Pop n Lock - PL5300 - IT BROKE

Quick RANT for you all... Since I got this thing installed from the dealer I have not been impressed with it. The handle portion of this product looks like it has been chopped out of a piece of scrap plastic with an exacto knife. Also, when opening the tailgate if feel like I am going to break it to get it open.

Yesterday the Pop n Lock decided to break because it couldnt handle its one and only job. I was hauling some dirt in 5 gallon pails for a backyard landscaping project and when I try to unload them, I pull up on the handle and NOTHING. When closing it from my last trip, I never heard anything break and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Anyways if you are thinking of buying this product I would highly recommend looking at other aftermarket brands. Of course this review is my opinion and not anyone elses that own this product.

I go to the dealer on Friday to get it fixed / replaced. If I can have my way I will have the OEM one put back on and have a credit in the accessories department.

 

from what ive read on here, many people have problems with the new Popn Lock for the +09 w/backup camera. some have had to make their own modifications(read: Fixes) to get them to work properly as a handle. this seems like an inferior product, i really wish there was a reliable way to lock the dang tailgate. the last thing anyone needs is a tailgate stuck in the closed position. well besides another hole in the head.

 

There seem to have been an update to this model. I bought the same one a couple of weeks ago and it opens and closes very easily. The plastic also does not feel flimsy at all.

 

It happened to me only time and it was because my son didn't close the gate completely, one side didn't latch. When I pull on it, it was just loose and not doing anything. After pushing in that unlatched side, it works again normally.

 

I Agree. I just installed mine last week and its nothing but great. Seems to be well made and opens just fine.

 

Just wait, it will crap out. Ive had one for about 2 months and started having problems. Hard to open, locks itself. Pop&Lock is giving me an electric one to replace it. I would suggest getting the electric one.

 

I received my PL5300 (painted version) as a Christmas gift and installed in March. In a nutshell, it's unreliable and poorly made. It used to lock on it's own, but quit doing that since the weather has warmed up. However, now that it has warmed up, it has locked me out on one occasion for whatever reason. It has the "flimsy" feel unlike the stock handle.

The dull paint finish was also a disappointment. The paint has been scratched off at the top where it pivots due to the lack of clearance between the lever and fixed section.

Since I purchased this directly from the manufacturer, I am going to contact them to see if I can get a replacement or a refund.

tb

 

Mine locks every time i close it!
They sent me the replacement spring but it was sent back for insufficent postage, and they resent 2 weeks ago and no spring yet!
I called them the beginning of April,so almost 2 months waiting to fix this piece of sh!t!
Sorry, just venting.

Denis

 

The POS just locked me out, and my f'n tonneau cover was locked so I had to pry that open to get to the stinking tailgate and then unbolt the crappy thing to get to it while still up. It was a nightmare, and doing it in 98 degree weather really didnt help me...Anyway, thanks to the advice of 64Wildcat I will be ordering a new spring, and a new pop n lock, just to see if they did upgrade it or not. I swear mine never felt like it worked correctly. I had one for a 2008 and it was a dream. It was well made, it felt more sturdy than the stock handle. This one however feels like a piece of plastic junk...hopefully I can find my stock handle if this doesnt work out.

 

Finally got the spring last week, so far it's working fine but only time will tell, my old one worked fine for a few months then sh!t the bed.

Denis

 

Have had mine for a couple months and posted on here how I was unimpressed with it.

It is cheaply made and feels flimsy. So far, mine has worked as it's supposed to, but I use my truck less often than my other car, and the bed only part of the time then, so it hasn't had as much use as many of you other folks.

I'm hoping it doesn't shit out. If it does, I'll either go with another manufacturer (if there is one) or go back to the stock OEM handle (I kept it).

 

Had the dealer install mine.. Waste of money as usual.. Anything they touch always seems to not work right after they have it..

Anyways, Mine gave me some problems at first so i decided to investigate.. Noticed that the dealer didn't lube ANY of the parts in the tailgate. Some grease and TLC made mine work Very smoothly and hasn't given me any more problems.. (I greased the springs, levers, slots, and just about any movable part inside of the tailgate)

 

Well a week after the new spring is installed it shi!t the bed again today!
Had to basically break into the toneau to get in the bed!
I'm now back to the oem one and will probably look into a Dynolock.

Denis

 

Wow been hearing a lot of negative comments about the PL 5300 lately.

Dennis, I'm very happy with my dynolock.

Also I was born in Billerica...small world. Go Sox.

 

Hey Kieth wow small world is right!
Did you get your Dynolock from Dynolock's site or from somewhere else, i'm having a hard time finding one on line?
I'm going to the game tonight!

Denis

 

Awesome man hopefully Clay has a good outing.

I got it from dynolock's website. It's a one-man shop near Dallas, so sometimes they run a little bit behind....I'd give them a call...

 

ThosePop Locks seem to be a real piece of junk from all the negative comments about them,I was going to get one once but reading all the bad things I decided to save my money. I have a tonneau cover that has its own lock and this will have to do Im, not wasting my time and money on a Pop n Lock.

 

I can't find my stock handle...but i know its in one of those boxes...(looks over pile of 30 box mountain...)

I dont understand, some people aren't having ANY problems with pop n' locks. My buddy has one on his 2010. He's had the lock for just about 4 months. His is also better made than mine, which is a bit weird, unless they have upgraded since they first released them. I ordered a new one, but if it sucks out of the package, im done with them forever.

 

Mine works mostly fine. It's stuck a couple times, but cycling the key seems to fix it. Definitely feels flimsy when operating it, and I don't open the gate all that often since most of what I throw in the back is easier to load/unload over the side. Bought mine in late 2009.

The one real improvement is the alignment of the backup camera is more helpful in paralell parking with the lens switched to the other side of the handle (curb lines up with the edge of the licence plate pocket in the bumper when I'm at a good distance now). If they've upgraded the construction, I may have to contact the manufacturer and see about a replacement though....

 

a little over a month ago Pop N Lock made a serious design change in the way they manufacture the whole assembly. I spoke with a rep today and he is shipping me the latest revision which has MUCH thicker plastic on the "finger" that operates the lever as well as the handle itself (no more flimsy feeling). So, if you have any issues with flimsy handles or things breaking, call em up and they will replace it with their new model. I'm supposed to get mine tomorrow.