turning off tailgate autolock

Not necessarily for your needs, but it could be useful to wire it up to a dash switch. That way if you want it to autolock most of the time, it will. But if you push a button, it will be disabled. I'm not sure what the harness looks like, as I don't have one, but it should be pretty straight forward based on what I've seen of the OEM lock manual.

 

I'm so out of it. Is this feature standard for 2021?

 

no, I added the oem kit to my new 2021 TRD OR
Pretty common port or dealer add-on.
The kit cost me $123 shipped

 

But the harness behind the passengers kick panel would require disconnecting two connectors and reconnecting the original connection, plus removing and replacing the door sill plate and kick plate.
If I were to install a switch, I'd splice into the tailgate harness behind the bumper and run the pair of wires up to a convenient location to mount a SPST switch. Someplace like the inside of the in-bed storage box.

 

I believe it's an OEM accessory that can be added to any Tacoma from 2019 & later. They have two kits, one for a long bed & one for a short bed.

 

I wish my 2017 came with locking tailgate. I just bought the R4T kit! Installed and good to go.

 

Yes I think this is a little work but the best solution. Should be simple (in concept) to interrupt the triggers to a simple toggle or pushbutton switch.

Op you don't want it to lock with the key fob, but for me I don't want it to unlock with the key fob. In my case I have the autolock tailgate and a Leer topper with a pop n lock. I would like to be able to lock stuff back there and valet park the truck or ship it with stuff inside and not have anyone have access to it.

I was on the fence about the autolock, but I am glad I have it. One of these days I will wire up the interrupt switch.

But if this is a time=money situation, just unplug the connector at the footwell side inside the cab so you don't have to be concerned about moisture getting in connectors.

 

like you said, you could add a t connector at the splice point by the rear bumper, you would need to add a spdt switch...I did the same just used the triggers to lock the canopy door....will see if I can find the #'s of the oem connectors...

 

Thank you Velequez, a few torex screws latter and that miserable automatic lock has been overcome. The shell will lock it well enough and it has not been a problem for the last 15 years, don't see why it would become one now. It auto locked while I was standing there looking for the correct size driver head to take the screws out, with the tailgate down.
Toyota may want to remember that sometimes the owners have friends that may want to access things back there, e.g., for a fishing trip. And the friends don't have the unlock "doohickey." That and there is frequently more money wrapped around the behinds of the other fishermen than the entire value of the silly vehicle.

 

Naw, if you do that the DRL’s won’t work!

JK…

 

Oh, that would be terrible.

Presuming I had turned them on in the first place.