How To Save $5,500

[Carl n Susan]

Do you want to save $5,500? Protect your tailgate!!! Apparently they are popular items with low life's as chop shops pay up to $1,500 for them. Locking them (if you have that option) doesn't stop them. Since they are designed to come off easily, the whole enchilada can be gone quietly in under a minute.

I was leaving my house early one morning and something about my truck didn't look right. The wires sticking out of the tail light area was the first clue. Turns out they took the tailgate and the tail lights.



Of course my Ford tailgate ($1,100) had the backup camera ($450), and the Man step ($1,500). Nothing comes as a kit, you have to buy each and every little part: cables, latches, brackets, trim, emblems, tail lights, bulbs, wiring and each nut and bolt required to assemble everything. And of course the new tailgate has to be painted. Add in labor and it gets really expensive!

Now that the thieves know where I am, I wanted to try to avoid a re-occurrence. Obviously, keeping the tailgate locked is the first step as is parking it at home with the back end up against the garage door (the beast is too long to go inside). But I want more for when we are on the road.

Tailgate Options
A quick and simple trick is to use a hose clamp around the right hand pivot point. Tighten it down *TIGHT* and then use a hammer and drift to drive the it around to a point where thieves can't access it with a wrench/screwdriver. If you have a welder, you can drop a bead on the screw mechanism. Any way to get it off will be noisy. This will prevent someone from easily lifting the gate off the hinge.

What I used is a device from JimmyJammers called a "Gate Keeper"



This mounts on the right hinge and also prevents lifting the tail gate off the pivot.


Tail Light Option
JimmyJammers also makes a product named "Light Keeper" designed to foil someone intent on stealing your tail lights. They are screws with a unique head and tool to use.


I added "finish washers" to discourage someone with vice grips trying to undo them




None of this will stop a professional who really wants your truck. But most of the thieves just want something quick and easy. My dealer has replaced eight of these tail gates in the last six months. I will sleep better having spent $30 to make these changes.

[kab449]

Doesn't it fit in the garage? 30 years ago after having a customized paint job on a conversion van keyed, I built a 3 bay garage where all of my vehicles reside.

[richfaa]

My OEM tailgate is in the shed out back and we have a V tailgate on the truck. that was covered by insurance.....Right.

[BB_TX]

Not quite as good as what you have, but I do have a hose clamp on mine turned in the least accessible direction and with some epoxy in the screw driver slot to make it a little harder.

[DQDick]

Sorry this happened to you. That's another reason I traded my OEM tailgate to the dealer for my plastic V gate and a number of oil changes. Not a lot of market for the gate I have now, but I love it.

[Mudchief]

Sorry that happen to you. I try to keep mine locked but $30 is cheap insurance for the times you may forget.

[Montana3800RE]

Sorry Carl that happened, I sometimes lock my tailgate on my F350 but mostly not and so far no problems but we do keep all are vehicles in a building. Right after we got the F350 new, some a**hole keyed my tailgate after a night out on the town, not a good feeling as im sure was the same for you...

[Debbie Asher]

Sorry this happen and I suppose no one in the neighbor hear a thing. I'll tell you people are sure brazen.

[Ozz]

Good mod. that should be an option from the dealership. Low-life people like that will steal anything.
Thanks for taking the time to take pictures and for explaining the devices.

[Tom S.]

I'd rather use razor blades dipped in fast acting poison and taped along the bottom edge of the tailgate.


Did I mention that I hate thieves?

[1retired06]

Interesting. Never realized the replacement cost, and thought since mine locks, I was ok. Another project for me!

[subra1228]

So sorry this happened! Thanks for sharing so the rest of us can learn and (hopefully) not have it happen again.

[gkidsdlite]

Sorry this happened to you and not to make a whole new topic but there are several things that are easily stolen from these rigs! Your rims for example are prob worth 200.00 or more at the recyclers. Your cat. converters on your vehicles can be sawn off like happened to a new car dealer here in Rockford IL. Criminals get very creative so you have to do everything you can think of to foil them. Then remember if you catch them, don't hurt them or they will sue you and own everything you have anyway!!!

[washley1]

Funny. I went to the web site, looked at all the info, decided I wanted one, and went to the dealer list. No one in the Tampa area, and Miami is too far. So I punched the button for internet sales, but nothing ever came up. Maybe no one loves me?

[Carl n Susan]

Google "tail gate protection gate keeper" and you should find several internet sites. I used Truck n Vans in Southern California http://www.trucknvans.com/ and had them a few days later.

[sreigle]

I put the clamp on mine several years ago but didn't think to drive the head around to be inaccessible. The idea of the clamp was to cause it to take longer and maybe the thieves would decide it's not worth the effort. I will drive the head out of sight and make it even more difficult. Thanks for the tip. Sorry about your tailgate.

[mlh]

It's just amazing what people will steal. My wife says I live a sheltered life, she's wright. Love it.
Lynwood

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by washley1

Funny. I went to the web site, looked at all the info, decided I wanted one, and went to the dealer list. No one in the Tampa area, and Miami is too far. So I punched the button for internet sales, but nothing ever came up. Maybe no one loves me?

I went to JimmyJammer website, and there is a specific link for internet or telephone orders with multiple dealers. Only sell through dealers, not direct.

[mobil]

I like the clamps and jimmy jammers. I like the razor blade idea even better. For those with newer Ram trucks, an option available from a dealer( I installed it myself in about an hour) is an electric tailgate lock if you have power locks. It locks with your remote when you lock your doors and is still key operable. Don't have to remember to lock my tailgate anymore, but I will get a couple of clamps or jimmy jammers. Sorry about your tailgate but thanks for the heads up.

[Gkerlin]

Thanks for passing that along. Mine wont fit in the garage either and I would have never thought about securing the tailgate.

Sorry that you had to learn the hard way.