Abstract: A tailgate damper for damping the lowering of a tailgate that is rotatably coupled along a tailgate shaft to a truck is provided. The tailgate damper can include a housing that has an inner cavity with a viscous fluid within the inner cavity. In addition, a seal can be located at a base of the inner cavity and be operable to keep the viscous fluid therewithin. A damping insert having a damping portion and a tailgate portion extending from the tailgate portion is provided, with the tailgate portion being able to attach coaxially to the tailgate shaft. The damping portion is located at least partially within the inner cavity of the housing and is in contact with the viscous fluid such that rotation of the damping portion is resisted.