Stolen Tailgate - *Technical* Backup Camera Question

Everyone should have some sort of lock on your tailgate no matter what community (gated or not) you live in. Last night my 2019 Tacoma Pro tailgate was stolen. After getting a few quotes from dealerships to piece together a tailgate (that's right, tail gates are not sold as an assembly, but rather as pieces) and then coordinate with a paint shop to paint it, because of course the tailgates don't come painted, I arrived at prices from $4,000 - $5,000. OfferUp and FB Marketplace are full of tailgates for sale for about $500. I almost cant stomach rewarding these thieves for stealing someone else's tail gate but I'm not sure what to do. I am most at piece with buying a tailgate assembly from a licensed dismantler who I am hoping got the tail gate from a totaled truck, rather than stole it. Beyond frustrated, and violated.

Now my question... A dismantler a few cities over has white tailgate assembly from a 2022 Tacoma. Not a Pro, so I'll have to buy the black badges and such. The backup camera on the tailgate from the 2022 has a 6 pin connector (only 4 wires occupy it: Black, Red, Green, and White) and my 2019 truck has a 4 pin connector (Black, Red, Blue, and White). Can anyone tell me if the cameras are compatible? Does anyone have access to the wiring diagrams?

Thanks for your help.

 

there weren't any major updates between the model years, at least until the '23 refresh. so other than different physical connectors, the camera will work the same. caribe makra likely has the pinout and the connector style/model.

i would also recommend considering some of the pre-painted new options on ebay. they sell only the shell, so you'll still need to come up with all the hardware and plastic covers. pivot mechanisms, inner skin, latches, handle/camera. but it's new, and if you ever wanted an upgraded inner skin that's smooth, or considered one of the tailgate storage boxes-- it would be a slightly cheaper option than having to buy a replacement and then buy the new skin as well.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326176185781

 

You can get a 2 day subscription to Toyota TIS (Technical Information System) which has wiring diagrams.

https://techinfo.toyota.com/

Looks like tailgate theft is a big problem in Southern Caiifornia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-I_dtvlOXw

 

Thank you for this! Who might have the wiring diagrams?

 

Great info! I’ll get a 2 day subscription and check it out. Have a great night.

 

Sorry to hear this Ryan. Nobody (including myself), stops to actually lock the tailgate, with the included key Toyota gives us.

Sorry, can't answer your question regarding the wiring, but I would call around the junkyards for another Tailgate.

 

car-part.com, these are salvage yards , so the whole truck is available. I would start there.

 

@ryrydtl Did they cut the camera wiring, or did they take the time to disconnect the cable under the vehicle?

 

The camera wires are not compatible. 4 pin is not the multi view camera. I just went through this thing where I picked up the wrong harness. Had to do some digging for the right one. Can’t find it right now but it’s the one with 040 not 050.

 

What's different about the camera other than the connector?

 

@caribe makaira

 

Does locking the gate actually deter this? The handle is so cheap it seems they could just tear it open and unlock it.

 

I can appreciate the concern about buying a tailgate stolen from someone else's truck. No doubt it happens daily.

Aside from the locking gates and parts sold to retrofit locks - do put a cover on the passenger side hinge to block the slot, so removal is more difficult. Some of the methods to do this are expensive and some rather simple. Being able to snatch one quickly is the attraction to thieves so anything that slows them down is good. Owners rarely remove their tailgates any more, so the "keeper" doesn't need to be too elaborate, but it shouldn't be weak or easy to defeat (Be advised the hose clamp is only good for about 7 seconds.) At various threads on this site, you will find more than a few ways to do this. If the thief has plenty of time to work and tools - its difficult to be 100% effective.

I fitted mine with a steel band made of exhaust tubing - assembled and then blocked the screw holes with JB Weld. I have found marks on the band where some nitwit thought it could be beat with a screwdriver.

 

'
I am unfamiliar with the '23 refresh. What changed between '22 and '23?

 

Thank you all for the feedback! I'm going to dive in the Toyota TIS manuals here shortly. Thankfully these thieves were smart enough to unclip the connector under the bumper so they can likely sell a working tailgate. I used an aviation grade hose clamp and filled the slot with

$53 3M 08115 , OEM Recommended Two-Part Epoxy, 200 mL Cartridge, Bonds Metal & Composites for Auto Body Panel Repair (1 Cartridge)

3M 08115 bonding adhesive. At the least it will slow them down. If the thieves are hungry enough, a simple T30 on the end of a drill can disassemble inner shell and expose the simple inner workings. We all just need to be aware of where we are parking and be as prepared as can be.

My current understanding from reading online is that: (please provide any assistance with part numbers if you know them)
1.) I'll likely need a lock & barrel set. I read the set comes with 3 barrels: driver door, glovebox, and tailgate, and two laser cut keys.
2.) I'll need a 2019 camera that will bolt to where a newer camera mounted in the tailgate handle assembly.
3.) I'll need a 2019 tailgate camera wire harness
4.) I'll need all the black badging that was originally installed on the Pro tailgate.

 

Idk I have the single view. I got the 6 wire by mistake, mine is only 4, it won’t plug in the camera end.

 

What secures the steel band from moving, or rather rattling around?

 

T22 connector is 6 pin for 3rd gen, but only 4 wires are used. Here is the diagram, the connector is at the bottom. As longer as the connector the same, you should be good