Awesome Tailgate Anti-theft device

You put the gate back in, then bolt on the anti-theft bracket.
I could not get the factory bolt out, so I threw in a hose clamp for now. It is better than nothing.

 

No, if you put the device on with the tailgate off, it won't go back on

 

Being a frugal MF'er with a tailgate lock and a black truck, I contemplated putting a HD Black zip tie there in case I ever fail to lock the truck which is basically never

 

OK so that's a problem . . . back to not enough space to get the T45 socket in to tighten the screw - What do you use to get in that narrow space. Obviously people are putting them on . . . so how? Sorry - I guess by now you can tell I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box on this one. But I want to get it installed.
I live in a rural county and really don't worry around home - definitely not in my driveway - but when I go to the BIG mall or Costco, places like that I would like to know it's installed.

 

I used a SS pipe clamp. Gate has to be opened completely in order to access the screw in my case. That was the to-go fix for he Gen 2 trucks. My 2005 did not have even a tail gate lock. I installed a Pop-a-lock on it. Problem is that both OEM locks and Pop-a-lock can be defeated semi-easily. Device in this thread (or a pipe clamp) is a security on top of the tailgate lock.

 

The part where the clamp goes on is angled, so how do you get your hose to stay in place?

 

Theses sound really well made, and seem like a great additional layer of security for the tailgate.
My 3rd gen is 99% garaged, but we do camp/overland quite a bit, for weeks at a time and this feels like the ticket to getting a bit more confidence when/if we have to leave the truck unattended.

I'm in-between jobs atm, but applying and interviewing quite a bit, so I think once I get an established income again, I'll be ordering one of these.
I know I've read the pricing, but do you still offer color matched powder coating?

TIA

 

Use your left hand to push the clamp up the slope, while tightening the screw. Clamp will deform to adjust to the angle of the hinge. Use 1.75" (or 44mm) length clamp. It leaves a small tail that does not hurt anything. 1.5" is too short, 2" is too long.

 

OOOPS - wrong thread

 

This is neat! But for now an 70ish lb german shepherd and a glock will do the trick

 

Only problem there is it costs a lot more to feed said German Shepard than it does for the device and you have to be there at the truck for the Glock to be effective. But yeah other than those minor details your approach is for sure would be 100% effective - defense in depth right?

 

I use an Allen wrench one, or sometimes a T45 bit in a small rachet wrench

 

Here it is installed

 

That's what I used to have, there were 2 things that changed it, 1. I got tired of looking at that cheap ass hose clamp on my nice truck.
2. Every tweeker known to man has a screw driver. Haven't you ever seen the shit they take apart, lol

 

I could not get the torx screw out on my gate to save my life. Tried a breaker bar too. If I could, I woult be instaling your thing.
You have a pont about the screwdriver. I need to file the screw head flat. I use a socket to install.

 

Yes, that is too ugly to be on (or in) my new truck. Got my metal thingy, powder coated from Christian.

 

Thx again my friend

 

Maybe get a hose clamp with key instead of "file the screw head flat"

 

I installed one of these at an downward angle that makes it very tight/hard to get the key to/in the right place to loosen it. It will take some time and fiddling to loosen and remove it which is not what a perp wants to be dealing with.

I also painted it gloss white so it's less obvious that it's there. I wanted to dip or coat it with white Plasti-Dip, but I couldn't find any. Spring project. I'm thinking of doing the same to all of the chrome emblems on the truck, including the letters on the Pro grille and the chrome grille surround. I'm on the fence about the letters. I actually like the subtlety of the flat silver color which doesn't really seem exactly silver. Easy to undo if I don't like them as I don't think I'd ever be able to exactly match that color again using paint to bring it back) Baby Steps.

 

Nah, this clamp has been bought and paid for.