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

lol $27? no thanks. If someone wants to take time to uncrew my awkwardly positioned hose clamp, they'd probably steal the entire truck while they are at it.

 

Just did this mod, took less than five minutes in the dark, in the autozone parking lot. Awesome!

Note - you might have to do a bit of searching in AZ or similar parts stores as the associates weren't very knowledgable. The package said nothing in regards to SAE #20, but the UPC/price tag did. On the back of the package it said the diameters.

Mod was done in the dark with a gerber diesel to assist (flat head).

 

Yeah I bought a set at Autozone and just used the diameters you saw on the packaging. I didn't see SAE #20, but it didn't matter.

 

Nice! TY!

 

Im thinking about filling up the screwdriver slot with a hot glue gun so nobody can unscrew it. and imma get me a washer for 5 cents too hahaha

 

Ha ha if they have a screw driver, hot glue isnt not going to do you much good. It'll just give with a nudge with a screw driver.... you need to weld or solder for it to work. I'd personally just screw it in an awkward position or just get a turn-key clamp.

 

Here are a few extra things you can do to help prevent tailgate theft.


Drill or grind off most of the hose clamp head so that it cant be turned with a screwdriver or socket.



The other deterrent I like is the washer mod.






Hope this helps somebody.

 

Does this apply to 2010 that have rear camera?

 

Just did mine Sunday. Put it at an angle that if anyone was going to steal it they would have to have 2 people and crawl on the ground.

 

Yes, even more reason to proctect your tailgate. $$$

 

One person could still probably easily access your clamp. When your tailgate is closed is the head of the clamp visible between the lower part of the tailgate and the top of your bumper when looking at your truck from the back?

Be safe drill off 90% of the head. You know what they say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

no you can't see it from the back and you have to hold the tailgate at a 45 to get access to the head, but i might drill most of it off just to be safe

 

The hose clamps I`m familar with are flat tip screw driver , driven... Do the have another type that would be more secure?

 

Good set of ideas guys!

 

I did the hose clamp mod with the removable key BUT I really like the cheap washer idea. Excellent post and just love this forum just for reasons like this....

 

Thanks BakoTruck, Myself and my 2 Son all have taco`s, and this will surely avoid grief....

 

this might have been already asked? you secured both sides of your talgates with those clamps, correct? makes sense to do both.

 

Nope. Only the right side

 

I've got a 1999 2WD 2.4l short cab; I checked my tailgate, and it appears that it is attached with large screws (factory) ... is this typical? I tried to lift the tailgate as shown in the vid, but it will not budge. Methinks it's probably about as secure as it's going to get, right? Am I missing some vital "theft trick"?

 

I'm really digging this easy mod. What type of metal is the washer to insure it isn't going to rust?