfortable installing a nutsert cleanly.
Best for Many Ford F-150 Setups: Dee Zee DZ43204
Dee Zee DZ43204 Tailgate Assist Shock
- • Common Ford F-150 tailgate assist application
- • Designed to control tailgate drop rate
- • Usually works with factory cables
- • Verify model-year fitment and tailgate-step compatibility
Best for: F-150 owners who want a known aftermarket damper and whose truck appears in the current fitment table.
The DZ43204 is a common Ford application. Current retailer pages commonly describe it as a driver-side, vehicle-specific hydraulic assist, and etrailer’s listing for the part includes a large body of fitment Q&A and installation information. That kind of public fitment record is helpful when you are trying to avoid mystery-brand surprises.
Older install notes mention using normal hand tools and paying attention to the bracket joint. That remains good advice. Any tailgate accessory living near the hinge sees vibration, weather, grit, and water.
Skip it if your truck has a specialty tailgate or if the listing does not match your exact year and body style.
Best Budget Fitment Check for Older F-150s: Winunite-Style F-150 Assist
Winunite Tailgate Assist for Ford F-150
- • Budget F-150 tailgate assist example
- • Intended for specific older F-150 applications
- • Useful when the truck lacks factory dampening
- • Confirm style-side versus step-side compatibility
Best for: Older F-150 owners comparing lower-cost kits for a style-side truck.
Pay attention to older F-150 body styles: some kits fit style-side beds and exclude flare-side or step-side layouts. That warning is the kind of thing that saves a return. The strut length and bracket angle are chosen around a specific bed wall and tailgate path.
Budget kits can work fine, but this is where I care less about a polished product title and more about current reviews mentioning the same truck generation you own. Check for reports about brackets, Torx tools, unclear directions, and winter speed.
Skip it if instructions are vague or if the listing piles too many model years into one sentence without a real fitment table.
Chevy/GMC Starting Point: Verify the Exact Direct-Fit Kit
Best for: Silverado and Sierra owners who want a simple damped-tailgate upgrade on an older truck.
Chevy and GMC fitment needs extra care because model-year splits, HD trucks, and newer Multi-Flex/MultiPro-style tailgates can change the answer. A direct-fit kit can be a good value on a conventional tailgate. It is the wrong place to guess on a specialty tailgate.
I am not listing a Chevy/GMC Amazon pick here until the current product data is cleaner. One Silverado/Sierra shock strut listing we checked did not return a valid image through Amazon’s product-image verification. Treat that as a listing-health warning, not as proof that every Chevy/GMC kit is bad.
Skip any kit if your truck has a multi-function tailgate, if the product title does not match the exact generation, or if current reviews mention bracket interference.
Installation Notes That Matter
Most kits are simple in outline: mount a bracket near the tailgate pivot, attach the strut, cycle the tailgate, and verify clearance. The details decide whether the install feels professional.
Before you start:
- Read the instructions before loosening anything.
- Protect painted edges with tape while test-fitting brackets.
- Look for wiring, latch rods, camera wiring, and liner thickness behind the mounting point.
- Use thread locker only where the instructions call for it.
- Cycle the tailgate slowly by hand before trusting the strut.
- Recheck fasteners after a week of normal use.
Nutserts deserve patience. A threaded insert that spins in the hole can turn a 30-minute job into an irritating repair. Keep the tool straight, count turns if the instructions call for it, and do not overtighten just because the part is small.
Cold Weather and Strut Behavior
Gas struts can slow down in cold weather. That is normal physics, not automatically a failure. Gas pressure and seal behavior change with temperature, so a tailgate that glides nicely in July may move more slowly in January.
What is not normal is binding, popping loose, leaking oil, or letting the tailgate slam after the kit was working properly. If that happens, inspect the mounting points and confirm the strut is not damaged.
Tailgate Assist With Ladders, Tonneau Covers, and Bed Tents
A tailgate assist pairs well with bed-access gear. If you add a ladder to the tailgate, the tailgate may feel heavier and more awkward when opened one-handed. A damper helps control that first drop.
It is also useful with camping gear. If you use a truck bed tent, the tailgate often becomes the doorway, bench, boot-changing spot, and gear-staging area. A controlled tailgate is nicer than one that bangs open while you are holding poles and a duffel.
For covers, the assist usually lives low near the hinge while a tonneau cover lives near the bed rails. They often coexist, but still check the install diagrams. If you are deciding on a cover style, read tri-fold vs roll-up tonneau covers before assuming every cover leaves the same tailgate clearance.
Common Mistakes
Buying by Badge Only
“Fits Ram” or “fits F-150” is not enough. Match the part number to the exact truck.
Ignoring Specialty Tailgates
Multi-function tailgates are useful, but they complicate bolt-on accessories. Treat them as their own fitment category.
Expecting Lift Assist
Most tailgate assists slow the drop. They do not necessarily help you lift the tailgate closed.
Rushing the Nutsert
If the kit uses a nutsert or threaded insert, that is the step to do carefully.
Forgetting to Recheck Hardware
Tailgates vibrate, slam, flex, and collect water. Recheck the install after a few drives.
FAQ
Are tailgate assists worth it?
Yes, if your tailgate drops hard, gets used often, or is opened by kids or shorter drivers. Skip it if the truck already has a factory damped tailgate.
Does a tailgate assist help lift the tailgate?
Usually no. Most aftermarket kits are dampers that slow the tailgate as it opens. They are not power lift systems.
Can I install a tailgate assist myself?
Usually, yes, if the kit fits your truck and you are comfortable with basic hand tools. Read the instructions first, especially if the kit uses a nutsert.
Will a tailgate assist work with a tailgate ladder?
Often, yes, and it can be helpful because a ladder adds weight to the tailgate. Confirm both products can share the same tailgate space.
Why is my tailgate assist slow in winter?
Gas struts can move more slowly in cold temperatures. Binding, leaking, or suddenly slamming is different and should be inspected.
Related Truck Bed Guides
- Tailgate ladders and truck bed steps
- Truck bed tents for pickup camping
- Tri-fold vs roll-up tonneau covers
- How much weight to add to a truck bed
Sources Checked
- Dee Zee tailgate assist catalog PDF
- Dee Zee DZ43204 at etrailer
- Dee Zee DZ43204 at CARiD
- Dee Zee DZ43301 installation instructions
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Off-road enthusiast and degreed mechanical engineer for over 15 years. Dedicated to helping you power up your rig for the ultimate adventure.