Pop-n-lock vs OEM tailgate lock?

I went with OEM and have had no issues. I did pay my mechanic to put it on a lift for the install though. Much, much easier.

 

Just installed it yesterday. running the wires was fairly easy. Getting it over the fuel tank was tricky, but I was able to fish it through without too much trouble.
Toughest part for me was getting the stupid kick panel off, then back on. I know you just pull it off, but I didn't know which direction to pull. I was pulling back toward the read of the truck, but you're supposed to pull 90 degrees to that. Getting the little clips lined back up and stuffing all the extra wires in there was frustrating too.
The noise from it doesn't bother me. I think it's an overblow "problem." Sounds about the same as the tailgate lock in the Silverados we have at work.

 

Yes, the self locking thing is in the settings on the head unit that you can access via the controls on the steering wheel. You can alter the setting for how long it takes for the doors to automatically lock. I made mine 30 seconds, which I think was the shortest time, even though I always manually lock the doors with the keyfob, since learning that the signal can be hacked. I lock the door with the fob, then using the same fob, I turn off the remote, therefore eliminating the ability for thieves to copy the signal.

 

I could not find an autolock setting in the headunit of my 2016 sr5

I missed it or I have an old version of software.

 

Mine was port installed works great but I really don’t know if I have the OEM or Pop-n-lock I hear the port sometimes uses the Pop-n-lock.

 

It depends on the year. When the power tailgate locking system was first introduced, it was only available as an option, to Southeastern US dealers. It was a PopNLock, even coming in the original PopNLock packaging, but had a Toyota Part # sticker added to the package. That was when I ordered mine from a dealer in Raleigh NC. It was about a year or so later, when it became available all over the country and I think it was the next year, 2020, I think, that they started coming already installed on certain models. But I also heard that now, they do not come in the PopNLock packaging anymore and that Toyota has their own now, which is probably still a PopNLock! I've had mine now for almost 5 years and it is great for me, because I rarely go into the tailgate or bed area, and it remains locked almost all the time.

 

I bought the PNL and returned it for reasons I forget, something at tailgate did not fit well. OEM at parts dept was a few bucks cheaper and a relatively easy install. Very happy with it.

 

OEM works great for me

 

Sorry for the delay. After I read your comment, I went to my truck and I admit it took me a few minutes to FIND it myself! But it is there, albeit it is difficult to find. Well, wait a minute. It 'may' depend on your year and model. I have a 2019 TRD Sport and I can just tell you from my own experience, where the autolock setting is. On the head unit screen, go to Apps. There will be a option called Settings. Go in there, and you might have to use the arrows at the bottom of the screen to find it, but then look for a choice called "Vehicle". Go in there and you should see an option called "door locks" or something like that.

 

Not to bring up an old thread,and sorry if I missed it somewhere reading through. Is the OEM backwards compatible for a 17 or only 19 and up?

 

If you see it is designed for 16 and up, then that is for 3rd gen. If you want OEM, contact the local dealer for the price. Pop n Lock can be found anywhere such as Amazon, etc. You can install it on your own or have someone to do it for you.

 

I installed the pop n lock. It was easy. Runs up to the drivers side kick panel. Plug and play

 

I just installed the OEM version in my 2023. Easy install. Runs up the passenger side and the connecter plugs in behind the kick panel. Works great.

 

When the 3rd generation tacomas came out, this tailgate auto lock/unlock, was not even available. Then, they made it available at certain toyota dealers in the southeastern US only. It was simply a PopNlock put into a toyota bag/box, and then sold with a toyota part number on it, but only in the southeastern US. I actually ordered one from a dealer in Raleigh NC at the time, and had them ship it to me. Toyota also supplied the exact directions on how to install it, and indeed, although their directions were to install in connecting to the left side, or driver side, it can also be installed on the passenger side too. However, what none of them said, was that it could also be installed on the left side, but instead of connecting it to the door lock/unlock buttons, it could also be connected to a direct SWITCH, that PopNLock actually has/had, at the time, which was a rocker switch for either locking or unlocking the lock on the tailgate. THIS, was what I got and installed, as to me, it just didn't make any sense to have the tailgate lock and unlock, every time I locked or unlocked, the doors of my truck! I can certainly see it, if I was someone who used my truck for business, and every time I got out, I would need to go into my tailgate, but that is not the case with me. I rarely go back there, and it is always locked with a metal tri-fold tonneau cover over the bed. The factory installation instructions are for connecting it to the driver side, thereby making is so, every time one locks/unlocks the driver door, it would also do the same thing to the tailgate lock. By connecting it to the passenger side, it would only lock/unlock the tailgate whenever you pushed the FOB button twice to unlock all four doors. But to me, even that didn't make sense to be locking unlocking the tailgate for no reason, so I got the rocker switch, and had it installed near the bottom of the left side of my dash. It looks like it came from the factory that way, and it just makes more sense to me, that way.

 

The OEM Tailgate Lock was already in production by the time I bought my 2021 Sport in May of the same year.

That's interesting that Toyota did not have an OEM Tailgate Lock when the 3rd Gens were introduced in 2016.

And putting a PopNlock in an OEM Toyota Box at the introduction of the 3rd Gen sounds odd.

I purchased/installed the OEM Tailgate Lock and because I have a short-bed, it runs down the passenger side--the Long Bed wiring runs down the driver's side.

I've been using the bed of my truck lately for Top Soil needed for my yard...I've done multiple trips & hauled almost 90EA/20lb bags from Lowe's in the past couple of weeks.

Hearing the actuator lock/unlock reminds me that the system is working as advertised.

EDIT: I have read members who installed the PopNlock complain about the noise level.

 

Yes, and Toyota ended up offering the Toyota popnlock later on in I think, early 2020 and I think it was later that model year of the 2020s, when it became an option directly from toyota. And if i am remembering correctly, it became a fully toyota part sometime around late 2020 or so, without the popnlock logo on it. I think it is still a popnlock though, although I am not sure. Somewhere i actually have a picture of those early toyota parts with the toyota part number on there, and you can clearly see that it is an official popnlock even though it is in a toyota box! Now, I am curious myself! I Do know I did a video of my version of installing the popnlock with the popnlock rocker switch installed. OK, I paused writing this, as my curiosity got to me! I found my video and right there in the description, I actually put the part numbers, etc of both the toyota version and the popnlock number! I'll go ahead and include them here, along with a link to my video that shows how I installed it. I am not monetized on youtube, but I put it out there to help the guys in this group way back in the day! Following are the part numbers listed in the description:
This also works on 2016-2019 Tacomas and possibly other 3rd generations. The part numbers are: Toyota Official part# = 00016-34092 PopNLock Part number =

$170 PL8535 POP & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tundra, 2007 to 2021 Toyota Tundra, Truck OEM Lock, Anti Theft, Truck Tailgate Lock Replacement, Easy to Install, Made in The USA (PL8547TUN)

PL8535 PopNLock Dash switch part# = PL9520
Here is the link to my video: https://youtu.be/9qeKhgnc3UI

 

The noise is annoying to a point but serves as assurance it’s working, I installed pop n loc to the drivers side with no need to cut anything. I also have a hard trifold that hides content. Since I golf (a lot) after a round it’s nice to pull up, hit the unlock button and store the clubs. No key no mess. It did however for a reason unknown to me enable the autolock feature. Adjustable through the setting screen.

 

Here's the OEM box mine came with...I did not do a close-up but the P/N I ordered is listed below.

I did need to install the locking press nut (I did), which I circled in photo.

It does say it's for a Long Bed when I did quick search but I do remember there are 2 P/Ns base on bed size.

Post# 12 starts off the install: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/trd-sport-5-14-2021-loving-my-3rd-gen-tacoma.738836/

 

The noise from pop n lock that I don't mind but here is a story that works for me:

I went to the bar, I noticed through the window that people walked up to my truck to look through my tinted windows, I press lock button on the fob to activate the loud bang via the lock. That scared the crap outta them then walked away..

 

Wow, I noticed the price. I paid $85 for my popnlock and I am 9.9% sure they are the same thing if you see them without any packaging! But hey, its all good!