Bed Mat Theft Prevention?

I don't have a garage to keep my truck in. And I am not going to take it inside every night, especially with how bad it smells. But it is just like carrying anything else in the back of the bed. All it takes is someone to look in and see if there is anything worthwhile stealing. It has the same value as a $100 tool like a hi lift jack, the spare wheel, or the cat.

 

I can make a plate and rivet it to the mat. On the bottom. But I am going to put a bolt on it first. I have one of them.

 

Be careful where you drill, there are a lot of emissions-related components under the bed, especially near the front and on the driver’s-side. Last month when I drilled holes in my bed for a tool box I mounted back there I missed drilling-through my Charcoal Canister by about two inches.

Oh and make sure you secure your spare tire too. Those are something which are commonly stolen (happened to me 20 years ago at College). Since then I secure them with a cable, a padlock and I write ‘NFG’ in white paint on them.

 

You do you my dude. Whatever gives you peace of mind. *thumbs up*

 

I have a garage, but my Taco lives on the street or outside behind my garage. If someone wants my bed mat they can have it. The spare tire or tailgate, those I’ve secured. Oh and your cats if you haven’t noticed are mounted very high-up near the engine so they are nearly impossible to steal, unlike the older ones which were mounted low and were bolt-on.

Oh and after a month or so that bed mat won’t smell like a rubber factory anymore

 

The first thing I got with my pickup truck 20 years ago was a PopLock. Worth spending $30 so someone doesn't walk off with a $800 tailgate. My new truck has a locking handle, but I don't trust it and might get a lock for the hinge also.

 

Thanks. I was reading about the cat thefts and people said they were still having them stolen even after being moved higher up. People think about just the whole vehicle being stolen, but these losers will steal anything they can to make some cash. And then the repair cost is 10 times what they get for the part.

 

Thanks. I was not going to drill a new hole in the bed, just use the center drain hole and drill a hole in the rubber mat. What is NFG?

 

Bed bolts is the best if you want a serious answer.

But really, it's not going anywhere. Just because you and I know it "costs" $100 from Toyota doesn't mean some random petty thief sees it and thinks sweet that's $100 brand new! It's a huge chunk of heavy rubber, not a block of copper or tools lying in the bed. Nobody's stealing a $40 (horse stall) rubber mat to pawn somewhere.

 

I didnt like keeping a physical key with me and didnt get the poplock, so I opted for the hinge lock. Since the only thing in my bed is a shit shovel I dont worry about theft of things in the bed... just the tailgate

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-2016-tacoma-tailgate-lock.513023/

 

Are you saying were better to look on the black market first if there are so many to be stolen when getting a bed mat for these trucks?

 

A pile of fake poop should work. Can even hide your truck key under there lol

Happy Friday y'all

 

Lol beat me to it!

 

NFG=‘No Fing Good’ Those three letters (along with a lock & cable) have been keeping my spare tires safe since the one on my T100 got stolen in ‘96

 

S&W 9MM!

 

Ok. Thanks. I was looking at a thread here and people said just putting a padlock on the spare chain lowering mechanism helps.

 

I am saying in my area there are new looking ones being sold for $60 to $80. And I don't see that kind of item being something people would buy and then decide they don't like and put up for sale right away.

 

That's gonna suck in the mud and rain on the side of the road with a flat tire... Then you'd need to put a bolt cutter in your tool box.

 

Yes, I am looking at getting that one. It's pricey at like $100, but the tailgates are way more expensive and the tailgate lock on my new truck seems kind of cheap.

 

You’re welcome.

I like the cable and lock method because in a pinch I can remove the cable and lock from the spare tire and use them to secure something else. The one on my T100 has been used to secure an ATV or MC in the back of my truck when I’ve forgotten to bring another lock and cable. I use padlocks designed for marine use or covered in rubber. I leave the locked end on the top of the spare tire so it’s not hanging-down.

I keep the key for the padlock on my key ring and one labeled in the glove compartment in case a friend is driving my truck and needs to lower the spare.