Taco Tailgate Theft Deterance

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/who-has-had-their-tailgate-stolen-or.58447/page-22#post-11472641

Or just use a couple standard hose clamps and position the nut at about 5 o'clock so you have to use a 1/8" ratchet, short extension, universal, socket to tighten/remove. No thief will have the tools with him.

 

Good luck stealing that!

 

I did this same thing right away as soon as I first heard about tailgate thefts 3 years ago. However, one thing I did though, was to PAINT it black first, so it didn't look so obvious. Another tip I read hear in tacomaworld, and which is another good tip, is that instead of placing the hose clamp as shown in this pic, with the SCREW on the top, ROTATE it, so the screw is on the BOTTOM, in other words, where YOU have to screw it from under the truck. That way, only the clamp shows on top, if they even notice it if it is painted black, and because one wouldn't see the screw, they wouldn't know how to go about taking it off. This is deterrence of course, but in the darkness of night, I don't think a thief is going to be messing with this anyway, especially if the screw is turned so it is underneath the truck!