Locking tailgate (that's better quality than Pop and Lock)?

Finally stopped being lazy and wrote up a full product review on the Dyno Products / DynoLock actuator.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...mise-of-companies-avoid.758996/#post-27054885

Good news: The company sucks so bad they no longer exist.

Bad news: They got me for $140, now I have a paperweight.

I bought a Pop and Lock

$122 PL8521 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tacoma, Fits Models 2005 to 2015 (PL8521)

PL8521 now and going to install with stock tailgate handle, do the reinforcement like @thelate1 did in post #91, and paracord mod for when it dies. To me this seems like the best long-term solution. Replacement actuators are cheap and the Pop and Lock mounting solution is the least bad of the bunch. I've also already got @christian06 's anti-tweaker device and a locking camper shell. Short of welding the tailgate shut I'm not sure what else I could reasonably do.

Thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing your experiences. Helps to know what is good and what is junk.

 

Interesting... I put a DynoLock on my tailgate about 10 years ago... their "ultra durable" version... and it is still working perfectly. I did experience the problem of that screw loosening or stripping due to the power of the actuator after about 5 years so I modded that to be stronger. But otherwise it has been perfect. I expect it to last the life of the truck. As usual YMMV....

 

Yeah I think I just got unlucky and they shuttered the business just as I was having problems. Can't win them all I guess. So much for the "lifetime warranty".

And I was definitely pumped to have this one work because I think the materials/contruction has the potential to last longer than the others. Sadly they gave up on me and sent me defective products.

 

I didn't read all the way through your long posts but if your main issue is that screw just fix it and you should be good to go. I don't recall exactly how I did mine... I'll have to look and see if I posted it here in a thread at the time. As for the company being out of business, shouldn't matter. The actuator itself which is the most probable failure point is generic, IIRC. Too bad they are out of business but I can understand that happening if this is the only product they made. There are only so many Tacomas out there, not everyone is doing this mod, and there is competition from P&L.

 

Here is that thread... unfortunately I didn't take pics. IIRC I used larger gauge screws and epoxy. This was 5 years ago.

Heads up - Dynolock failure | Tacoma World

 

This one appears to be well made: https://www.extremeterrain.com/sear...lgate+Lock&generationId=27&vehicleType=Tacoma

 

I explained in the post why I had issues and it wasn't the screw at all.
I will not be installing the DynoLock product, it is poorly designed in my opinion as explained in my review post.
I'm happy you got one that works. I'm not happy they took my $140 and left me high and dry.
I will be using the Pop and Lock

$122 PL8521 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tacoma, Fits Models 2005 to 2015 (PL8521)

PL8521.
Thank you.

 

Looks pretty good. Do you know if it works with tailgates that have the camera? I have a Pace Edwards tonneau cover and I like it a lot. It is made very well.

 

Reviving this thread to see if I can get some ideas for a first gen. This is my first Tacoma and I'm new to the site. Only option I see for 1st gens is the manual pop lock unless you guys are aware of anything else? The auto locks appear to only be for the 2nd gen going forward. Love the idea of the padlock but I have a folding cover on the bed and wouldn't be able to get to it.

 

You could cut that section out of a 2nd or 3rd gen tailgate and graft it onto your 1st gen tailgate. 3rd gen would be super nice.

 

I'm happy with the Pop and Lock so far, although I just installed it. The power actuator is awesome, the handle feels fairly solid, and the manual lock cylinder feels a lot smoother after some Tri- Flow. I have a black truck, the rest of the exterior plastic looks faded to begin with, I figure the handle will eventually match.

 

Hi Chris bought one of your brackets. Can’t get bolt to remove. I see in threads that the bolt is welded. Please give me advice on how to remove.

 

They are definitely not welded, use a punch that fits in the factory T40 and give it a couple good solid wacks and it will break free.
There is reverse teeth on the backside of the head and sometimes they really bite in.