Resurrecting this build. Been busy with remodeling a house and haven't had time for it over the past year.
Not done with the house but needed a break so I started messing around with the tailgate.
Installed one of those assisted dampers from a 2014-19 truck. It wouldn't fit behind the hinge so I made a pocket in the side of the tailgate. Took a lot of tinkering but it works. Here is a 3 second clip of it in action.
soft open tailgate
Next I'll be installing the torsion bar lift assist.