Author Topic: Tailgate torsion bar (Read 2003 times)

letsndy · « **on:** December 16, 2009, 01:34:20 AM »

where do i find this? i cant seem to find a place to buy one. getting sick of this heavy thing lol.
is it hard to do?

Didit · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2009, 03:00:48 AM »

http://www.pickupspecialties.com/tailgate_stuff/tailgate_easy_lift.htm

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2009, 07:41:16 AM »

I purchased mine from autoanything for something like $19.?? but now I can't find it.

I found another site though, someone may chime in here with even a better price so hang tight!!

http://www.truckspecialties.com/easylift.htm

Donnie1 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2009, 08:23:04 AM »

Dang, and I just saw on eof these hanging on a shelf somewhere. Maybe Autozone? I think the going price is right around $20.

Troublemaker · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2009, 08:49:51 AM »

It's a 2-man job, unless you can lift the tailgate alone, and "twist" it back into place once the torsion bar is installed.

My son helped me with mine, and I'm glad he did!

letsndy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2009, 12:09:30 PM »

Quote from: Fowlhunter on December 16, 2009, 07:41:16 AM

I purchased mine from autoanything for something like $19.?? but now I can't find it.
I found another site though, someone may chime in here with even a better price so hang tight!!

http://www.truckspecialties.com/easylift.htm

its says excluding the avalanche though

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2009, 12:58:34 PM »

Quote from: letsndy on December 16, 2009, 12:09:30 PM

its says excluding the avalanche though

Yeah, don't pay any attention to that. We did two of the tailgate torsion bar mods (one on my girlfriends AV and one on mine) at Bratfest this year. We used three guys, two to hold the tailgate and one to insert the bar in the bottom of it.
This is an awesome mod!!!!!

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2009, 02:37:31 PM »

Quote from: letsndy on December 16, 2009, 12:09:30 PM

its says excluding the avalanche though

You just have to cut 3/4" of the one end to make it work.

Troublemaker · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2009, 02:54:28 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on December 16, 2009, 02:37:31 PM

You just have to cut 3/4" of the one end to make it work.

Also the hole to drill in the bottom of the tailgate is either 1/2" closer to the driver, or 1/2" closer to the passenger (can't remember!!)

Best thing to do (what I did) is to use the actual torsion bar as the "template" before taking the tailgate off, to mark the "tailgate hole", then measure up from the bottom of the tailgate (I used the "hinge" as my starting point) to where the yellow line was painted on the torsion bar to drill my "frame hole".

The hole I drilled in the bottom of my tailgate was just to the right (passenger side) of the center-most "rivet".

letsndy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2009, 01:19:15 PM »

is there a write up for this? im not to handy when it comes to this stuff i would hate to mess it up.

Donnie1 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2009, 02:48:09 PM »

I hijacked some of the info from another site. Some of the older Avs have 2 fiberglass walls inside the tailgate, our 06 did not so I believe the newer ones don't. Someone else will probably know for sure.

Definitely a 2 person if not 3 for when you go to put the tailgate back on. We found out at Bratfest that the 3rd person comes in real handy to tap the bar into the bottom of the tailgate while the other 2 are holding it. The first couple of times you close the gate, you will hear some popping until the bar gets positioned properly.

Be careful the first time you close it also, I nearly sent ours through the back window it was so light.

1. We cut about 3/4 of an inch off the torsion bar with the "A label" or with the yellow paint. - will explain later. Maybe it was not needed - maybe move the drill point up to 5" from hinge and don't cut anything.

2. Drill a 3/8" hole 4.25" above the driver?s side tailgate hinge. (Take care you don't scuff the side of the truck with your drill chuck depending on drill bit length) You will drill through the metal and the drill bit will hit another steel wall (do not drill through the second wall) about 1/4" inside your nice new hole. This is a little bit of an issue and the reason we cut the 3/4" off the torsion bar.

3. Measure over 32 1/2" from the outside of the hinge cup on the tailgate and make a mark. you will drill into the bottom of the tailgate in line with the existing rivets of the tailgate.

4. Remove tailgate, transfer measurement and drill or re-measure and drill 3/8" hole in bottom of tailgate. It's fiberglass, so don't brush it away with your hand unless you want to itch for the next 24 hours.

5. Insert the torsion bar back into the side of the truck and make sure it's sitting flat against the truck bed wall behind the hinge pin. You will need to insert the bar, push, pull, pry and try to wiggle the torsion bar into the hole between those two walls. This WILL result in you bending the metal a little above the hole to get a little more room between the two metal walls. I was trying to push on that inside wall to get it to bow in more and bend the outside metal less, but I don't think it would be possible to insert the whole like 2" of the bar in - cutting off 3/4" to 1" off the bar appeared to do the trick and we got about 3/4" into the hole.

6. Re-install tailgate, but this time you will insert side B of the torsion bar into the tailgate hole you just made. I found a hammer to tap the bar into the hole was required due to the friction from the side of the hole on the torsion bar. (NOT a one person job)
*OBB edit......make sure you put the bar the whole way in or you could end up cracking your light bar you might have mounted on top of the bumper like I did.

7. Don't forget to latch your tailgate cables back onto the stops. You should now be done.

You can google or yahoo tailgate torsion bar and there are a bunch of resources for it at many different prices. It is also called Hoppy Easylift Tailgate Torsion Bar.

Troublemaker · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2009, 05:18:56 PM »

Donnie pretty much nailed it... the only only thing I was told that's not on the list is when you put the "A" side in, only put it in as far as the yellow mark. And for the "B" side (into the tailgate), it needs to go in all the way to the white mark. There are 2 "bends" in this part of the torsion bar, and the 2nd one is the one with the white mark.

Donnie1 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2009, 08:30:10 PM »

Quote from: Troublemaker on December 17, 2009, 05:18:56 PM

Donnie pretty much nailed it... the only only thing I was told that's not on the list is when you put the "A" side in, only put it in as far as the yellow mark. And for the "B" side (into the tailgate), it needs to go in all the way to the white mark. There are 2 "bends" in this part of the torsion bar, and the 2nd one is the one with the white mark.

Good point.

Also when putting the bar in the Av side, not the tailgate, it may seem like you are going to bend the bar, that is normal. And if I'm not mistaken, the last ones we did at Bratfest, Richie actually used a hand held grinder to make angle the end that goes in the bedside. Just to make it easier slip in.

So have we totally confused you yet?

letsndy · « **Reply #13 on:** December 18, 2009, 05:15:39 PM »

Quote from: Donnie1 on December 17, 2009, 08:30:10 PM

Good point.

Also when putting the bar in the Av side, not the tailgate, it may seem like you are going to bend the bar, that is normal. And if I'm not mistaken, the last ones we did at Bratfest, Richie actually used a hand held grinder to make angle the end that goes in the bedside. Just to make it easier slip in.

So have we totally confused you yet?

lol yeah, completely! i think i might have to pass on this. with my luck ill have to buy a new tailgate.

Al · « **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2009, 05:30:04 PM »

It sounds like you guys are setting up a GTG somewhere??

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2009, 05:38:29 PM »

Quote from: Al on December 18, 2009, 05:30:04 PM

It sounds like you guys are setting up a GTG somewhere??

At Indy's house once it gets warm.

Donnie1 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 18, 2009, 05:54:45 PM »

Quote from: letsndy on December 18, 2009, 05:15:39 PM

lol yeah, completely! i think i might have to pass on this. with my luck ill have to buy a new tailgate.

It's actually not as difficult as it sounds. The main thing is to have at least yourself and one other person to do the mod.

And measure twice, cut once.

Didit · « **Reply #17 on:** December 18, 2009, 06:58:25 PM »

Myself and Flyineagle installed one at a campground in less than five minutes, really a snap, no tape measure, just drill bits and a sharpie, yes the ends were precut and ground to an angle, its much much easier if you have three people, two can do it, but again much easier with three. Took myself and Vetman down in Pigeon Forge about 15 minutes per vehicle, only because beer was involved, lol.

4x4dreamer · « **Reply #18 on:** December 28, 2009, 11:47:41 PM »

Ive been thinking about this mod. Seems like a great idea.

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #19 on:** December 29, 2009, 05:34:54 AM »

Quote from: 4x4dreamer on December 28, 2009, 11:47:41 PM

Ive been thinking about this mod. Seems like a great idea.

Do it, you'll love it

letsndy · « **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2010, 12:57:55 PM »

has anyone seen these locally anywhere yet?

waz · « **Reply #21 on:** August 27, 2010, 01:56:40 PM »

$18.76 @ amazom.com. If you find something else there that qualifies, shipping is free over $25.

Link-->Hopkins EASYLIFT

moosc · « **Reply #22 on:** September 12, 2010, 01:37:03 PM »

ok has this mod been done on on the 2007 newer Avs?

trAVelingman · « **Reply #23 on:** September 12, 2010, 02:27:42 PM »

Mine came from the factory with one moosc. Yours didn't??

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ChevyGuyNC · « **Reply #24 on:** September 12, 2010, 03:27:57 PM »

I thought they all did, but moosc's tailgate is very heavy. Looks like there is a bar of some kind inside but it doesn't do much for the weight of the 'gate.

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