OK, let me preface this article by saying that our 2005 Frontier 4WD Crew Cab 6MT is quite possibly the most trouble-free, perfectly-constructed vehicle we’ve owned. It simply does everything we want it to do in style and comfort, and it’s required minimal maintenance.
The truck was remarkably well-outfitted from the factory, so it’s really hard to be critical of the features – but there is this one little issue that’s always bugged me…
Lowering the tailgate requires both hands. Sure, the latch works great, and it’s easy to open, but the problem is that it’s heavy. So if you’re small, or you’re carrying stuff, you’ve gotta use your leg or hip to let the gate down gently.
No more. When I was at SEMA, I ran into Spencer Lea, Sales and Marketing Coordinator for Stabilus, manufacturer of gas-charged lift struts for most any vehicle, and he showed me their new product: EZdown. Now, the new Nissan Titan has this feature optional from the factory, but not the Frontier. Once Spencer showed me how easy the install is, and showed me a quick demo of how it works, I had to have one.
For less than $40 and about 15 minutes of my time, the tailgate on our Frontier now has a nice gas shock to lower the gate slowly and quietly. It was a super-simple install, looks great, and makes opening and closing the tailgate a breeze.
Want one? Post up in the thrad (linked at the end of this article) and we’ll look into getting a group purchase done (to save you guys some money)!
Once you get your EZdown installed, show us your installation (or ask questions) in the following thread: Nissan Frontier Tailgate Damper Install
Enjoy, and happy truckin’!
