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

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by chris4x4, Feb 21, 2009.

  1. May 18, 2016 at 10:31 AM
    #1041
    tomwil

    tomwil Well-Known Member

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    Tailgate has to be open for it to be removed.

    So if the tailgate is closed & locked, it cannot be removed, unless the lock is defeated.
     
    NYCPJM[QUOTED] likes this.
  2. May 18, 2016 at 10:32 AM
    #1042
    NYCPJM

    NYCPJM Well-Known Member

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    Thank you TomWil
     
  3. May 19, 2016 at 5:51 AM
    #1043
    MortalWombat

    MortalWombat Member

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    So I removed the driver side hose clamp and rotated the passenger side one when I saw where the head of the clamp was pointed when the gate was closed (straight back between the tailgate and bumper and easily accessible). Then I saw how easy is is to turn the head with needle nose pliers, so I went and ordered a Gate Keeper from trucknvans.com (cheaper than Amazon). I plan on doing the washer trick, and filling the heads of the screws on the Gate Keeper and on the quick release brackets with hot glue (not the low melt kind, the hi melt). I'm thinking multiple layers of deterrent but still reversible if needed. I'm hesitant to buy a Pop n Lock because I've heard about them failing after a short time and not working any more from several people.

    tacomatailgateright2.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2016
  4. May 19, 2016 at 5:59 AM
    #1044
    Do58

    Do58 Well-Known Member

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    What pop n lock are you referring to the has been failing? With or without the lock/key?
     
  5. May 19, 2016 at 6:04 AM
    #1045
    tomwil

    tomwil Well-Known Member

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    Have you considered the newest theft deterrent device in place of that clamp?:

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tailgate-anti-theft-device.428094

    [​IMG]

    Also, the Pop n Lock can be made more reliable with a simple modification:

    [​IMG]
     
  6. May 19, 2016 at 6:08 AM
    #1046
    MortalWombat

    MortalWombat Member

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    Well, the Gatekeeper is already ordered, but now in the mean time I've read that some people have had problems removing the torx bolt on the tailgate to install the Gatekeeper, and may or may not be welded on. I'm going to check mine after work today, and if I can't get it off, I'll cancel my order and consider the other one.

    I'm still researching if anyone has had problems with the powered version of the Pop n Lock before buying one. I might go with that. I'll probably end up getting one anyway if I ever get a locking tonneau cover, since most of them require a locking tailgate to be secure anyway.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2016
  7. May 19, 2016 at 7:18 AM
    #1047
    T@co_Pr3runn3r

    T@co_Pr3runn3r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    If you rotate the clamp where the screw head faces up at 45 degree angle when tailgate is open, the gatekeeper will fit on with clamp there too. I have had the manual older version popnlock PL5200 that the lock is in lower half that fills in the indention in the tailgate for 6 yrs or more on 2 different trucks and have had no issue with it. The newer PL5400 replaces the handle part and does not fill in lower half of the indention. See how whole thing is filled in on mine and keyhole is below the handle..........



    Pic of gatekeeper over the hose clamp on old 05 AC............

     
  8. May 19, 2016 at 7:39 AM
    #1048
    MortalWombat

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    Yeah, I read that about using the hose clamp in conjunction with the Gatekeeper. I think I'll throw a T40 torx bit into my manual hammer strike impact driver and give it a few taps on the torx bolt. If it's just thread lock and/or paint that is giving people problems, that should loosen it up. If it's welded, I guess I'm out of luck.
     
  9. May 19, 2016 at 8:34 AM
    #1049
    T@co_Pr3runn3r

    T@co_Pr3runn3r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    Must be paint and the washer underneath. Mine was not welded, just really tight. Be careful not to strip the bolt head.
     
  10. May 19, 2016 at 8:54 AM
    #1050
    MortalWombat

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    I saw in another post somewhere that the 09 and later ones were welded, but I've seen other posts and reviews where people put it on their 2012 or 2013 Tacoma and didn't say anything about it being welded. Maybe it was something specific to 09 and they quit doing it, or they were mistaken. I'll find out if mine is later this afternoon.
     
  11. May 19, 2016 at 12:55 PM
    #1051
    mcdee

    mcdee Well-Known Member

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    TRD center cap, quick bed mat, Gatekeeper, WTs, TRD skid plate from bpfab, plastidip emblems, security slider bar, interior LEDs, AFE Pro Dry air filter
    I have a 12, purchased a Gatekeeper but couldn't remove torx bit easily and didn't want to take a chance messing something up so I stopped by dealer. I went back to the body shop, told the guy I couldn't get it off and he removed it easily. I asked him if it was welded and he thought they used something similar to loctite. FWIW I've been happy with Gatekeeper.
     
  12. May 19, 2016 at 6:32 PM
    #1052
    MortalWombat

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    Well I got the bolt loose with a T handle bit driver and a T40 bit. Didn't have to use the impact driver. Now I wait for the Gatekeeper.
     
  13. May 21, 2016 at 9:50 AM
    #1053
    MortalWombat

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    In the mean time I got some stainless 1/2" washers and some nylon 0.500x0.317x0.125 washers to do the washer mod. Works good. The small nylon washer fits perfectly on the shoulder of the torx screw and allows the end of the cable to rotate freely. I got the washers at my local Ace Hardware.

    Washer1.jpg Washer2.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2016
    docloco and tomwil like this.
  14. May 23, 2016 at 6:51 AM
    #1054
    MortalWombat

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    Got the Gatekeeper on and filled the heads of the bolts with hi melt hot glue.

    tailgatebolt1.jpg

    gatekeeper.jpg
     
    T@co_Pr3runn3r likes this.
  15. May 28, 2016 at 8:29 PM
    #1055
    scleaf

    scleaf Well-Known Member

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    SaBellCo's Tailgate Lock :), Cable mod
    I like my washer better, old disk from an old hard drive :) Priceless

    14644924986061394049257.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2016
    tomwil likes this.
  16. May 29, 2016 at 5:21 AM
    #1056
    MortalWombat

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    Ace Hardware was all out of old hard drives when I went. :p

    I also went back with a utility blade and trimmed the glue flush with the heads of the screws to make the glue harder to get out.
     
  17. May 29, 2016 at 12:11 PM
    #1057
    scleaf

    scleaf Well-Known Member

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    Funny! Had a few hard drives that went bad and the disk were kind of cool. I did have to machine the inside hole, to allow the fastener for fit correctly. Tried a few different approaches. Ace would have been the smart thing as I spent more time then I should have. Going to use some epoxy putty because once it dries it is very hard to get out.
     
  18. May 29, 2016 at 1:50 PM
    #1058
    scleaf

    scleaf Well-Known Member

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    Followed up with some good old JB Weld
    1464554976567-2006326573.jpg
     
  19. May 29, 2016 at 1:54 PM
    #1059
    MortalWombat

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    I still want to be able to take it off myself if I want to (using a heat gun), otherwise I'd use something like that. I'm working on the premise of using multiple layers of annoying and time consuming deterrent to keep my tailgate from being stolen.
     
    TRDSport10 likes this.
  20. May 30, 2016 at 3:47 AM
    #1060
    tomwil

    tomwil Well-Known Member

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