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"I drove off with my tailgate open, again!"

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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 10:02 AM
  #1  
MtkaBlake's Avatar
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From: Minneapolis, MN
"I drove off with my tailgate open, again!"

I drove off with my tailgate open, again! I have a Lowpro Tonneau cover, so I can’t tell if it’s open sitting in the cab. I didn’t lose anything because there is so much road construction around here so I was driving slow and didn’t “punch it”.

I have done this 5 or 6 times this summer. It’s just a matter of time before I lose a drill or a portable saw, or something. Has anyone installed a tailgate switch”? I think it would be easy to do and hook up to the “door ajar” warning circuit. I’m sure some of you may have done this; anyone installed some type of switch?

Your help is appreciated. Thanks!
 

Last edited by MtkaBlake; Jul 9, 2005 at 10:26 AM. Reason: spelling
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 10:16 AM
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From: Almont,Michigan
I thought about the same idea, too. Maybe some kind of audible alarm that can be disabled like the backup system?
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 10:18 AM
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From: riverside ca.
i have the same problem. have a lo pro and a toolbox and always end up jumping out to take a look. have been thinking about a sensor too. let me know what you come up with
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 01:07 PM
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Wouldn't simply closing it after your done doing whatever it was that had you open it solve the problem ?
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 01:29 PM
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Start locking your tailgate and you will get in the habit and never forget to do it.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 02:24 PM
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I had that happen to me once too. couldn't believe I didn't loose anything. I think that is a good idea. I think if you bought another switch like is in our doors and mounted it in the tailgate. and wired it in with the door switches on our trucks the door ajar light would go off if it was left open. I am not sure on if that would work as I am not a expert on electical connections. if you do this let us now how it works. I might just try it.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 02:28 PM
  #7  
T Ellenberger's Avatar
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From: TUCSON,AZ,USA
Start a habit of entering the truck after you have walked around the back side. Can't miss it that way. I left my tailgate down once and hit a speed bump. I thought it was going to tear the tailgate off the truck.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 03:11 PM
  #8  
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I have the reverse sensing system, impossible to not know if the tailgate were down. If it were down, as soon as you put the truck in reverse - BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 03:11 PM
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GT79's Avatar
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From: Georgia
Originally Posted by MtkaBlake
I drove off with my tailgate open, again! I have a Lowpro Tonneau cover, so I can’t tell if it’s open sitting in the cab. I didn’t lose anything because there is so much road construction around here so I was driving slow and didn’t “punch it”.

I have done this 5 or 6 times this summer. It’s just a matter of time before I lose a drill or a portable saw, or something. Has anyone installed a tailgate switch”? I think it would be easy to do and hook up to the “door ajar” warning circuit. I’m sure some of you may have done this; anyone installed some type of switch?

Your help is appreciated. Thanks!
I finally got tired of doing the same thing (after dumping a full 20 lb cylinder of LP gas out on the street ) and installed a switch and a red LED to tell me if the tail gate is open. I really didn't want to wire it in with the door ajar circuit because I occasionally haul plywood and such with the tailgate down and didn't want to hear the door ajar bell ringing constantly. I installed the LED in the little coin holder in the dash where the 4WD switch would be ( I have a 2WD Screw). I didn't want to go drilling a hole in the dash someplace and I knew I could replace the coin holder easy enough if it didn't work out. I almost put it next to the cig lighter but it would have been a little harder to get to. I put a normally closed push button type switch on the left side of the tailgate so when the gate is closed, it holds the switch open. I grounded one side of the switch where I installed it and ran a wire up to the LED. I found a switched hot wire from somewhere near the fuse block (can't remember exactly where). Work's great!
 

Last edited by GT79; Jul 9, 2005 at 03:16 PM.
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 06:12 PM
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From: Fuquay Varina, NC
i leave mine open ALL the time, becuase when im hanging out with friends i sit on it. GT79, where did you get the switch?
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 06:16 PM
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From: Dover, DE
I'm with cscoios, I have the rear sencing system and if my gate is open it starts beeping as soon as I put it in reverse.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 06:24 PM
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I am beginning to wish I would have gotten the reverse senseing system on my truck. can it be turned off? I wouldn't want it going off when I was towing my boat.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 06:28 PM
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From: La Crescenta CA
An easy solution would be to use a magnetic door/tailgate sensor. It uses a magnet that you screw into the tailget side and a sensor that is mounted to the bed side. When the magnetic field is closed, it is in a "shut" state which you can tie into an alarm so if its left open you can have it alert you if your alarm has that option. Otherwise use the same sensor and hook it up to a piezo buzzer so it alerts you audibly, and you can throw a switch inline so if you need to drive with it down, you can shut off the buzzer.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 09:06 PM
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From: Sunny FL
Originally Posted by jasonkola
I am beginning to wish I would have gotten the reverse senseing system on my truck. can it be turned off? I wouldn't want it going off when I was towing my boat.
Yeah, just hit the button and it's off until you re-start the truck again or turn it back on
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 09:38 PM
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From: Youngsville, LA
Originally Posted by jztbcz
Wouldn't simply closing it after your done doing whatever it was that had you open it solve the problem ?

I totally agree!
 
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