BUYER BEWARE: 3rd Gen Plug-N-Play Tailgate Bolt-N-Lock & Tailgate Bolt-N-Open

Not sure how caught up you are, paid on May 25th messaged and posted on here as well if you get moment to confirm you got it I would appreciate it. Thank you

 

Done, Complete
Carlos Martinez is the name of my paypal
Thanks

 

This was an easy install, and a well made kit! These trucks should have come from the factory with an electronic locking tailgate.

 

Thank you @KTJO 4x4 all in all a very nice kit!

I had received my harness prior to the bracket kit coming out so I extended my wiring prior to installation.
It may not have needed it but I felt that it would be easier to just add wire beforehand than have to back up two steps if I did need to during the install.
My other thought there had to do with time frames..., one evening this week I had just enough time to solder in some extensions
(at that time planned to do the install today) but due to my time constraints today, I knew I would not have that extra time.
I needed it to be a smooth process, start to finish and get done before work. I did not want to get 90%, it needed to be complete...
With that, the only bump that I ran into was that I had to extend one of the bracket holes about 2mm as they were not wide enough apart.
About 2 minutes with a round file fixed that.

Everything else was perfect and it turned out that the wire extension was needed so I was glad that I did it ahead of time.
No issues with the connecting rod, it was exactly the right length and the actuator works perfectly like it should and the wiring looks factory.
All of the bullet connectors were tight and did not need to be re-crimped.

The only other thing that I did differently than the instructions was that I drilled a small hole into the black plastic clips, that hold the factory harness,
at the tailgate/ back of the truck.
I did not like how the wire was wedged along side the clip pressing against the metal, I felt that this would be a potential knife edge / wear point that could eventually cut through the shrink wrap and wire. Now the clip holds the wire alongside the B/U Camera harness and again, it looks factory.
Heading to work, I will try to get a picture of this to add here, for reference.

Thank you for an awesome kit!

 

Installed today. Straight forward and easy.

The only thing I had to do more than the full kit included was extend the wiring to the actuator since it seems this kit has evolved since it was first incepted with the inclusion of the new actuator bracket.

Other than that, awesome. While routing the wiring harness under the truck, managed to grease my u joint zerks as well.

Great incentives to install this kit.

 

Ordered full kit ($95) on May 29th. PM Sent.

 

Installed my kit today. Two minor problems that were easily overcome, one of which required some guidance from KTJO when I reached out to her.

Excellent product, and the plu-n-play aspect was easy. Being under my truck to route the cable to the front did make me realize that I still have dirt underneath from Ocotillo that I need to rinse off.

I have to admit, that even my wife is really happy about this one.

Well done @KTJO 4x4 !!

 

@Norsemanvike it's funny that you mentioned your wife.
After seeing the installed kit in action, my wife commented that her Rav4 doesn't even have a key slot on the door. The only way to unlock is by the fob or the driver/passenger door button.

 

I have sent you a PM and have updated you to the list for your payment you made last week

 

UPDATE:

I have updated ALL orders at this time. IF you do not see your name on the CURRENT ORDER LIST, DO NOT message on here as that is going to get you nowhere. Please send me a PM so that it does not get lost in all the messages and I will get to it and be able to update it when I have time. Also, when you make an order and just send a message in the thread and do not follow the ordering process as far as sending the PM, it is really hard for me to tie your Payment with you and make sure you get on the list. Therefore, please make sure that when you place your order, that you also send me a message so that I can connect the two together. It makes it a lot easier. Lastly, I still have individuals not including their shipping information. When it comes your time for me to ship your package and I have to take the time to request that information from, it is just going to take that much longer for you to get your Kit because I will just move on to the next in line. I do not have time to just sit around and wait for you to respond back to me with your address. So please, make sure that gets done now when you have the time to do so. Thank You!

 

Well Everyone....I finally got around to taking pics of my own updated install. It’s only been since 2016 since I did my first install so I thought it was about time I updated my own system to what I was selling for you all. Things that I had learned over time that I wish I knew then, that I know now and what not. Enjoy the pics...

Started in the Tailgate area...why? Well, that’s the only place you should start.

The New Bolt-N-Lock Bracket & Rod - Tailgate Lock is an extremely easy process to install. Simply remove your two factory bolts, put your mounting bracket in place, and tighten your factory bolts back up using the included loctite in the Kit. It helps to mount your Actuator prior to installing the Bracket, but that can be done to your preference. That is also a pretty self explanatory install. Align the Actuator holes with the holes on the Actuator, Slip the Screws through (you may need to actually thread them threw) the Actuator, add the Rubber Washers, insert the Screws into the Bracket Holes, and then thread the Lock Washers on the End and Tighten.



To install the Rod, I just removed the little Hex Screw, slipped the Lock off, put the Rod in the middle, put the Lock back on, and then tightened the screw back in place. Done!



Just a different angle looking down the tailgate at the BNL Bracket & Rod.



Following the wiring now inside the tailgate...now this is my personal harness so it is going to obviously look different than the kit. My apologies The New Red Wire is going to be for my New Stealth Hidden Weather Proof Tailgate Switch that I will be installing...COMING SOON! The other set of wires, the “V”, you’ll see coming up.



Here is where you exit the Tailgate with the factory Rear Camera Harness and the Tailgate Lock & Tailgate Opener Harness. I actually had to switch the locations of the two Harnesses bc my Harness was bigger than the factory so it just worked out better.



Now what is this space for...



This is the home for the New Bolt-N-Lock Bracket & Rod - Tailgate Opener.



Looking at my Wire Harness inside my Tailgate, I definitely will need to make an adjustment and develop a small Wire Extension Harness for this Mod. No biggie.

I started with removing the OEM Rod to the Tailgate Latch.







Once that was removed, it made it a lot easier to insert the new BNL Bracket & Rod where I tightened the locknuts onto the factory two bolts on the inside of the side of the Tailgate.





The next step, you want to make sure you stack the Tailgate Rod for the Latch, the Actuator Bracket, then the Side OEM Bracket, and then finish it off with the included push on Nut that locks on to the Rod.



Moving to the outside of the Tailgate and looking at the Rear of the Bumper. This is where I may lose some of you guys. I did not think of switching the Harnesses prior to doing so, but I decided to drill a hole straight across from my Tailgate Entrance to my Bumper instead of going the route to the next factory location. However, I could have easily done so. You may ask, well didn’t you start in the tailgate. Yes and no. I start in the tailgate but I started with fishing the wire from inside the rear part of the Bumper.









[Will insert more finished pictures]

I am actually extremely happy with the location. I did use the same spot on the harness as the instructions because I wanted to check and see how people were running out of wire at the end of their install. So at this location I am at the end of the 8” of Wire Loom. Which means, I’m actually cutting myself a little short because I still have to travel the distance to the right to connect with the Rear Camera Harness and follow it up the Passenger Side of the Truck to the Passenger Door.

[Will insert wire harness pictures routing to front of truck]

Well I made it to the Black Grommet locates at the Passenger Door. You will find this black box covering the factory wiring. You don’t have to remove it, but I wanted to see what was underneath and I also wanted to show you guys so I removed it. There are two 10mm bolts that hold it in place and that is it. Then it just falls off.







I ran my Wire Harness right over the top next to the factory Wire Harness.



I poked a small hole and then just started fishing the wire through one at a time. I didn’t want to make the hole too big.







Once you get the wire through, just pull the Wire Loom through as well. At this point, I was expecting to have ran out of the loom or I was kind of hoping I guess in a way so I just had to pull the wire through. However, looking back now, it actually makes a very nice seal with the Wire Loom so I’m glad I didn’t.











Once you pull it all the way through, put the cover back on and it should look just like this.



Here is a close up picture of the Black grommet.



Now moving to inside the Truck. Run the Wire Loom Down the Passenger Door Panel. You can lock it in or not. I have a lot of wires so I chose not to. You may want to and that is fine.



This is how much extra Wire Loom I have at the end of my install with my 14 foot Wire Loom that I include in my Kit. You can see that I am at the end of my install here with my Passenger Kick Panel right here and the end of the Wire Loom rolled up because I have a lot of extra. It definitely has that extra 12” for a Long Bed that is needed for the install.





Well, time to cut my wire, install the Butt Connectors, and melt some Heat Shrink.



Finally, connect to the Lock & Unlock Wires on the New Plug-N-Play Harness!



And the final look down the Passenger Door Panel. Install Complete!



Thank You EVERYONE!

 

For those that are needing to resize their Rod, this is the perfect size that you need to resize it to



I just did it myself. If it doesn’t work when you put the rod in the one way, flip it the other way. Again, I just did it myself.

https://youtu.be/1N45HJqaLvo
Not the best video. Sorry. Works best if you have a good set of pliers. If you have two, even better.

 

Add my name to the list for your next batch please

Need the Complete Full Package (PNP, Integration Harness, Actuator, BNL): $95

 

what is this?

 

Tailgate side and truck side respectively.
Drilling a small hole in the plastic retainers worked perfectly with @KTJO 4x4's wiring. She made it so there is only shrink wrap @ the pass through locations (no loom).
You'll see it when you look at the harness, this also lets you know which end goes to the actuator and which end goes forward.
Pure genius X2 @KTJO 4x4 !


Edit to add: I had a couple of noise dampening butyl pads that I installed while the TG was opened up.
Between that and the rubber washers from the kit the lock/unlock is barely audible!
Standing at the door you can't hear it over the door locks.

 

Perhaps to go along with the raise/lower kit?
Close the tailgate button?

 

Those noise deadening pads are pretty pricey on Amazon. Where did you pick them up and how much did you pay?

 

I remembered that I had some left over from another project from years ago.
Not exactly the same as this but pretty close. I essentially used 2 sq ft split, top, sides and bottom.

$29 Noico 80 mil 10 sqft car Sound deadening mat, Butyl Automotive Sound Deadener, Audio Noise Insulation and dampening

https://www.amazon.com/Noico-deaden...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=8M5G4Y4V40A6PE7K8FRS

LOL I knew that I would use the soooome day.

 

Thank you. That is a better price than I was seeing.

 

I did pretty much what you did also. Felt that drilling the hole into the plastic clip was a much safer bet