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If you own a 13th generation Ford F-150 in a Lariat trim or higher, then you are blessed with the soft open of the tailgate due to it being outfitted with an OEM tailgate assist. Unfortunately if you own an XLT trim or lower trim like me, then you are met with a loud and sudden drop of the tailgate when you open it. If you prefer the soft opening of an assisted tailgate, then you have a couple of options: install a Ford OEM tailgate assist or install an aftermarket one.
The great thing about the Ford OEM dampener is that it is completely hidden as it is installed behind the passenger’s side factory tail light. It also opens the tailgate a bit slower than the aftermarket options out there. They cost somewhere around $50-$60. The alternative to OEM is aftermarket with DeeZee being one of the most popular brands available. The aftermarket shock installs in a visible location and is not hidden like the Ford OEM one. The aftermarket tailgate assist ends up costing around half the price of the OEM one too.
Since there were a high number of excellent reviews on the DeeZee tailgate assist, I decided to go this route. The install is fairly easy and doesn’t look bad. In hindsight, I probably would’ve mustered up another $20-$30 to go with the more seamless look of the Ford OEM version, but I’m still content with the performance of the DeeZee tailgate assist. Below is a tutorial on installing the DeeZee tailgate assist and some things to look out for when installing it on your 13th generation Ford F-150.
Tools & Materials
DeeZee Tailgate Assist (Part #DZ43204 for 2015-2020 Ford F-150)
The DeeZee tailgate assist comes with the shock, installation hardware, T-50 Torx wrench, and protection film.
Socket Wrench Set
A simple socket wrench set will do for this as you just need it to remove some 10mm bolts. If you don’t already have a set, here is a basic set that will get you started. If you need help picking a mechanics tool set, check out this article.
DEWALT Socket Set, 3/8-Inch Drive, SAE/Metric, 34-Piece
M5 Allen Wrench
If you don’t have one of these around, here is a popular set of allen wrenches:
TEKTON Hex Key Wrench Set, 30-Piece (.028-3/8 in., .7-10 mm)
Installation of DeeZee Tailgate Assist on a 13th Gen Ford F-150
