>>>>I was attending circuit court at work yesterday and was passing the time talking to some of the defense attorneys. Got to talking about trucks and one of them pulled out a new Ford brochure for the 04 F150 that he just received in the mail. While I was perusing the brochure I noticed in a section talking about the locking tailgate with available "tailgate assist" but it didn't elaborate on what this feature was. Anyone have any idea what this is supposed to be? I mean if you can't lift up and close the tailgate on your own I don't think you deserve to be driving one of these bad boys!! But all kidding aside I wonder what this feature is as I've never heard of anything like it.

 

from what i understand of it it's just like power doors but it will also open when you press the button on the FOB

 

here ya go buddy

http://www.fordvehicles.com/asp/alln...p?xid=2&bhcp=1

 

I heard it explained at the auto show. This won't be verbatum, but you will get the idea.

There is a trosion bar inside the tailgate that applies a force of half the weight of the tailgate, resulting in it being half as heavy at the same strength.

If you drop the tailgate it will not slam down as hard, and can be closed with less effort.

Sort of like opening and closing the hood with one finger.

 

>>>>Thanks grinomyte and greencrew! I guess that explains that. I wonder how durable that will be for the long haul? But again thx, I was wondering about what that could be since I read about it. The brochure was the first I'd heard about it.

 

The torsion bar is something that they've used in cars trunks forever so I can't see why it wouldn't be durable.

 

Heck, Broncos have had them forever.

 

The torsion bar twists inside the tail gate, therefore absorbing much of the weight.

I dont know about you, but Ive had two broncos and the tailgate was still heavy. One of them I had the tail gate apart and never even noticed any kind of torsion bar. But on second thought with a motor and a window inside of the gate, it probably did have one. If so it answered my question on how long the bar will hold up....at least 18 years as my first bronco was an 80.

 

I was curious about this when I first heard it. Actually it is very cool. I can close the tailgate with one finger. It works that well.