Tailgate theft....How to prevent it....

There has been alot of talk on here about the theft of tailgates. The Tacoma Tailgate comes off VERY quickly and easily:



AS you can see, it took all of 10 seconds to remove my tailgate.

Now, In the Cheap/easy mods section, there is a ton of info on how to prevent this. If wanting to use a hose clamp, this is what you will need:

1. SAE #20 clamp. This clamp is for diameters of 3/4" to 1 3/4". 18mm to 44mm if your Canadian or from some other country that isnt on the same page as us Americans. You can use a screw driver, or a small socket to install these. OR, you can pick up "E-Z Hose clamps from your favorite Walmart. They have a "Key" on the nut of the hose clamp that can be removed, and it uses a 5 point head so a screw driver or socket will not work on these.

$8 Ideal Turn-Key Clamps 5Y020V 3/4"-1 3/4" Carded Turn-Key Clamps, (Pack of 2) - 1211.1204

Amazon also sells these clamps online.

Demo of how easy it is to take off:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGt1nyTLG9Y

How to secure it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR-AJjZoGo8

Close up pic:


You may have to use a pair of pliers to remove the Key from the clamp. If it doesnt come right off, get some pliers and pullit off with those. Afterward, the key will come right off when used to remove and reinstall the clamp in the future.

I didnt remove anything to show how EASY AS PIE this is to do. Now, Go out and do this. $2.54 is cheap as opposed to replaceing a tailgate.







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Christ, Ed, its been in the Cheap/easy mods for how long???

 

You can be our spokes person for this mod.

 

No, Buddy, Im not. I DO, however, want to let everyone know that it can happen very fast. If you have an alarm, which I do, and it was "Armed" at the time of my vid, you can see that it wont set the alarm off. I have heard too many tailgates getting yanked off of trucks, and I have NEVER lost one with this mod. Im pretty sure someone has tried, as one time I came out to my truck and the gate was down. SO, its a very small investment to protect your tailgate.

 

Thats what Im hoping for. And to show its just as easy to prevent it from happening.

 

No. Before I made the vid, I removed and reinstalled mine a few times to see if any paint damage has been done. The only damage I have ever had from this mod is, on my Nissan, someone tried to pry off the clamp, and it scratched the paint around the tailgate attachment. Nothing visable when the gate is closed.

 

Well.....I umm..Love you too, neon.

 

Yes. I live RIGHT under the flight path of the south runway. Sometimes I feel like I have to wave off the pilots that want to land on my roof. I dont mind it actually. I like planes, and I cant hear them in my house.

I used to have a GREAT view until about 2 years ago when some 3 story condos were built in front of my house. SO, no, I cant see Camelback.