Metal Tailgate Handle in development

Would totally love the idea of a locking metal tailgate handle as well, so I'll sub and wait away!

 

Just heard back from Luis and he said it's arriving in the next 2 weeks!

 

This is way cool! Locking would be extra way cool. A Locking tailgate would enable me to create some kind of decked bed system for tools with a security measure. Nice, without having a doublecab camper which is kinda like a unicorn.

 

I just went with the power tailgate lock: https://amzn.to/3Pqd8xv

 

I saw that one in some previous threads, that one is way cool too. For me, my tailgate seems to be a little bowed from PO forcing tailgate shut with stuff in the back. I have too kinda be hands on when I close and latch. I didn't think it would play nice. But that electric one is ideal.

 

The inside of my tailgate is also dented in and has sometimes affected the power lock. I just added a piece of foam rubber to the inside as a sort of soft spacer and it has worked fine since then.

 

Do you think that 2 week timeline is real? Or more like the 2 months you heard from them back in February

 

Haha, hard to tell. The way that he worded the response made it sound like "finally" they are coming in. He made it sound like they are in production now (maybe even finished), and they are just waiting on the product to arrive. He said he would email me immediately when they are available.

 

Just heard from Luis that’s it’s available. Its currently cheaper here https://amzn.to/42dGtTx

 

I just bought one

 

Just installed mine. So much more solid than the stock one. Works just fine with the electric pop n lock too.

 

A few years ago I bought a pair of the metal door handles and they're solid. After seeing the above photos I ordered their metal tailgate handle through Amazon. I'm sure they're a nice upgrade.

 

Just received, build quality seems decent, but it’s not all metal. Just the actual handle is metal, the rest is composite. Finish wise, you can see the recession where the threaded inserts are in the composite exterior

 

Well from my limited experience it was the handle part that broke on the OEM I had. So that part being metal is a big plus IMO. Will be buying one. Already have the metal door handles and they have been bullet proof.

 

It’s the same with their door handles. Only the part your hand pulls on is metal.

 

Received my new tailgate handle Saturday. Didn’t take long to install it. Looks good and feels solid.

 

Finally got around to installing mine, turned out to be defective. The rivet has about 1/8" play, causing the metal plate and the spring to sit at a weird angle. The plate barely touches the latch and jumped it after I installed, causing me to need to remove the tailgate panel from inside the bed in order to open it back up, and the spring will climb the retainer pins each time I pull the handle, causing it to jump the pin after about 10 opens. I'm returning this one and will be buying another. Hopefully the next one won't have issues.

 

Based on the response times I got from the company, I bet you could just contact them directly and they’d just send you one.

 

I got mine through Amazon originally, so I just initiated a return with a replacement. If the second one is bad as well, I'll reach out to the company directly.