Anti theft tailgate lock

[BigBrother-84]

Hi Gentlemen!
Searched over the topics and did not find a conversation about this.  I'm probably blind, pretty sure this subject is already covered...
Anyway, I'm back with it:  Is there an anti-theft lock solution to protect our precious OEM tailgates?
Thanks!

[grumpin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZtkKtqgBc

YMMV!

[grumpin]

On a serious note. I have thought of getting one of these and painting it and store my original.

Looked at flow through tailgates and don’t like that idea when I’m not towing all the time.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/shi-575-71?seid=srese1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhITshNue9AIVnB-tBh3h2wbhEAQYAiABEgJsIPD_BwE

Edit: I just checked $124 to ship it! Ouch!

[BigBrother-84]

OMG, Dane!!!
I just precise that here, shooting from any type of vehicle (even ATV) is completely ILLEGAL! So imagine my little person when I look at these guys, who are calmly talking about "hunting" with machine guns mounted on an "easy to operate" automatic tripod... it seems completely surreal!  It sounds to me as a humoristic Hollywood Rambo parody

That said, I also tought about a "James Bond" similar approach, when his car simply explodes during an attempted theft.
Goodbye the thief, but unfortunately the car too...

Well, I would prefer a solution that enables to not keep the truck locked in my garage when going to the grocery with a "fake truck", so if I am stolen, it won't be the authentic one.

If a nice lock solution does not exist, there's money to make to create one...  I'll think about that!

[Gary Lewis]

There are two accepted ways of "securing" the tailgate:

A hose around the right pivot/hinge will at least slow the thief down.

A lock, like this McGard or this Pop & Lock. But Amazon says the McGard doesn't fit our trucks and doesn't say about the P&L, so you'd need to do some research.

This video discusses the two:

[ratdude747]

Gary Lewis wrote

But Amazon says the McGard doesn't fit our trucks and doesn't say about the P&L, so you'd need to do some research.

Funny... I was about to say "I bet the McGard does fit" but looking closer, sure enough, my 1995 Ranger isn't listed on the package either (which uses the same tailgate hinge size). Looking at how it's designed, I think it's a more than a size issue... probably geometry; since it's a hook the lock probably can be spun to a position that allows removal that on other makes isn't an issue?

The Pop&Lock one looks more promising since it's a wraparound... supposedly universal. Some reports of them not actually locking though... could be user error?

[grumpin]

I like the hose clamp idea. Better than what I have now!

Edit: Went and looked today. The lock and hose clamp won’t work on ours. Guess a handle lock would keep anyone from opening it.

[mat in tn]

Well i will say gentlemen that if you are confident in trying it. It is a bit fiddly. And i normally am working with fresh paint , but you can remove the pass side drop slot pivot and replace if ( in situ) with a driver side full pivot. It is a bear to do but its a bear to steal also

[Gary Lewis]

Interesting!  Hadn’t thought of that. May try it. Thanks.

[grumpin]

That’s cool! Hadn’t thought of that.

[salans7]

grumpin wrote

I like the hose clamp idea. Better than what I have now!

Edit: Went and looked today. The lock and hose clamp won’t work on ours. Guess a handle lock would keep anyone from opening it.

I have hose clamps on my Rangers, but when I tried to put one on the F350, I realized the same thing.

[Gary Lewis]

So, the hose clamp won't work?  Bummer!

Unfortunately our tailgates don't lend themselves to a handle lock.  The later gates have an inside panel that allows you into the innards of the gate and you can add a lock.  In fact, I have one.  But our gates don't have the panel and it doesn't look easy to add a lock.

[salans7]

Nope, the pivot socket is surrounded by the tailgate's sheet metal, so you can't get a hose clamp around it. On my Rangers and the 1987+ tailgates, the pivot sockets are fully accessible.

[grumpin]

At least they won’t be stealing the catalytic converter off my F250!

[Gary Lewis]

salans7 wrote

Nope, the pivot socket is surrounded by the tailgate's sheet metal, so you can't get a hose clamp around it. On my Rangers and the 1987+ tailgates, the pivot sockets are fully accessible.

Bummer!

[mat in tn]

I have already recycled my own converters thank you

[grumpin]

mat in tn wrote

I have already recycled my own converters thank you

I was trying to be funny, mine didn’t come with a catalytic converter.

[BigBrother-84]

grumpin wrote

I was trying to be funny, mine didn’t come with a catalytic converter.

Relax Dane, you got your public!
I catched and smiled since BigBro doesn't have any neither.


I am serioulsly considering to design something that could fit our tailgates, maybe "inspired" by something similar to Pop & Lock.
Can't admit there's nothing to do!

[BigBrother-84]

Last edit:

Gary went a different way, installing an alarm system on Big Blue's tailgate:

Gary Lewis wrote

I couldn't find a way to lock the tailgate on Big Blue.  I thought of cutting into it and installing a lock like you can put on the later 'gate which has the removable panel, but came to the conclusion that wasn't going to work.
So I went a different direction.  I put a security system on the truck with switches on the hood, doors, toolbox lids, and tailgate.  Now I can lock the truck with a push of the button and anyone that tries to open any of those items will be met with a raucous noise when both the horn and the siren go off.

Find the details on Big Blue's Transformation topic:

https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Big-Blue-s-Transformation-tp28014p126213.html

https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Big-Blue-s-Transformation-tp28014p126364.html

https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Big-Blue-s-Transformation-tp28014p126545.html

[Gary Lewis]

Well done, Jeff!