Tailgate theft....How to prevent it....

[chris4x4]

There has been alot of talk on here about the theft of tailgates. The Tacoma Tailgate comes off VERY quickly and easily:



AS you can see, it took all of 10 seconds to remove my tailgate.

Now, In the Cheap/easy mods section, there is a ton of info on how to prevent this. If wanting to use a hose clamp, this is what you will need:

1. SAE #20 clamp. This clamp is for diameters of 3/4" to 1 3/4". 18mm to 44mm if your Canadian or from some other country that isnt on the same page as us Americans. You can use a screw driver, or a small socket to install these. OR, you can pick up "E-Z Hose clamps from your favorite Walmart. They have a "Key" on the nut of the hose clamp that can be removed,and is uses a 5 point head so a screw driver or socket will not work on these. Amazon also sells these clamps online.

Here is a short vid on how to install the E-Z Hose clamps:



Close up pic:


You may have to use a pair of pliers to remove the Key from the clamp. If it doesnt come right off, get some pliers and pullit off with those. Afterward, the key will come right off when used to remove and reinstall the clamp in the future.

I didnt remove anything to show how EASY AS PIE this is to do. Now, Go out and do this. $2.54 is cheap as opposed to replaceing a tailgate.







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[eordonez]

Now you tell me....

[neontrail]

DUDE!! I love you!!!!

I loved the birds and the kid in the backround!!

Nice work!! And TY!!!

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by eordonez

Now you tell me....

Christ, Ed, its been in the Cheap/easy mods for how long???

[eordonez]

Originally Posted by chris4x4

Christ, Ed, its been in the Cheap/easy mods for how long???

I know.... I know.....

2.45 against 1k

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by eordonez

I know.... I know.....

2.45 against 1k

You can be our spokes person for this mod.

[eordonez]

Actually I get it now, you are trying to rub it on my face....

Its working....

[SecretSquirrel]

Originally Posted by eordonez

I know.... I know.....

2.45 against 1k

Just buy the stolen one off ebay for 300...

[eordonez]

Originally Posted by SecretSquirrel

Just buy the stolen one off ebay for 300...

yeah, im gonna send him a message, if he has a black one he hasnt seen on his garage....

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by eordonez

Actually I get it now, you are trying to rub it on my face....

Its working....

No, Buddy, Im not. I DO, however, want to let everyone know that it can happen very fast. If you have an alarm, which I do, and it was "Armed" at the time of my vid, you can see that it wont set the alarm off. I have heard too many tailgates getting yanked off of trucks, and I have NEVER lost one with this mod. Im pretty sure someone has tried, as one time I came out to my truck and the gate was down. SO, its a very small investment to protect your tailgate.

[eordonez]

Originally Posted by chris4x4

No, Buddy, Im not. I DO, however, want to let everyone know that it can happen very fast. If you have an alarm, which I do, and it was "Armed" at the time of my vid, you can see that it wont set the alarm off. I have heard too many tailgates getting yanked off of trucks, and I have NEVER lost one with this mod. Im pretty sure someone has tried, as one time I came out to my truck and the gate was down. SO, its a very small investment to protect your tailgate.

I know bro....

Yes gents, you better secure your tailgates..... its not cheap to replace....

if yours gets stolen, DONT BUY IT on a non trusted place..... they might be the ones that stole it from you.....dont create the market for them....

[SC4333]

Excellent demonstration, Chris!

I'm sure this will bring some more awareness to the severity of this problem, and just how easy it is to get ripped off.

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by SC4333

Excellent demonstration, Chris!

I'm sure this will bring some more awareness to the severity of this problem, and just how easy it is to get ripped off.

Thats what Im hoping for. And to show its just as easy to prevent it from happening.

[Liam1234]

GREAT VID's. THANKS!!

[Lentsnh]

Originally Posted by chris4x4

There has been alot of talk on here about the theft of tailgates. The Tacoma Tailgate comes off VERY quickly and easily:



AS you can see, it took all of 10 seconds to remove my tailgate.




Now, In the Cheap/easy mods section, there is a ton of info on how to prevent this. If wanting to use a hose clamp, this is what you will need:
1. SAE #20 clamp. This clamp is for diameters of 3/4" to 1 3/4". 18mm to 44mm if your Canadian or from some other country that isnt on the same page as us Americans. You can use a screw driver, or a small socket to install these. OR, you can pick up "E-Z Hose clamps from your favorite Wall Mart. They have a "Key" on the nut of the hose clamp that can be removed, so a screw driver or socket will not work on these.
Here is a short vid on how to install the E-Z Hose clamps:



I didnt remove anything to show how EASY AS PIE this is to do. Now, Go out and do this. $2.54 is cheap as opposed to replaceing a tailgate.

Nice write up Chris. But will the hose clamps scrape/or rub off the paint when you open and close you tailgate?

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by Lentsnh

Nice write up Chris. But will the hose clamps scrape/or rub off the paint when you open and close you tailgate?

No. Before I made the vid, I removed and reinstalled mine a few times to see if any paint damage has been done. The only damage I have ever had from this mod is, on my Nissan, someone tried to pry off the clamp, and it scratched the paint around the tailgate attachment. Nothing visable when the gate is closed.

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by neontrail

DUDE!! I love you!!!!

I loved the birds and the kid in the backround!!

Nice work!! And TY!!!

Well.....I umm..Love you too, neon.

[Delmarva]

Rep to you sir

[TicTacOma]

Sounds like someone lives near Sky Harbor. Can you see the "Camel" from where you live?

Thanks for passing this along. This was the first thing I did as soon as the truck hit my driveway. Also installed the tailgate lock, total time for both mods....20 minutes. If you have a cordless screw gun with a Torx bit adapter, those Torx spin right out, you slide the lock through the existing handle, put on the two nuts and then button it up.

Sorry to hear about your 'gate Ed.

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by TicTacOma

Sounds like someone lives near Sky Harbor. Can you see the "Camel" from where you live?
.

Yes. I live RIGHT under the flight path of the south runway. Sometimes I feel like I have to wave off the pilots that want to land on my roof. I dont mind it actually. I like planes, and I cant hear them in my house.

I used to have a GREAT view until about 2 years ago when some 3 story condos were built in front of my house. SO, no, I cant see Camelback.