Appreciate the technical information being posted on this forum making it easier for those of use who enjoy doing upgrades or modifications plus giving us confidence to implement. That being said I would like to revisit Hood Lift Support Kit being discussed on multiple threads.
Being retired our 2025 XRT may set for weeks in the garage since we have two trucks and use is seasonal. I've been using a Battery Tender Junior 12V 750mA Charger on all our vehicle for the past 7 years with excellent results. I use the included ring terminal connections and attached directly to battery requiring the hood to be lifted for Tender attachment.
Based on 2 styles of kits available I choose the style that attaches to the hood hinge support and right-left side of engine bay. As others mentioned modifications were required to attach brackets to fuse box and coolant overflow tank fasteners. Another issue encountered was the compression rating of the included gas spring shocks being too strong for my application. When closing the hood you could see the hood flex above hinge bracket causing concern for sheet metal fatigue and fractures. All the issues were resolved by purchasing additional hardware, making custom threaded spacers, and replacing gas spring shocks from an estimated 65lb to 30lb rating. Hood now opens and closes with less effort and no flexing of the hood. Another bonus is the ease of use attaching the hood prop if needed and the Hood Lift Support looking factory!
My total hardware cost was $138 making Hood Lift Support look and work like a factory option. Kit was $61 and additional parts were another $76 plus 3 hours of labor. If you only purchase the additional parts needed, your cost would by around $100. Kit is being sold by multiple suppliers that can be found on Amazon and Ebay.
I'll be posting a response to this thread with parts purchased from Amazon for reference.
XRT with Lift Support Kit Installed - driver side
Supplier and other sources will show shock mounted on left side of bracket, but if you want to use the Prop Rod then mount on right side as shown. Note: Replaced Kit's Shock with a lower spring rated A-Premium Shock (19.69" 30lb rating) eliminating hood sheet-metal flexing.
![Image]()
XRT with Lift Support Kit Installed - passenger side
Supplier and other sources will show shock mounted on right side of bracket, but if you want to use Prop Rod then mount on left side as shown. Note: Replaced Kit's Shock with a lower spring rated A-Premium Shock (19.69" 30lb rating) eliminating hood sheet-metal flexing.
![Image]()
XRT with Lift Support Kit - Prop Rod disengaged
Hood opens additional 1-2 inches where Prop Rod is secured.
![Image]()
XRT with Lift Support Kit - Prop Rod engaged
Hood with Prop Rod secured with plenty of clearance from Shock.
![Image]()
Hood Bracket - driver side attachment
Bracket has c'sink so a Convex Stanless Washer (M8 x 20mm OD) with a Flanged Hex Head Bolt (M8 x 25mm length grade 10.9) and M6 Nylon Washer (6mm ID x 12mm OD x 1.5mm thickness) was used to secure Bracket to Hood's Hinge. Note: Nylon Washer was used to support alignment of parts during Bolt tightening.
![Image]()
Hood Bracket - passenger side attachment
Bracket has c'sink so a Convex Stanless Washer (M8 x 20mm OD) with a Flanged Hex Head Bolt (M8 x 25mm length grade 10.9) and M6 Nylon Washer (6mm ID x 12mm OD x 1.5mm thickness) was used to secure Bracket to Hood's Hinge. Note: Nylon Washer was used to support alignment of parts during Bolt tightening.
![Image]()
Engine Bay Bracket - driver side attachment
Bracket is attached to Fuse Box's 6mm mounting stud using a custom made Hex Spacer (Hexagon Aluminum 3/4" Hex Bar), M6 Fender Washers (M6 ID x 20mm OD x 2mm thickness), Flanged Hex Head Bolts (M6 x 12mm & 20mm lengths grade 10.9), and Flanged Hex Head Nut (M6 Nylon Self Locking). Note: When attaching Bracket to engine compartment's exisitng hole, use four M6 Fender Washers, one on both ends and two in middle.
![Image]()
Engine Bay Bracket - passenger side attachment
Bracket is attached to Coolant Overfill Tank's 6mm mounting hole using a custom made Hex Spacer (Hexagon Aluminum 3/4" Hex Bar), M6 Fender Washers (M6 ID x 20mm OD x 2mm thickness), Flanged Hex Head Bolts (M6 x 10mm & 20mm lengths grade 10.9), and Flanged Hex Head Nut (M6 Nylon Self Locking). Note: When attaching Bracket to engine compartment's exisitng hole, use four M6 Fender Washers, one on both ends and two in middle.
![Image]()
Engine Bay Bracket - driver side attached to Fuse Box
Custom made Hex Spacer has a length of 0.75" with a M6x1mm full length threaded hole using a single M6 Fender Washers and M6 x 12mm long Flanged Hex Head Bolt. Note: Bracket had to be slightly bent using a vise and cresent wrench for mounting hole alignment.
![Image]()
Engine Bay Bracket - driver side attached to Coolant Overflow Tank
Custom made Hex Spacer has a length of 0.65" with a M6x1mm full length threaded hole using a two M6 Fender Washers and a single M6 x 10mm long Flanged Hex Head Bolt. Note: Overflow Tank's M6 fastener was removed and reinserted from bottom to created a stud for Hex Spacer attachment similar to Fuse Box. Only one washer between Tank's flange and Hex Spacer required if shorter Bolt is used to secure Bracket.
![Image]()
Being retired our 2025 XRT may set for weeks in the garage since we have two trucks and use is seasonal. I've been using a Battery Tender Junior 12V 750mA Charger on all our vehicle for the past 7 years with excellent results. I use the included ring terminal connections and attached directly to battery requiring the hood to be lifted for Tender attachment.
Based on 2 styles of kits available I choose the style that attaches to the hood hinge support and right-left side of engine bay. As others mentioned modifications were required to attach brackets to fuse box and coolant overflow tank fasteners. Another issue encountered was the compression rating of the included gas spring shocks being too strong for my application. When closing the hood you could see the hood flex above hinge bracket causing concern for sheet metal fatigue and fractures. All the issues were resolved by purchasing additional hardware, making custom threaded spacers, and replacing gas spring shocks from an estimated 65lb to 30lb rating. Hood now opens and closes with less effort and no flexing of the hood. Another bonus is the ease of use attaching the hood prop if needed and the Hood Lift Support looking factory!
My total hardware cost was $138 making Hood Lift Support look and work like a factory option. Kit was $61 and additional parts were another $76 plus 3 hours of labor. If you only purchase the additional parts needed, your cost would by around $100. Kit is being sold by multiple suppliers that can be found on Amazon and Ebay.
I'll be posting a response to this thread with parts purchased from Amazon for reference.
XRT with Lift Support Kit Installed - driver side
Supplier and other sources will show shock mounted on left side of bracket, but if you want to use the Prop Rod then mount on right side as shown. Note: Replaced Kit's Shock with a lower spring rated A-Premium Shock (19.69" 30lb rating) eliminating hood sheet-metal flexing.
XRT with Lift Support Kit Installed - passenger side
Supplier and other sources will show shock mounted on right side of bracket, but if you want to use Prop Rod then mount on left side as shown. Note: Replaced Kit's Shock with a lower spring rated A-Premium Shock (19.69" 30lb rating) eliminating hood sheet-metal flexing.
XRT with Lift Support Kit - Prop Rod disengaged
Hood opens additional 1-2 inches where Prop Rod is secured.
XRT with Lift Support Kit - Prop Rod engaged
Hood with Prop Rod secured with plenty of clearance from Shock.
Hood Bracket - driver side attachment
Bracket has c'sink so a Convex Stanless Washer (M8 x 20mm OD) with a Flanged Hex Head Bolt (M8 x 25mm length grade 10.9) and M6 Nylon Washer (6mm ID x 12mm OD x 1.5mm thickness) was used to secure Bracket to Hood's Hinge. Note: Nylon Washer was used to support alignment of parts during Bolt tightening.
Hood Bracket - passenger side attachment
Bracket has c'sink so a Convex Stanless Washer (M8 x 20mm OD) with a Flanged Hex Head Bolt (M8 x 25mm length grade 10.9) and M6 Nylon Washer (6mm ID x 12mm OD x 1.5mm thickness) was used to secure Bracket to Hood's Hinge. Note: Nylon Washer was used to support alignment of parts during Bolt tightening.
Engine Bay Bracket - driver side attachment
Bracket is attached to Fuse Box's 6mm mounting stud using a custom made Hex Spacer (Hexagon Aluminum 3/4" Hex Bar), M6 Fender Washers (M6 ID x 20mm OD x 2mm thickness), Flanged Hex Head Bolts (M6 x 12mm & 20mm lengths grade 10.9), and Flanged Hex Head Nut (M6 Nylon Self Locking). Note: When attaching Bracket to engine compartment's exisitng hole, use four M6 Fender Washers, one on both ends and two in middle.
Engine Bay Bracket - passenger side attachment
Bracket is attached to Coolant Overfill Tank's 6mm mounting hole using a custom made Hex Spacer (Hexagon Aluminum 3/4" Hex Bar), M6 Fender Washers (M6 ID x 20mm OD x 2mm thickness), Flanged Hex Head Bolts (M6 x 10mm & 20mm lengths grade 10.9), and Flanged Hex Head Nut (M6 Nylon Self Locking). Note: When attaching Bracket to engine compartment's exisitng hole, use four M6 Fender Washers, one on both ends and two in middle.
Engine Bay Bracket - driver side attached to Fuse Box
Custom made Hex Spacer has a length of 0.75" with a M6x1mm full length threaded hole using a single M6 Fender Washers and M6 x 12mm long Flanged Hex Head Bolt. Note: Bracket had to be slightly bent using a vise and cresent wrench for mounting hole alignment.
Engine Bay Bracket - driver side attached to Coolant Overflow Tank
Custom made Hex Spacer has a length of 0.65" with a M6x1mm full length threaded hole using a two M6 Fender Washers and a single M6 x 10mm long Flanged Hex Head Bolt. Note: Overflow Tank's M6 fastener was removed and reinserted from bottom to created a stud for Hex Spacer attachment similar to Fuse Box. Only one washer between Tank's flange and Hex Spacer required if shorter Bolt is used to secure Bracket.
.
