Tailgate opened about 10-12 inches higher. I'm 6ft 1in tall and I've hit my head so many times. When this gate is open my arm is stretched out as far as I can reach and I still hold on tight. My wife is 5ft 7" and has to use the inside handle to pull it down and then grab the outside handle to finish closing and same when opening. The only thing she doesn't like is that it takes two hands to do it. I read they are 1.5 inches longer, I didn't know how wide they would open. I have a 2001 Excursion 4x4, when I went to the auto parts store I found that the 4x2 models are 3/4" longer than the 4x4 models, so if you don't want it opened before then, order the ones for 4x2 if you have a 4x4 I'm not sure how far they will open but if you lengthen them 3/4 in. they might open about half that wide, around 5-6 in. I I don't know, I'm just guessing, I personally like them a lot, my wife doesn't.