Why is my tailgate so damned heavy? Any way to lighten it up without replacing? Or is it just cause they used heavy steel in the older models and ya have to live with it...

The trucks at work have tailgates that are like half the weight it seems.

 

A quick google search yielded this: It appears to get pretty good reviews.

-Kirk

 

Never even thought of a spring like that... Seems like a good solution to the problem.

 

You could just get one of those slat tail gates like you see people use for 5th wheels, just a full one. I love those because I can hook my straps on it and not have to worry about paint lol. You can get these in a full tail gate without the notch that the 5th wheel tail gates have.

 

Start here.

https://www.youtube.com/user/BroScienceLife/videos

 

Thanks for the laugh Wolvee.

Note, I'm comparing it to other tailgates, which are or feel lighter than mine. Not that my tailgate is too heavy to lift.

 

Tailgates off the new Super duties aren't too heavy, I think people have put them on these trucks with some modifications.

 

Is your tailgate aligned & lubed correctly? What kind of shape are your bushings in?

 

My 2012 tailgate (without the stripper pole and step) is light as a feather, even lighter than my dads 2015. My cousins' older f150's all have extreme heavy tailgates. So yeah, just the heavy *** steel in your old truck. The Hopkins product linked earlier is cool if you don't mind it digging into your truck a little and scratching it. Also have heard of those things snapping and whipping around so be careful.

 

Yes, maybe... I don't think any lubing, besides oil changes, was ever done on this truck...
Gunna be going through suspension bushings here before too long, new shocks, etc. I'll take a look at the tailgate today, but it does move freely and drops with ease. No problem latching it closed either, it's just like it's made of lead compared to many others.