If you’ve ever dropped a tailgate and felt it slam down, or you’ve had to brace yourself to lift it back up, you’re not imagining it. Modern ute tailgates are big, awkward, and heavy, especially when you’re on a slope or juggling tools, shopping, or camping gear.

At HSP, this is exactly why we built our Tailgate Assist range: to dampen the tailgate on the way down and make it feel lighter on the way up, so everyday ute use is safer, smoother, and less of a workout.

Why ute tailgates feel so heavy (especially on an incline)

Tailgates don’t just feel heavy because of their size. It’s also because:

• The weight is positioned at the very back of the vehicle (leverage works against you)
• The drop can be fast once the latch releases
• On an incline, the tailgate can feel even more unpredictable
  

That combination is why tailgates can be a pain point for tradies, families, and anyone constantly in and out of the tub.

What a tailgate assist actually does

A tailgate assist is designed to control the speed and effort needed to open and close your tailgate. It typically uses struts/dampers to:

• Reduce the risk of a sudden drop
  
• Reduce effort when lifting back up
  
• Help minimise wear on hinges and latches over time
  

Put simply: it turns your tailgate from “drop and brace” into “smooth and controlled”.

The HSP Tailgate Assist fix (what makes ours different)

Two-way strut support (soft drop + easier lift)

HSP Tailgate Assist is built to dampen the tailgate while it’s declining and lighten it while it’s inclining, making daily use more convenient and less strenuous.

Twin strut vs single strut (it depends on your tailgate design)

We offer twin or single strut options depending on whether your ute has a torsion bar:

• Twin struts: for vehicles without a torsion bar, giving soft drop dampening plus weight-reduced easy lift
  
• Single strut: for vehicles with a torsion bar, providing soft drop dampening to complement the existing weight reduction

Vehicle-specific, tested for long-term use

HSP Tailgate Assist kits are vehicle-specific, designed around the brackets, fixtures, and struts that suit each platform properly.
They’re also stated as being tested to withstand 20,000 to 100,000 cycles.

Quick install, factory points, minimal fuss

This is a DIY-friendly upgrade. HSP states typical install time is 5 to 45 minutes depending on the vehicle, using factory mounting points, with almost every model requiring no drilling, and in many cases original hardware/bolts are repurposed for a factory-integrated look.

Who Tailgate Assist is perfect for

If your tailgate is used daily, this is one of those upgrades you notice every single time.

It’s especially useful for:

• Tradies loading tools, compressors, ladders, and materials
  
• Parents (less chance of a sudden drop when kids are nearby)
  
• Touring setups (fridges, tubs, recovery gear in and out constantly)
  
• Anyone who’s sick of the heavy one-hand lift
  

HSP Tailgate Assist is offered across a wide spread of popular ute makes seen on our compatibility selectors, including Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Mazda, Volkswagen, GWM, LDV, RAM, Chevrolet and more.

Combine it with a tailgate lock (the “secure and easy” combo)

A tailgate assist solves the “heavy tailgate” problem. The other common issue is security: many owners assume the tailgate locks with the vehicle, but that’s not always the case.

HSP’s Tailgate Lock is designed to let you lock and unlock your tailgate with your vehicle, syncing with your existing factory remote, and it’s described as plug-and-play with a minor drill system. This also pairs well with our Ute covers, the Roll Mate & Roll R Cover, for maximum tub security. 

Build a full HSP setup (and price it up before you buy)

If you’re already improving daily usability, this is where ute owners typically go next: build a complete setup that matches how you use your vehicle (work, touring, both).

Our HSP Ute Builder lets you select your vehicle, add products to create a quote, and send an enquiry, with pricing shown alongside the setup (including installation cost line items).

Fix your tailgate today

If you’re over the heavy tailgate feel, fit an HSP Tailgate Assist and make every drop and lift smoother. Then jump into the HSP Ute Builder to price your full accessory setup in one go and send it through to your preferred store for a proper quote.