Is there a VIN tag on the tailgate?

I will never set foot in CA but if for some unknown reason I do I would like to put a sign on my tailgate that says “this tailgate has a VIN and I have a gun and know how to use it”.

 

That’s why most likely I will never set foot in CA!

 

Don’t worry, they won’t let you pass through the fruits and veggies check on the border

 

"Break into this truck, you might find a free gun!"

 

Also, are you carrying said tailgate in on foot or gonna drive?

 

It’s Friday!

I will say this and let it rest I will not sit around knowingly and let someone take my stuff without a fight!

 

Naw brah. We really like to help our criminals succeed, here it’s customary to help, get them the correct tool, show them the YouTube vide, make it easier for them. Shit I know a bunch of people where I live, they leave the keys in the vehicle.

 

I would play dumb with the seller and start by asking if they know if it will fit a 2nd gen Tacoma. Tell them you know they changed it a little and would like to see it to get some measurements. Show up in another vehicle and measure it while taking pics of said measurements (and a few of the seller and surroundings) then point out it has a lock (say something like cool my 2nd gen doesn't have a lock I wonder if I could get this to work on my truck?) then slip your key in and try it. If they ask where your truck is, tell them you were rear-ended and it is in the shop. You're trying to help them source a new tailgate.

If it turns out not to be yours, decide if you want to buy it. If it is yours, retreat and decide what to do with the info - like getting law enforcement involved.

 

Good on you for already being in this unfortunate situation once already and having the courage to stick up for yourself and property again. Hopefully if it is your tailgate you get it back and his scumbag gets charged

 

At night? So during the day you can’t? I must have missed that part in the code. Read the code you posted real slow so you understand. It may even help if you stop at the end of the sentence to think about what you just read.

 

Here we go with the CA bashing. I’ve been to Texas and Georgia and they are both hellholes for different reasons. Every state has good and bad.

 

I sure do love a good old fashioned pissing contest.

 

All the bad shit comes out of CA! Yes, others have good and bad but CA has all bad……

 

All the bad shit comes out of cali? I don’t think so. You’re from Georgia so I don’t expect you to understand.

 

More on topic: can anyone think of a good way to mark your VIN on the tailgate without compromising the paint? Maybe electropencil it into the plastic, but thieves could remove that from the tailgate if they notice it.

 

Forewarning, I didn't read past page 1, so if its already been said, disregard; arrange to meet to buy at the local police station, get there early to fill out a report for stolen tailgate, inform that you "may" be meeting the individual selling it out in the parking lot in 30 mins, and go from there. If its in fact yours, he won't show, you'll never know, but at least you'll have a report.

 

Maxwell Smart and James Bond will give you super-special invisible ink that thieves will not see/read when they inspect all of the surfaces. Else you can scratch it is and clearcoat to protect, then thieves will grind it out and tell the buyer "not a structural issue".

 

Personally I would etch it twice. One on the lower metal lip of the tailgate, so that it is barely visible when the gate is open. Then I would do it again on one of the structural braces behind the plastic panel. Paint over each with clear, as suggested above.

 

He probably wouldn't show anyway. Might not be his tailgate but the odds are it's stolen from someone.