7 Best Truck Tailgate Assist Kits For Easy Loading Of Heavy Harvests

Loading a truck bed with heavy crates of root vegetables or bags of feed shouldn’t involve fighting a heavy, slamming tailgate. A quality tailgate assist kit turns a cumbersome, gravity-fed drop into a smooth, controlled motion that saves both fingers and hardware. These kits transform the daily grind of harvest season by providing reliable, hands-free operation when hands are already full.

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Dee Zee Tailgate Assist: The Best Overall Choice

The Dee Zee system stands as the industry benchmark for consistent performance and ease of installation. Its design utilizes a single-strut setup that mounts easily to existing factory hardware, providing a smooth descent every time the gate is released. Because the kit is engineered specifically for vehicle-specific fitment, it maintains a clean, factory-like aesthetic under the bed rail.

For the hobby farmer who wants a “set it and forget it” solution, this is the definitive choice. It handles the daily cycle of opening and closing with impressive durability, rarely showing signs of seal fatigue even during dusty harvest months. If reliability and simple installation rank as the top priorities, skip the secondary options and equip the truck with this kit.

Stabilus EZDown: Top Pick for Heavy-Duty Use

Stabilus is a long-standing name in the world of gas spring technology, and their EZDown kit reflects that engineering pedigree. These struts are built to handle the constant, repetitive stress of heavy-duty usage without losing the damping force required to lower a tailgate softly. When the truck bed is frequently loaded with heavy timber or wet, soil-laden crates, the extra robust seals in this kit provide a noticeable advantage.

Expect a slightly stiffer resistance when raising the tailgate compared to standard dampers, as these are tuned for high-load capacity. This minor tradeoff is well worth it for the peace of mind that the strut won’t blow a seal mid-season. For those running older trucks that see serious work, this is the most capable option available.

Sachs EZ Down: The Best Value for Your Money

Sachs delivers a high-quality damping experience without the premium price tag associated with more aggressively marketed brands. The internal valving allows for a consistent, dampened drop speed, effectively preventing the jarring slam that can damage tailgate latches over time. While it lacks some of the heavy-duty reinforcements found in more expensive kits, it performs perfectly for the light-to-moderate work typical of most hobby farms.

Investing in this kit makes sense for the farmer looking to upgrade multiple vehicles or keep overhead costs low. It provides the essential function of controlled descent without unnecessary extras. When budget-conscious efficiency is the goal, the Sachs kit provides the best balance of performance and price.

Go OPE Ram Tailgate Assist: Built for Dodge

Dodge trucks present unique challenges for aftermarket upgrades due to their specific cable and latch geometries. The Go OPE Ram kit is tailored precisely to these requirements, ensuring that the mounting points align perfectly with factory holes. It avoids the common issue of binding or misalignment that often plagues universal-fit kits when installed on Ram platforms.

This kit is the only choice for a Ram owner who values precision over generic compatibility. It operates with a predictable smoothness that matches the heavy-duty nature of Dodge tailgates. Choosing this model eliminates the trial-and-error often associated with fitting universal parts onto specific truck models.

Lift Supports Depot: The Specialist’s Choice

When standard kits won’t fit because of custom truck beds or specific modifications, Lift Supports Depot is the go-to source. They focus on the nuance of gas spring pressure and stroke length, offering options that can be tuned to the specific weight of a tailgate. This is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution, but rather a surgical approach to hardware upgrades.

This kit is ideal for the farmer who has customized their truck or deals with unusual weight distributions. Their technical support is focused on ensuring the hardware actually works, rather than just selling units. For those who need a custom-fit solution for a non-standard setup, this is the most reliable path.

Red Hound Auto Assist: Great Budget-Friendly Kit

The Red Hound Auto kit provides a straightforward, no-frills solution that gets the job done at a very accessible price point. It lacks the sophisticated dual-valve damping of high-end models, but it does exactly what it promises: it stops the tailgate from slamming. The hardware is surprisingly robust, offering decent corrosion resistance for outdoor exposure.

This is the perfect kit for a secondary farm truck that sees only intermittent use. While it may not offer the same longevity as premium kits under extreme conditions, the ease of replacement makes it a logical economic choice. Keep a spare in the shop, and the truck will never be without a functional assist.

Rough Country Assist: A Rugged, Reliable Option

Rough Country is well-regarded for producing gear meant for trail-heavy environments, and their tailgate assist follows suit. It is built with thicker brackets and a slightly more aggressive dampening curve to ensure the tailgate doesn’t “float” during the descent. The finish on the mounting brackets is particularly resistant to the grit, mud, and chemicals common on a working farm.

This kit is designed for the farmer who treats their truck like a tool rather than a showpiece. It holds up exceptionally well to vibrations, washboard roads, and the heavy handling of gear. If the truck spends more time in the field than on the highway, the Rough Country kit offers the best long-term resilience.

Choosing the Right Assist for Your Farm Truck

Selecting the right kit requires balancing the weight of the tailgate with the intensity of the work. Consider these three factors before purchasing:

• Load Frequency: If the tailgate is opened 20 times a day, prioritize durability over price.
• Climate Conditions: Cold temperatures stiffen gas springs; choose high-quality seals if the farm experiences freezing winters.
• Fitment: Always verify if the kit requires drilling; factory-hole utilization is superior to avoid rust points.

Avoid the temptation to buy the cheapest universal kit on the market, as these often fail within a few months of active farming. A slightly higher initial investment usually translates into fewer maintenance headaches during the middle of harvest season. Focus on kits that offer vehicle-specific engineering to ensure the geometry is correct from day one.

How to Install a Tailgate Assist in 30 Minutes

The process is generally straightforward, requiring only a set of basic hand tools and a bit of patience. Most kits utilize existing tailgate hardware, which means the installation is largely a matter of removing a factory bolt and replacing it with the strut-mounting stud. Start by bracing the tailgate; removing both cables at once can cause it to drop unexpectedly and damage the hinges.

1. Loosen the tailgate cable support and install the new mounting bracket per the kit instructions.
2. Attach the strut to the lower mounting point, ensuring the orientation matches the guide.
3. Perform a “slow-drop” test by holding the gate with one hand while letting it descend; if it slams, double-check the connection points.

Always double-check that the strut doesn’t rub against the truck box when the tailgate is in the closed position. A well-installed kit should operate silently with no metal-on-metal contact. Proper alignment is the single most important factor for the longevity of the kit.

Tailgate Assist Maintenance and Safety Checks

Even the best kits require a quick inspection at the start of each season. Wipe the exposed strut shaft with a clean, dry cloth to remove road grime and dust that can score the seals and cause a leak. Lubricating the hinges of the tailgate itself is equally important, as a sticky hinge puts undue strain on the gas strut, leading to premature failure.

Check the tightness of the mounting bolts periodically, especially after traveling on bumpy terrain. If the tailgate begins to descend rapidly, it is an early sign that the internal gas pressure is waning and the strut needs replacement. Keeping the pivot points clean and the hardware secure ensures the system will continue to save energy and protect the tailgate for many harvests to come.

Equipping a farm truck with a tailgate assist kit is a simple, high-impact modification that drastically improves daily efficiency. By selecting the right hardware for specific work conditions and performing basic maintenance, the burden of heavy loading is significantly reduced. Invest in a reliable system now to streamline the workload during the most demanding times of the farming year.