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

Im not the most mechanically inclined person and when installing the pop n lock, I must not have snapped the tailgate rod arms back in correctly and when i closed it, one of them came undone and now my tailgate is stuck in the closed position. I cant remove the inside tailgate panel while in the closed position and short of cutting through the panel to attach the rods correctly, I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions anybody?

Fish

 

dog tired

I like the Cable lock as well

Bob

 

Yeah - I figure that will really put a unwanted delay in the thief's plan . Hopefully make him walk away and look for easier pickings .

It really is easy and in fact makes me feel more secure than just the hose clamp alone.

Please pump up my rep I need it now some skanks are doing me

 

I have a cable lock that came with my rugar 10/22 that I will try & use.....

 

I wonder if it is long enough and if you need to expand the bed one

 

My perseverance paid off today. I went to several walmarts in my neck of the woods but could not find the exact kind of clamp. I was getting frustrated but there was a Homedepot nearby, its located in the same area lot area of the last walmart.

I went in there and Lo and behold the last item on the shelf! I quickly grabbed it and went to the cashier. She scanned the item but it seemed not coming up. She asked me which aisle did I get it from. I showed her. She then started to tell me since it was not in their inventory she can not sell me the item. I gave her the look (O RLY?)

She then called the manager and said manager came up to us and said. "Yup! that sure is no longer in the inventory, that must have been a left over. You can have it for free if you want." (Hell yeah!!!)

I thanked her and wished the cashier a very pleasant day.

Pics up!

 

You can get them at Auto Zone the difference is that its pentagone hex not square & they are 2.99 for 2 of them....

 

Dog tired,

What king of cable lock is that????

 

Thanks good info. I noticed that it was indeed square when I removed the plastic key. Anyway, I was willing to pay for it but they gave it for free. I am happy.

 

Foot of plastic cable from Lowes
1 Cable ferrule used to lock it closed bit by bit under the truck with a vice grip

 

I would have never have thought that someone would go through the trouble of stealing a DAMN TAILGATE!!!! That is until the above video showed that it was no trouble at all. It is so sad that one would have to get paranoid over his tailgate as I did after seeing this post. After reading the post I told the ole' to get in the truck, we're going to Auto Zone. They had them, I bought them, installed them, and now the mod is done and I feel a better. TacBora was correct about the ones at Auto Zone. They come to a semi-point and I see no way to get a wrench or socket on it without it taking some time to get off. Very cool recommendation to all involved. I am very Greatfull....You guys are great.

Bu11et

 

Had the clamp on for a good while, and will also soon do the ss coated cable...found a bike lock laying around and secured my bed extender today via the rear right tie down, per advice from a former post on bed extenders...eventually a pop/lock...

 

Well thank you Chris. Even 3 years after your original post taco tailgates everywhere are safer from involuntary kidnapping. I just acquired an '05 prerunner, and will pick up those clamps today. Ya' know, my brother's taco tailgate was stolen a couple of years ago, and I had completely forgotten.....

 

'My bad. The original post was but a year ago. Not that it really matters-just my OCD kicking in

 

Works on 1st Generations too?

 

dam thats so fast haha and so funny like why would people go around and steal a bunch of tail gates? but doesnt some of the tale gates have that wire harness that is attached to the reverse cam? but thats a real good idea of putthing that water hose thing ima do that!

 

Yep, and a pair of scissors or dikes will take care of that real quick (the harness).

Used tail gates are worth a fair amount, thats why people steal them. Hell, I've had people steal my receiver hitch for that matter. Same goes for spare tire/wheel.

 

Put the clamp on last night-2.99 at AutoZone, took me 45 seconds to install. Didn't sleep the night before-after I read this thread, I kept hearing tailgate removal noises in my driveway.........

 

A drum key fits these. You can really tighten them up enough to where the silly plastic key will break before the screw can be backed out. I also installed a switch pin in the gate to activate the alarm as a 5th door or trunk. Some ahole got mine to the tune of $1,982. I strongly recommend the pin trick. $10 bucks, run a wire to one of the door wires if you have to with the factory alarm. I had 2 alarms installed from Toyota due to defects. I had them yank the second one due to the fact they wanted $75 for the pin and 3 hours labor at $125 an hour to install it. They refunded the alarm $400. Auto Page alarm installed with pins in the hood/tailgate and magnetic switch for the sliding window.....$325. Fart next to my truck and my keys beep.

 

Check this out...a hose clamp with a key. Not sure how durable, but something worth considering...
I found a Youtube video, but can't figure how to copy link here...anyone??
Found the product on sale at these 2 places:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/anti-theft-truck-tailgate-lock/p2023906.jcwx
http://www.pickupspecialties.com/Tailgate_stuff/truck_tailgate_lock_tailgate_padlock.html
I ordered one today, from JCWhitney, was $26.98 total; I'll post an update after I receive & install it.