I got the bed extender with my new truck however I still need to install it.

I was wondering, can you steal the bed extender if the tailgate is locked?

Tom

 

With the tailgate locked and extender in the bed of the truck, simply push in the release retainers and extender will slide down off the pegs and easily stolen. There is a mod where you simply drill out one side or the other and install a padlock which prohibits theft.

Showya

 

tfleming,

Do a search for bed extender and hunt for the mod that showya is talking about... there are a few different methods... all of which look pretty darn effective.

RP

 

I did a quick search for you and found the one, in particular, that I had remembered being one of the better methods that I had seen...

http://www.geocities.com/skyjet1/SuperCrew.html


Check out that link... it gives a 'play by play' on how to do it as well. Only draw back is that you do have to drill the extender.

RP

 

Thanks, I found the one with the padlock also. I think I like this one better.

Ya know thats pretty easy, ford should have made something like this.

Tom

 

Yeah, when the bed extender came out, it was mind-boggling how many of them were ending up stolen.

I read a story about a guy that caught someone stealing his and the vehicle that the other guy was driving was FULL of extenders that were apparently stolen.

This is one reason I'm typically somewhat leary of the extenders I've seen on ebay. Who knows if they're hot or not.

I have a plastic coated cable with a pad lock on mine at the moment. It looks like poo but, when it's sitting out in the parking lot, I don't have to worry about it just 'walking off'. At least they'll have to work to get it out. I have intentions, one of these days, on doing that mod that I showed you. Who knows if I'll get to it or not though... there aren't enough hours in the day.

RP

 

Or do what I do, don't leave it in the truck unless you need it. I rarely use mine except on offroad trips, camping etc.

There not as popular to steal any more as there are so many out there, the after market need for them has dwindled significantly since they first came out some years ago.

I remember my dealer telling me that they would have 20-40 of them stolen in one night right off the lot. Worth almost $400 to the right person.

 

I too was wondering about this... The Ford dealer told me they were losing them by the dozen.

I couldn't believe Ford would design something so susceptible to theft. Then, at dinner, it dawned on me:

1. Remove your bed extender.

2. Open your tailgate.

3. Install the bed extender so it is sitting on the tailgate.

4. Now, flip the extender over and into the bed.

5. Close and lock your tailgate.

To remove the extender now, they will have to first get the tailgate open. Not foolproof, but enough of a deterrent to keep honest folks honest.

 

They are easily removed with the tailgate shut as well. I have a cable lock on mine.

 

Would you please explain how they are "easily removed" with the tailgate closed and locked ??

 

Regardless of how the bed extender is put in (you can put it in upside down or right side up) with or without the tailgate up or down you CAN take it out.

I tried it myself and its a bit more work as you have to have a little bit longer arms with the tailgate up. Just make sure the pins are pulled out and then the clips that hold the piviot point on, just push them back and press down or pull up depending on how you have it in. Now simply push the extender twoard the front of the bed and you now have a bed extender with a locked tailgate.

Trust me you can do it, try it yourself. Unless you can prevent someone from pushing it down or prevent someone from pulling it up, the only other way to secure it minus a bed cover, is to lock the pins or tie a locking cable between the inside bed hooks and the bed extender.

 

I have done it myself. It's not *as* easy but it is still not rocket science and with a little practice, I could probably do it just as fast with the bed up or down. Maybe a tad slower up but still quickly...

Later,

Chris (ReelWork)

 

Mine also has screws that prevent it from being released, unless these screws are loosened all the way out. Although it doesn't lock the extender, it does make it take much longer to remove, especially if the tailgate is up and locked. Again, not completely secure, but better than just pulling the pins and releasing it.

Also, like dcovell said, I only keep mine in the bed when I'm using it. Otherwise it's in the garage

 

Allthis talk about stealing is giving me ideas, now just how do you steal one of these?? LOL

 

I saw one of the mods where they bought 2 more of the black bumpers and installed them on the ends where the push pins are. It stopped the extender from being puched down, and it also looks totally stock. When the extender is in the tailgate up position, you put the rubber bumpers facing down.