DIY Tailgate Lock ... will it work?? (link and pics)

I was searching Tail gate locks and found this awesome DIY. Its on a 2nd Gen. Have any of you guys done this on our 1st gens? I'm intrigued!

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...k-writeup-lots-pics-56k-go-walk-your-dog.html

 

I did something similar on my 1st gen, although I didn't take any pictures during the process. If there's sufficient demand, I'll open it up and take some pictures and do a little write-up.

The biggest difference between what is shown in the post to which you linked is that I didn't do those bolts between the tailgate and the bed (due to the fact that if it is locked and the tailgate is open and you forget that it's locked, you can surely do a fair amount of damage to the tail lights, bed, and tailgate). Instead, I have the shaft from the door lock actuator going into the inside of the handle, which locks the handle. This way, you can close it when it is locked without issue. I put that in about a year ago and it's still going strong.

Let me know if you guys want a write-up on it...

 

Thats and interesting twist and a great idea!! You don't need to pull it apart and do a write-up on my account, but if others are interested as well that would be awesome!

I am curious what u ran the wiring to, driver or pass doors. As stated I'm no good at electrical.

Thanks

 

im very much interested because i have a friend that lives close by and they just stole his tailgate

my area where i live isnt too bad but you can never be too carful

also ill be installing power windows and locks on my base model so i can get an extra actuator very easily

 

Why reinvent the wheel? Just buy a $30 Pop-A-Lock tail gate lock and be done with it. I have one and it works great and looks OEM.

 

^^ ditto. installed mine in 15 minutes.

 

I don't see this as reinventing the wheel, but rather, putting different tires on a wheel. If we all just limited ourselves to talking about what can be purchased, this forum may as well just be a Tacoma parts and accessories website store. If we limit ourselves to what can be purchased, we stifle innovation and originality.

I don't think that someone buying the pop & lock is necessarily a bad idea, but I hardly think that developing an original solution is bad either; to each his own. My motivation for making a solution, as opposed to buying one, is several-fold: 1. I like to develop unique solutions as opposed to buying what anyone else with a credit card can buy. 2. Although the pop & lock is not terribly obviously aftermarket, it certainly doesn't look OEM and definitely indicates to a potential thief that you have something that you are attempting to protect, which may motivate said potential thief to investigate further. 3. I don't want to cart around yet another key and have to remember to lock the tailgate.

Again, to each his own, but I think one of the biggest things that has made this site so unique and valuable is the sharing of innovative solutions, not just sharing products that can be purchased.

 

Where'd you find one for $30? (They all appear to be at least $50.)

 

yes what he said ^^

my trucks a base model meaning no power doors or windows

so i would rather just spend some money on actuators and alarm stuff and create my own unique unlock lock all doors with said stuff

my plan is simple power doors/windows remote start and alarm i dont want to pay someone 600 bucks to do this so id rather do it myself

although i have a creative mind seeing a few peoples ideas in fruition seems a bit better than me "winging it" and trying to do something that might not work

like the guy said above to each their own but defiantly love the actuator locking system for backdoor seems almost ingenious why modern models dont have it

my .02 cents

 

I'm most interested in this mod because of its creativity and factory appearance, but more so because I don't want to have to use a key to open the lock. haha Call me lazy but I like being able to just press the button (from my comfy chair and beer) and it will unlock for someone, then "beep" and just lock it up again. No more borrowin the keys, losin them, etc. The stealth of it is pretty cool, and the use of it with my cap seems ideal. Also, I could sleep inside and lock myself in, then unluck from within, that sort thing

 

I just replaced mine with a new tailgate. Mine had bolts to get it off. I guess thieves are running around with a 12mm socket and extension to take it off?

 

Thanks to TIPICOTACO for locating what Google's Product Search couldn't: a $30 one available at http://www.trdparts4u.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=-4530.

 

Pop-n-lock most certainly does look OEM. Just sayin'.

 

I still don't understand you're reasoning behind this. Why waste your time when a $30 Pop-a-Lock will protect your tailgate and YES they do look OEM. Your reasoning about a thief being attracted to a tailgate with a Pop-a-lock is COMPLETELY FLAWED. That's like saying if a thief sees an alarm sign in the yard of a house, that's going to attract him to break into the house. If a thief who steals tailgates is searching for trucks, he is going to go for the truck that is the most vulnerable and safest for him to get it off and out quickly. If you have a Pop-a-Lock, NO THIEF IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would sit their and try and unscrew panels or risk jarring up the tailgate or spending minutes to steal it off the truck when they can just go to the truck right next to to it without a lock and take that one off in less than 10 seconds. I'm all about innovation, but I'm a big believer in efficiency and worker smarter, not harder.