The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1967 - 1972 Chevy/GMC Suburbans & Panels Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-29-2020, 01:54 PM   #1
oski6754
Registered User
 
oski6754's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 178
Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

Hi All,

I'm not usually one for griping online, however, I'll make an exception in this case!

Here is the story: I had been kicking around the idea of adding modern/gas charged lift gate supports to my vehicle this summer given the increased use the tailgate gets.

After doing a bit of research, I purchased the "67-72 SUBURBAN LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT" sold by Brothers Trucks. While a bit pricey, at $130 ($99 parts, $21.50 shipping, $8.50 tax), I thought the better functionality/reliability was worth the splurge.

Had the fit and function of the new supports been perfect, that would probably would have been the end of the story, however, the "extended length" of the supports was a fair bit shorter than the OEM supports, so I did a little more research.

What I found is that the EXACT product I was shipped from Brothers is available on Rock Auto for $30 ($19 parts, $8 shipping, $3 tax). Link to parts page here > https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/ul...t+support,1404

I'm all for paying a little "marketing markup", but $100 markup is extreme in my book. Sadly, while I would return the supports to Brothers and just re-buy them from Rock Auto, but I'd have at least $50 in the deal between shipping both ways and Brothers' 20% restocking fee.

This falls in the "fool me once" category for me. I hope others can learn from this and save themselves some hard earned $.
__________________
==========================================
Miles
1972 GMC Suburban K15 - Custom Deluxe
oski6754 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2020, 10:37 AM   #2
Ol Blue K20
Proprietor of Dale's Corner
 
Ol Blue K20's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Vacaville , CA
Posts: 15,830
Re: Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

Quote:
Originally Posted by oski6754 View Post
Hi All,

I'm not usually one for griping online, however, I'll make an exception in this case!

Here is the story: I had been kicking around the idea of adding modern/gas charged lift gate supports to my vehicle this summer given the increased use the tailgate gets.

After doing a bit of research, I purchased the "67-72 SUBURBAN LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT" sold by Brothers Trucks. While a bit pricey, at $130 ($99 parts, $21.50 shipping, $8.50 tax), I thought the better functionality/reliability was worth the splurge.

Had the fit and function of the new supports been perfect, that would probably would have been the end of the story, however, the "extended length" of the supports was a fair bit shorter than the OEM supports, so I did a little more research.

What I found is that the EXACT product I was shipped from Brothers is available on Rock Auto for $30 ($19 parts, $8 shipping, $3 tax). Link to parts page here > https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/ul...t+support,1404

I'm all for paying a little "marketing markup", but $100 markup is extreme in my book. Sadly, while I would return the supports to Brothers and just re-buy them from Rock Auto, but I'd have at least $50 in the deal between shipping both ways and Brothers' 20% restocking fee.

This falls in the "fool me once" category for me. I hope others can learn from this and save themselves some hard earned $.
Wow! That is quite a mark up. Thanks for the heads up
__________________
"Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers"

Dale
XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004

R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck
R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man

Last edited by Ol Blue K20; 07-30-2020 at 10:39 AM. Reason: add to message
Ol Blue K20 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2020, 12:49 PM   #3
HO455
Post Whore
 
HO455's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 10,757
Re: Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

Thanks for pointing it out.
__________________
Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help.
RIP Bob Parks.
1967 Burban the WMB,1991 S(stink)-10 Blazer,1969 GTO, 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird. 85 Alfa Romeo
If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place
The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377
HO455 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2020, 12:36 PM   #4
60sIron
Registered User
 
60sIron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sebastopol California
Posts: 151
Re: Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

Wow not good. Thanks for the heads up. One question. How much shorter is the lift? Thanks in advance.
60sIron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2020, 01:41 PM   #5
oski6754
Registered User
 
oski6754's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 178
Re: Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

Quote:
Originally Posted by 60sIron View Post
Wow not good. Thanks for the heads up. One question. How much shorter is the lift? Thanks in advance.
The extended lengths of each new support is half an inch shorter, which translates to a couple inches in decreased of opening height.

Given my overall setup (2" suspension lift, 30" tires, and I am 5'11"), I am not banging my head on the open hatch now, but a lowered Suburban with a taller owner might . . .

The fitment isn't the end of the world, and the supports are a big improvement over OEM, I was just chapped to find out I overpaid by a wide margin.
__________________
==========================================
Miles
1972 GMC Suburban K15 - Custom Deluxe

Last edited by oski6754; 08-03-2020 at 01:51 PM.
oski6754 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2020, 07:37 AM   #6
FLYNAVY30
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 592
Re: Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

I'll see if I can dig up the part number, but if memory serves me correctly the struts I'm using on my Suburban are off a Volvo station wagon...I think I paid $40 for both on Rock Auto and they hold the door up as high as you could possibly get it.
__________________
1972 C20 Suburban
1964 Corvette Coupe
1997 Lexus LX450
FLYNAVY30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2020, 10:40 AM   #7
lks dcvn
Registered User
 
lks dcvn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 4,338
Re: Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

I would love to see the kit used for Blazer hatch lifts as well - cheapest I could find was $150 before tax/shipping for a set of plates/bolts/struts.

Same theory - cost of parts off is likely way cheaper than $150.
lks dcvn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2020, 11:24 AM   #8
Beach-Burban
Registered User
 
Beach-Burban's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: So. Torrance, CA
Posts: 460
Re: Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

The Beach-Burban had a set of lifts on the hatch that were completely dead when I got it, so I bought a new set online from "Lift Support Depot" for $18.90 each. Easy install for me because the ball studs were already in place! They are USA made by "STRONG ARM", model 4220 (which I believe does fit the Volvo Wagons as FLYNAVY30 said). Specs are: 21.50 extended; 12.75 compressed and 81 lbs of force (goes up very nicely, plus it's very comical watching my wife try to close it!). I feel very confident that the hatch won't come down on us while sitting on the tailgate. These would be way too HD for the Blazer hatch, though!

Woody
Beach-Burban is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2020, 11:38 AM   #9
HO455
Post Whore
 
HO455's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 10,757
Re: Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

Years ago I replaced the factory truck springs in a 73 Challenger with some struts I got from Mcmaster Carr. I got a fish scale and used it to get an idea how much lift I needed then divided that number by 2 and bought the nearest rated struts. I went to the nearest over pressure as struts in my experience will always loose pressure over time.
They even had ones you can bleed off pressure to get exactly what you want in lift. (One time only)
I think I was into it about $60 when I was done.

https://www.mcmaster.com/lift-struts
Attached Images
 
__________________
Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help.
RIP Bob Parks.
1967 Burban the WMB,1991 S(stink)-10 Blazer,1969 GTO, 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird. 85 Alfa Romeo
If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place
The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377
HO455 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2020, 07:00 PM   #10
oski6754
Registered User
 
oski6754's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 178
Re: Learn from My Mistake - LIFT GATE ACTUATOR KIT

Quote:
Originally Posted by lks dcvn View Post
I would love to see the kit used for Blazer hatch lifts as well - cheapest I could find was $150 before tax/shipping for a set of plates/bolts/struts.

Same theory - cost of parts off is likely way cheaper than $150.
The kit for the Blazer/Jimmy is identical as sold by Brothers. Get the threaded ball studs at your local auto parts store and buy the struts at RockAuto for a $35 solution.
__________________
==========================================
Miles
1972 GMC Suburban K15 - Custom Deluxe
oski6754 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
gas charged struts, lift gate supports, sg215001, suburban lift gate

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:27 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com