Has anyone tried installing one themselves?
Hey everyone, I’m thinking about adding a 12-volt linear actuator to my old pickup’s tailgate to make it open and close automatically. I’m not super experienced with this stuff, but I saw some heavy-duty models that seem pretty robust. Has anyone tried installing one themselves? How tricky was the setup, and did it hold up well in bad weather? I want something reliable but don’t want to spend a fortune or have to tinker with it all the time.
Discussion
Sometimes I think about how many small motors and gadgets we rely on daily without really noticing. Like, all these little actuators quietly doing their job behind the scenes—whether in cars, furniture, or outdoor gear—kind of fascinating how much mechanical tech is packed into everyday things. Makes you appreciate the blend of engineering and practical design that keeps stuff running smoothly.
I actually installed a 12-volt heavy-duty actuator on my camper’s roof vent last year. It was pretty straightforward, just had to make sure the mounting brackets were solid and waterproofed the wiring well. The one I got had enough force to handle the vent even in strong winds. If you’re looking for options, I found a good variety of heavy-duty actuators on this site called linear actuator 12 volt where you can check specs and stuff https://www.progressiveautomations.com/products/heavy-duty-linear-actuator . Definitely saved me some guesswork!