I work at FoMoCo here in Dearborn, we offten get E-mails from our security people warning us about Tailgate thefts. You should see all the F series in a Ford parking lot. If they're not locked it's like shooting fish in a barrel.
Another thing to look out for is spare tire theft.
The bad guys here in the Detriot area like to take a jack handle, you know the one you use to lower your spare tire through a hole in the rear bumper, and cut off the two bends on it. So it is just a straight rod with the flat tip on it, then chuck it up in a cordless drill motor.
Get the picture?
They can have your spare tire on the ground in less than 15 seconds.
Lock it, or loose it.

 

They say 'no key' with tailgate.
Why couldn't they make a key for $1.79 if they're asking $500 for the tailgate.

Better yet, maybe they should say,
"If you need this color tailgate, your key may already fit."

 

I bet you don't even know where Calgary is.

 

If you haven't had your tailgate off, go through the exercise just so you know how to do it.

And afterwards, you will know why locking it is a good idea.

Once you know how to do it, its a 20 second operation. No kidding.

 

I keep mine locked at all times. Dealer told me that the tailgate can run as much as $2000!

 

GOOD THREAD

 

You know, I don't keep my tailgate locked. But one day last summer I was at a local mall, when I came out, I got in the truck and took off down the highway. A few miles down the road I noticed that my tailgate was open. I know I didn't open it. I always wonder if I thwarted a theft when I was walking back out to my truck.

 

So, has anybody else done the hoseclamp trick? Regardless of whether or not the tailgate is locked, it still prevents someone from walking up and lifting off the tailgate. I can easily remove my tailgate when necessary, it takes a few minutes and a long handled 5/16" nutdriver. Unless you looked real close when the tailgate was open, you'd never know the hoseclamp was there.

Thieves look for easy targets. If a thief wants to steal tailgates then he expects to walk up and ****** one off in 7 seconds. Even if I happen to leave my tailgate unlocked and a thief happens to target my tailgate, he would yank on it and it wouldn't come off. How nervous do you figure he might get trying to figure out why the tailgate won't come off? Most likely he will move on and go for an easier target.

Yeah, locking the tailgate is now an option and I lock it when I am not going to be working for a couple days. But I work out of the back of my truck and my tailgate stays down most of the day when I'm on the job. For those of us who actually use our trucks as trucks, the hoseclamp trick is worthwhile.

 

Now that is funny!!

 

I put a hose clamp on both sides. Very easy and inexpensive.

 

Glad I have the electric tailgate lock, just click the key fob and its locked.
A big fat zip tie on the hinge works good too.

 

I DO
Later Trev
P.S. Just your luck to, especially if they un cancel the season tomorrow.

 

Hate to get off topic but what did he say about the intake voiding your warranty?

 

Even though I keep my tailgate locked (most of the time), I just installed a hoseclamp around the right hinge mount. That should keep an honest man from stealing it!

 

After reading this I started locking my tailgate and retrax too. Can someone explain this hoseclamp thing a little better? I don't understand.