Power tailgate actuator install?

ive had the pop n lock for over a year now with zero issues. from what i understand, the actuator is more robust than the oem actuator. As far as the harness plugging into the driver side vs the passenger side, the only difference is youre either running it under the tailgate towards the driver side or under towards the passenger side, its not a huge difference. zip tying the harness along the frame rail wire harness to the driver side was the trickiest part, but not even that bad.

 

For those are comparing OEM to Pop-n-Lock. The OEM version is on the left and the Pop-n-Lock is on the right.

I have used both but IMHO the OEM version has better components.

 

I just installed the Pop & Lock a couple days ago. Took about an hour to install. I've heard the OEM is a bit quieter when locking and the harness is plug and play vs the Pop & Lock which includes an additional harness connection. Probably all about preference. At the end of the day, it locks your tailgate

 

The OE kit also doesn’t have extra harness length that needs to be bundled up and stuffed somewhere.

 

I bought the pop and lock that hopefully will get installed this weekend.
Toyota says they are out of stock in the entire SE and have no restock date.

 

I got the OEM one on Amazon last week, came drop shipped right from a Toyota dealer in FL. Works perfect.

 

I chose OEM as the extra length of the PnL didn't sit well with me. The Plug N Play is very simple and a no brainer to install.

 

I bought mine from runnin4tacos a few years ago, there was not an oem option, it is more stout than the popNlock unit.
https://runnin4tacos.com/products/tailgate-lock-3rd-gen-tacoma-2016-2023?_pos=1&_sid=de62f3af4&_ss=r


It's a great mod, I come back from trail riding and can unlock the tailgate without having to dig out the actual key from my pack.
Like others, I connected to the pass side and have mine set to do driver on one press all on the second or just pull on the door and hit the unlock button.


I’ve had absolutely no issues, the install was pretty painless but I did use either 1/2" or 3/8" split loom to protect the cable.
I’d also strongly suggest getting the tailgate security cover that one of the other users makes, even with the tailgate locked the plastic lock can be punched out with a screwdriver and just pull the linkage to open it & steal it.5
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/awesome-tailgate-anti-theft-device.789915/

 

FYI people keep in mind that if the unit goes bad and if you have a tonneau cover your up-craps creek. I learned this on my son's Tacoma with the OEM tonneau cover and the lock actuator went bad, so we had to break the cover and then remove the panel on the tailgate to open the tailgate. We had to buy another used like new OEM cover and replace the actuator. I added an emergency pull cord to the release handle on mine and his so if this ever happens again a coat hanger will can be fished through the gab to grab the cord.

 

What am I missing here? Why wouldn't you unlock the tailgate with the key? Or use a coat hanger to open the tonneau cover via the release handle?

 

It didn't work as the actuator was stuck in the lock mode and no matter what we tried the key method was useless. I just added a pull cord similar to what's in a vehicle with a trunk. I tried everything as the only way was to break the cover on the corner by forcing it open as no matter what we could not reach or get enough leverage on the release handle.