Lock Your Tailgates?
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 130
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From: Littleton, CO
Lock Your Tailgates?
Hey guys, I forgot to post this, to see what everyone's opinion is. I went to the dealership today, to make sure air intake didnt void warranty. The dealer that I know is a great guy, and we often find ourselves talking for long periods of time, just about cars and other things. Well we went for a walk around the lot looking at trucks and what not, when he told me to always remember to keep my tailgate locked. He said that the dealership had five tailgates stolen in one night. The dealership said that they had never locked tailgates before now. I am not sure locking it will prevent it from being ripped off, but I am going to keep it locked at all times. The dealer said that the tailgates can sell for about 400-500 a piece, on the newer trucks. Just thought I would give you guys a heads up.... 
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Cali
I locked my tailgate ever since I had a damn 88 or so Mazda truck millions of years ago...tailgate down, exposes screws for tailights...taillights gone in the morning.
I noticed when I had a Tundra, I was able to lock the tailgate...same story - screws are exposed for taillights if you open the tailgate.
Keep mine locked always...people always ask why when I unlock it to load some stuff, but hey...its not their money or insurance they have to worry about. Id just rather have piece of mind knowing it will 99% still be there when I drive my truck again. Whats 1-2 seconds to unlock it when needed right?
I noticed when I had a Tundra, I was able to lock the tailgate...same story - screws are exposed for taillights if you open the tailgate.
Keep mine locked always...people always ask why when I unlock it to load some stuff, but hey...its not their money or insurance they have to worry about. Id just rather have piece of mind knowing it will 99% still be there when I drive my truck again. Whats 1-2 seconds to unlock it when needed right?
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Another easy thing you can do whether or not you have a locking tailgate is to get a hoseclamp and put it around the right hinge and tighten it down. This covers the slot in the hinge so you can't lift the tailgate off. Therefore it's no longer a 7 second deal to remove the tailgate, but a 4-5 minute deal.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Bridgman, Mi
Ok, Is this correct? If the tailgate is locked then you also couldn't steal the cargo cage. I've never paid any attention to the design and that's pretty poor because I'm an engineer and that kind of stuff amuses me. I think that the only way the cage will come out is if it's flipped over on the tailgate so then tailgate must be unlocked and open. I think anyways.
Jeffery
Jeffery
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Originally posted by ScrewBall2004
Ok, Is this correct? If the tailgate is locked then you also couldn't steal the cargo cage. I've never paid any attention to the design and that's pretty poor because I'm an engineer and that kind of stuff amuses me. I think that the only way the cage will come out is if it's flipped over on the tailgate so then tailgate must be unlocked and open. I think anyways.
Jeffery
Ok, Is this correct? If the tailgate is locked then you also couldn't steal the cargo cage. I've never paid any attention to the design and that's pretty poor because I'm an engineer and that kind of stuff amuses me. I think that the only way the cage will come out is if it's flipped over on the tailgate so then tailgate must be unlocked and open. I think anyways.
Jeffery
this is true, but not all F150s have the cage.
Think of it this way, this is the easiest body panel to steal, so if you wreck yours, or if youre a body guy with a wrecked F150, you steal a tailgate and save the $1000.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Bridgman, Mi
I guess if you really think about it, it could be a rather expensive ordeal. $1000 for a tailgate (I'm using J-150 #'s), lets say $50-$100 to replace bed protection (if you have any) and $200-$300 to place that cargo cage (if you have one). So you would be at least out $1000.00 or have to file a claim with your insurance company. Or you could just drive by the mall or by a dealer and find a truck that has all of the above,,, never mind I'm just kidding.
I guess I'm going to start locking mine.
Jeffery
I guess I'm going to start locking mine.
Jeffery
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,409
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From: Sunny FL
My tailgate was vandalized 11-02-03 and had to be replaced.
Summary of charges
Parts (unpainted blank / no hardware) $351.84
Shop supplies ______________________$3.00
Body shop material _________________$92.40
Labor ___________________________$296.40
Sub-total ________________________$743.64
Tax _____________________________ $44.62
Total Charge _____________________$788.26
Thankfully, my insurance paid 100% and since it was a tailgate, I didn’t have to leave my truck at the body shop.
Summary of charges
Parts (unpainted blank / no hardware) $351.84
Shop supplies ______________________$3.00
Body shop material _________________$92.40
Labor ___________________________$296.40
Sub-total ________________________$743.64
Tax _____________________________ $44.62
Total Charge _____________________$788.26
Thankfully, my insurance paid 100% and since it was a tailgate, I didn’t have to leave my truck at the body shop.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Maryland
Originally posted by ScrewBall2004
Ok, Is this correct? If the tailgate is locked then you also couldn't steal the cargo cage. I've never paid any attention to the design and that's pretty poor because I'm an engineer and that kind of stuff amuses me. I think that the only way the cage will come out is if it's flipped over on the tailgate so then tailgate must be unlocked and open. I think anyways.
Jeffery
Ok, Is this correct? If the tailgate is locked then you also couldn't steal the cargo cage. I've never paid any attention to the design and that's pretty poor because I'm an engineer and that kind of stuff amuses me. I think that the only way the cage will come out is if it's flipped over on the tailgate so then tailgate must be unlocked and open. I think anyways.
Jeffery
