Tailgate assist broke today

UnsatFC · Apr 17, 2017

Broyd said:
In what way is it broken? Is it still possible to thread the original cap screw you used to do the installation back into the nutsert? If so, one fellow posted that after threading the capscrew back into the nutsert, he used a hammer, tapping on the head of the capscrew to collapse the legs of the nutsert, which then allowed him to pull the nutsert back out of the hole in the tailgate. Other than this, I think you would have to carefully grind the lip of of the nutsert and push it into the tailgate. You could then recover it through the access port on the tailgate.

It is smashed, I know it's a little hard to see in the picture but the treads are no longer in a circle it's more of an oval now.

Ferro · Apr 17, 2017

I must be extremely lucky I've had mine on for two years never an issue at all.

jljbtm · Apr 18, 2017

You don't drill any holes, packaging says it only fits the driverside

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SitKneelBend · Apr 18, 2017

Markcuda said:
I am going to get this one from Geno's Garage, a little exspensive but, looks better than the Dee-Zee ones.

That looks far more susceptible to damage than the deezee...

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SitKneelBend · Apr 18, 2017

UnsatFC said:
It is smashed, I know it's a little hard to see in the picture but the treads are no longer in a circle it's more of an oval now.

It's $13 shipped for the nutsert kit. I replaced my father-in-laws when he had his tailgate replaced.

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Broyd · Apr 19, 2017

Going back to your original post and pictures ...

Was the ball nut unscrewed when you noticed your DZ broken ( like the photo shows )?

There is a small dark mark on the side of the truck. Does that mark line up with the end of the DZ that is broken.

The clip that holds the DZ socket to the ball is missing.

Question: if the ball had backed out of the nutsert, when you closed the tailgate at some time, did this pinch the socket end of the DZ popping off the clip?

That clip on mine is on there quite tightly. Whatever popped the clip off on yours must have caught it pretty good. That mark suggests that the ball had become unscrewed and the clip got pinched and popped off when the tailgate was closed.

9th · Apr 19, 2017

Mine still working like new.
....ramforum.com/1258573-post29

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68PowerWagon · Apr 19, 2017

I am not sure why anybody needs this mod to begin with? :hmm:

This is the lightest tailgate I have ever had on a truck! Almost half the weight of any Dakota that I owned. Which makes me kind of worried the tailgate my crap out on me after 3 or 4 years! :uhoh2:

DRkNESS · Apr 19, 2017

I don't how much a tailgate on a 2500 weighs, but as a person who has a wife she finds it much easier not to get slammed by a free falling tailgate. In fact a lot of the other brand trucks have tail gate assist from the factory. We don't always install things that suit everyone's needs, we do it because it suits ours.

SitKneelBend · Jun 10, 2019

sub'd

SitKneelBend · Jun 10, 2019

Ok, how does one get the nut out from the inside? Mine broke off, I have heard it mentioned that's it's not as difficult as it sounds to access the back side but I have no clue on how one could thread a bolt through from the inside...any advice?

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rwhjr · Jun 11, 2019

Mine broke on my ‘17 before I used it for 1yr. Also scratched the tailgate (can only see when tailgate is open). Won’t be buying another after that. I think the clip that holds the shock onto the little ball failed.

WTM75 · Jun 11, 2019

I love the tailgate assist but my nut insert keeps coming loose. I’ve tightened it twice and it is coming loose again. I’ve had it installed just a year now.

Any suggestions on how to keep it from coming loose? I did follow the instructions, exactly, when I first installed it.

buddy guy · Jun 11, 2019

WTM75 said:
I love the tailgate assist but my nut insert keeps coming loose. I’ve tightened it twice and it is coming loose again. I’ve had it installed just a year now.

Any suggestions on how to keep it from coming loose? I did follow the instructions, exactly, when I first installed it.

I'm installing my first one today but I saw one on the wknd and how the rivnut gets loose. i have some clear waterproof ge silicon around that flows a bit but cures to a hard surface. I'm thinking I might put some of that on after I install the rivnut. I wonder how many of these are failing because of the rivnut moving around.

WTM75 · Jun 11, 2019

I was thinking about call Dee Zee and seeing if they had a fix. If not, I may try to get the rivnut out and use a regular nut from the inside.

buddy guy · Jun 11, 2019

you know they must have had another reports of this issue that they would try to come up with an alternate system. i can see someone suggesting the inside nut idea and the freakout that followed contemplating sales plummeting without the plug and play concept of the rivnut! I "think" the struts on my tacoma hood system were deezee but they used 2 rivets to hold the bottom mounts on. yes i had to buy a riveter but in 8 years of operation never had a failure.

what they should have done with the rivnuts was somehow given it teeth so it could dig into the surrounding surface?

HM_SanDiego · Jun 11, 2019

I had one of these assists on my last truck for 5+ years, and one on the truck before that for 5+ years, with no issues - no loosening of the rivnut, no binding, just a perfect slow opening....

To the OP - sounds like you might have been the cause of the failure, and you owned that, but, I would still call dee zee and nicely ask them for a replacement due to the odd failure (play dumb on the how).

Worst case, order a new kit for $25.00

The instructions and the good YouTube videos really provide great guidance - take the time when installing the rivnut and all is good.

I do get the point that getting the old rivnut out might be a bit tough, but serval guys have offered tips to help.

Good luck!

buddy guy · Jun 11, 2019

For anyone with the confusion that I had about deezee having good customer service/bad customer service, when I picked mine up at 4wheelparts he said one thing that they have seen consistently is that canadians are asked to pursue replacement via the store they got it from. he said they usually get an email from deezee to bring to the canadian place of purchase. i understand it to have to do with the shipping to canada. they would want to put it in with an order for more stuff. so replacement part will take longer for us. and he said that scenario applies as well to some americans depending on your location.

hope that explains the inconsistency.

buddy guy · Jun 11, 2019

As I prep mine to install a few thoughts come to mind:

I wonder how many people have a torque wrench...with a a set of socket end allen wrenches. My guess is most people don't have the combo you need to do the 8lb per square inch on the rivnut specified. These suckers are pretty specific based on my first experience with rivnuts on my step bars. I tried to do the lazy way on it where you feel it seated and think it's tight, no torque wrench as it was a cold day in February here. But i could "feel" it tighten as they are supposed to and see the plate was flush and damn, it felt pretty tight. A few days later its warmer so my OCD brain says better check them. Every one pretty tight with a wrench, but not even close to torqued to spec. I know I was worried about breaking a bolt when I did it. should have did it right the first time.

it doesn't appear to matter because instructions says nothing, but the hole that the rivnut is supposed to go into is a good size slot..not a hole. could placement of the rivnut in that slot make a difference in the angle that causes stress on the components, thinking specifically about the ball here. Possible I guess?

Just a few thoughts. I believe most people follow the instructions to the best of their abilities, but there's a couple of points of possible problems. I also think they should make the plates with the balls stainless, but..as things usually go, not cost effective I guess.

SitKneelBend · Jun 11, 2019

buddy guy said:
As I prep mine to install a few thoughts come to mind:

I wonder how many people have a torque wrench...with a a set of socket end allen wrenches. My guess is most people don't have the combo you need to do the 8lb per square inch on the rivnut specified. These suckers are pretty specific based on my first experience with rivnuts on my step bars. I tried to do the lazy way on it where you feel it seated and think it's tight, no torque wrench as it was a cold day in February here. But i could "feel" it tighten as they are supposed to and see the plate was flush and damn, it felt pretty tight. A few days later its warmer so my OCD brain says better check them. Every one pretty tight with a wrench, but not even close to torqued to spec. I know I was worried about breaking a bolt when I did it. should have did it right the first time.

it doesn't appear to matter because instructions says nothing, but the hole that the rivnut is supposed to go into is a good size slot..not a hole. could placement of the rivnut in that slot make a difference in the angle that causes stress on the components, thinking specifically about the ball here. Possible I guess?

Just a few thoughts. I believe most people follow the instructions to the best of their abilities, but there's a couple of points of possible problems. I also think they should make the plates with the balls stainless, but..as things usually go, not cost effective I guess.

I think you are spot on with regards to stress on the ball. Here's what happened to mine...

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Tailgate assist broke today

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