K5 Tailgate Closing Assist

[cstew47]

The tailgate on my 78 K5 is extremely heavy and closing it is a real effort. I am a former powerlifter and I really struggle with it. I don't know if this model had some kind of closing assist when it was knew. I can't imagine a woman or small man trying to wrestle this. Am I missing something or is there an aftermarket product for this?

 

[yevgenievich]

There is a torsion type spring at the base that assists in closing

 

[RecklessWOT]

I mean yeah they're not the lightest thing in the world, but for a powerlifter to struggle with it there must be something very wrong with it. I had a K5 when I was 18, I must've weighed all of 140lbs soaking wet back then, and I never had an issue closing it. Sure I wasn't flipping it shut with a flick of the wrist, but I certainly did not "struggle", and I'm pretty sure most girls I know would've been able to do it just fine. Are your hinges very rusty?

 

[Itali83]

Almost bet a paycheck the hinges are seized. Very common. Still think you’re a sissy for struggling but they do get stiff. (The hinges that is)


Ben

 

[dvdswan]

Hopefully your torsion rods aren't broken...

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[Itali83]

My 87 the torsion rods were broken the day I bought it and I never replaced them. I did remove the hinges and free’d them up and made a world of difference. In all seriousness, the tailgates are heavy, but even with no torsion bar help, they’re not bad to lift with good hinges. Check your hinges.

Ben.

 

[bucket]

If there is a body lift, the torsion springs may have been removed completely.

 

[Raider L]

Man!! I never knew there were some tailgates that were that heavy. My tailgate was nothing but those cup things that stuck inside holes in the ends of the tailgate sides and the tailgate weighed nothing and when you lowered it or raised it there was nothing to it. I can't even imagine what ya'll are talking about. Why is a K truck tailgate that heavy? For what reason? Is the tailgates for the 4X4 trucks extra heavy duty for some reason? I looked them up after reading this thread and I couldn't find anything on their weight or needing big springs. Other than @dvdswan 's pic, I would have never seen that before.

 

[Turbo4whl]

@Raider L I believe you missed something in Craig's first post. He is talking about his K5 (sport utility vehicle). That gate and the Suburban gates have a window inside. Add the mechanics to raise the window and maybe an electric motor, that gate is easily twice the weight or more, than a pickup gate.

As @Itali83 stated, the different design of the stronger hinges adds to the problem if they are rusty.

 

[cstew47]

There is a torsion type spring at the base that assists in closing

Apparently mine is missing. I'll have to try to find one.

 

[cstew47]

I mean yeah they're not the lightest thing in the world, but for a powerlifter to struggle with it there must be something very wrong with it. I had a K5 when I was 18, I must've weighed all of 140lbs soaking wet back then, and I never had an issue closing it. Sure I wasn't flipping it shut with a flick of the wrist, but I certainly did not "struggle", and I'm pretty sure most girls I know would've been able to do it just fine. Are your hinges very rusty?

From what I am being told, I am missing a torsion spring that is supposed to assist.

 

[cstew47]

I mean yeah they're not the lightest thing in the world, but for a powerlifter to struggle with it there must be something very wrong with it. I had a K5 when I was 18, I must've weighed all of 140lbs soaking wet back then, and I never had an issue closing it. Sure I wasn't flipping it shut with a flick of the wrist, but I certainly did not "struggle", and I'm pretty sure most girls I know would've been able to do it just fine. Are your hinges very rusty?

From what I am being told, I am missing a torsion spring that is supposed to assist.

Hopefully your torsion rods aren't broken...

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I suspect they are either broken or missing.

 

[cstew47]

Almost bet a paycheck the hinges are seized. Very common. Still think you’re a sissy for struggling but they do get stiff. (The hinges that is)


Ben

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[Snoots]

Back to the truck . . . what's the prognosis?

 

[Raider L]

@Turbo4whl,
Ohhhh. Yeah, I missed the memo on that one. And yes I know exactly that of which you speak. And you are right, those tailgates do weigh a ton. I do know. But I never knew they had thos spring assists in them. A friend of mine had a Dodge Power Wagon like a Blazer and it's tailgate did weigh a lot. You had to crank the glass down to open it.