Pop N Lock Tailgate Lock Failures

I have a 2014 that I bought new. I'm on my second pop n lock. The little plastic tab that actuates the rods on the inside of the tail gate broke off on my first one. It might have lasted two or three years. I went quite a while with the oem handle back on there because I figured it was just going to hspoen again with a new one. I blame the cold. The material they use seems to get very brittle in the cold, and we get some pretty extreme cold here. I finally broke down and got another one in the last year or so, since there's no other option. We'll see how long it lasts. I'm trying to be ultra gentle with it this time.

 

First thing I installed on my '14. When you go to install it, it's becomes pretty apparent which plastic piece is going to break first. As an amateur fabricator, I'll be making new parts from steel once mine breaks. I've had mine for 6 months now, though, with no issues!

 

Good idea. I'm going to have to dive in and lube up mine. It's still working after having it on for a couple years, but I can tell it's getting harder to open. Some people try to open it and think it's locked, but really just requires more force. Probably will eventually break if I don't do anything.

 

6 years running and mine is fine. I guess it really depends on your conditions. I live in a salt free environment and have a bakflip cover so maybe that makes the difference.

 

Makes me feel better about my kit. I live in a salt-free, warm area as well. Time till tell!

 

I have the painted / keyed alike pop&lock, with the add on actuator. Just hit the two year mark with no issues!
I don’t let anyone touch it though. Haha

 

Mine broke within a month of installing it. It had to be drilled out to open my tailgate. Contacted Pop N Lock who warrantied it and sent a replacement. Sold the replacement and put the stock handle back in. Won’t buy again!!

 

Since the handle is plastic, I was concerned about it's strength, especially in cold weather. What I do is before I pull the handle I push the top of the tailgate forward (toward the cab) to take the pressure off the locking mechanism. Then while pushing, pull the handle to open the tailgate. Opens nice and easy.

 

Never did this but will give it a shot - tx 4 the info.

 

I live in NJ and have a cover but it just butts the tailgate so water does get inside - the parts inside are metal and plastic so the metal rusts and bind up so the pop n lock won't work if you don't keep it lubed but this is in NJ don't know where U live or how the cover keeps the water out - covers the top of the tailgate ?

 

I would also gladly pay much more for a better quality tailgate lock. I had the standard key-only version that failed on me during a camping trip. I had to attack the tailgate cover with a Leatherman until I could wrangle my arm far enough in to pull the gate open.

Even if you sold individual upgraded components based on the Pop N Lock platform, i'm sure you'd more than profit the time and investment you put into it.

 

This is my concern too. I had one for a couple of years, then it started getting tougher to operate, so I took it off. I was worried that the stupid thing would break while locked with my cover closed. I'd have to cut the cover to get to the tailgate then destroy the tailgate to get into the lock.

 

I went with the

$122 PL8521 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tacoma, Fits Models 2005 to 2015 (PL8521)

PL8521, since it uses the OEM tailgate handle. This model doesn’t have a keyed lock, so I rigged up a 550 cord emergency release in case it gets stuck in the locked position. I also managed to find one of the TacomaTruckParts reinforcing brackets used on eBay, which I installed as a preventive measure. I’d say that it provides the best of all worlds.

 

Ardrummer, can you elaborate on what and how you rigged a 550 cord?
I've just recently acquired my 2012 sport, with an electronic, no key, locking tailgate. And this thread has me worried.
Truck has a few mods, but no literature.

 

I roughly followed the setup shown in this thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/pop-n-lock-pl8521-install-with-emergency-release.445898/

Basically, you’re attaching a piece of cord to the solenoid (powered, moving part) so you can manually yank it down into the unlocked position. It’s not a refined solution, but it’s definitely functional. So long as you rig the loose end of the cord out of sight, you won’t be compromising the purpose of having a locking tailgate either.

 

Mine was a manual lock. Broke when a little plastic post snapped off holding the tension spring. Could not open the tailgate without first removing the panel, which for me was difficult because I have the Mobtown tailgate reinforcement.

Forced to put back on the OEM handle.

 

Sounds like a

$122 PL8521 Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tacoma, Fits Models 2005 to 2015 (PL8521)

PL8521 is in your future. If you want the locking function back, anyway.