Makes me feel sick seeing this

always up sets my stomach to see this kinda stuff posted online. For sure they have to been stolen. Happen to my brother and sucks seeing it.

 

Fleet trucks with utility toppers.

 

Yep, and they're always white. There's a wrecking yard in Portland, OR that has a bunch of them for $650 each. OK deal if you need a white one. Not a good deal if you have to pay to have it painted.

 

I see them posted all the time in LA area. Going rate is $300-$350. All colors.

 

How do you even report something like this

 

Now those may be stolen. Hard to say. All I know is I looked for 6 months for a nice speedway blue tailgate. Finally gave up, bought a new bare shell, and had it painted.

 

Thank you for reminding me to leave my tailgate locked

 

And if you park in an area where people have bars on their windows, lock up your spare tire.

 

Yea sucks they steal them. My brother brought he’s tacoma brand new. Not even 200 miles on it and they stole it at he’s apartment. And then one day some bum off the street comes into our shop asking about he’s tacoma and he happen to have one same color. And sold it to him for $250 probably same bum who stole it.

 

This is why everyone needs to etch their contact info in/on the tailgate somewhere inconspicuous so that you could tell law enforcement exactly where to took for your unique identifier. If it gets stolen, start browsing the logical places they would likely sell it on and if you find good candidates, figure out a safe way to inspect it. If you find yours, don't tip them off on the spot, say that you'll pass and get straight to a police station and report it.

 

This is why all Tacoma owners should spend the $8 to prevent this, by doing this mod:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tailgate-theft-how-to-prevent-it.27829/

 

After I got into an accident in my tacoma

After my accident insurance got me a brand new tail gate from dealship. I did this mod right away.

 

Dang, never realized there were tailgate thieves out there. Shitty

 

The white ones were probably take offs from fleet vehicles. I know here in Texas orkin pest control has switched to tacomas and most of them have those utility campers to store their gear. No need for tailgates. But tailgate theft is a thing. Easy target. Just like catalytic converter theft. Some bastard got mine out of my first gen in the middle of the night along with 5 other tacos in the neighborhood. Insurance took care of it. But I agree with the hose clamp. Good theft deterrent.

 

I did the hose clamp on my tailgate a week after I bought mine in '09.. with the backup camera they are NOT cheap!

 

Sad to see this post. I saw a Tacoma pass me this afternoon missing their tailgate. I did the locking hose clamp mod when I upgraded from a 3rd Gen to a 2nd Gen.

 

Haven’t seen any tail gate posted lately for sale. Wonder if they stop stealing them.

 

Hose clamp that bitch!

 

Pop n lock. Once they bust the handle trying to open it, there's no way it's coming off.