Tailgate thief!

[davidaf]

What a wonderful day. Drove 100 miles to the office for a special meeting and some low life stole my tailgate. This in the middle of Irvine, one of the "safest" cities in CA. Got the car on camera but no plates. Oh well.

PD report filed and insurance claim open. Best guess is roughly $5k for the tailgate and paint. Tailgate alone is $3800 direct from Ford.

Note to self, and others = Lock your tailgate. I don't since I move every two weeks. Just never thought about it.

[1retired06]

High theft item supine folks seem to bang up theit tailgates. Sorry to hear it happened to you. There are some commercial locking devices you can select from that go over the disconnect latch.

[BB_TX]

They are extremely easy to remove. Just lower it part way and lift the passenger side of the tailgate up and it comes right out.

I keep mine locked most of the time. But I also put a hose clamp around the fitting on the right side. I turned the tightening screw in the least accessible direction. And I covered the head of the screw with some epoxy so neither a screwdriver or a nut driver will fit. Doesn't make it completely theft proof, but should make it difficult enough that they will go somewhere else.

[DQDick]

That's another reason I have a plastic V gate. Nobody wants to steal one.

[commish]

Check Craigs list, you may be able to catch a thief. Use caution.

[davidaf]

I think i'll pickup one of those locks that go over the disconnect in the event i fail to lock the new one or they simply punch the lock. I had no idea they made such a device. I pull my tailgate off fairly often as I have a Truck Camper so i know how susceptible they are. Just never thought it would happen in my work parking lot of course on a day I wasn't even supposed to be there. The punks jumped out of a Cadillac and had it in their backseat within a couple minutes. One person witnessed the whole thing but by the time she could get to security they were long gone.

[steves]

I put a hose clamp over the side that disconnects and positioned the screw slot so it's hard to access. you can also put glue in the screw slot to make even harder to take off. It's not fool-proof but it will stop most attempts to get it off quickly.

[timandsusan]

I bought and installed Jimmy Jammers and special screws on the tail light assemblies. Hose clamps will also work to make the job removing the tailgate--well a lot harder! Most specialty pickup places have these items or Amazon. I can only guess they work--I still have my tailgate. Or maybe it is because a San Antonio Police Officer and friend lives across the street. He also has a pickup and I am confident he could handle any issue in my driveway or his!

[JandC]

If I recall correctly, last year Artemus Gordon posted something about tailgates being stolen in California. Every since reading that thread I have locked whatever tailgate I have on, either my Stromberg V or my stock one.

[Loui]

I installed a tailgate strut, at least you need a set of wrenches to remove the tailgate.

and now the tail gate cant be dropped win win


http://www.amazon.ca/Dee-Zee-DZ43300.../dp/B001PWFPRU

Cheers

[brenkco]

Loui,

Just so you're not lulled into a false sense of security, the two clips that hold the strut onto the ball, can easily be popped off with a pocket knife or small screw driver. Mine fell off a few times. I replaced the clip.

I added a jimmi jammer but since a few locks have been introduced.


Ken

[Loui]

Brenko,
Mine must be slightly different, it has a through bolt holding the strut in place, they are not a ball and socket type.
Bolted to the truck and to the tailgate.
but good to know some models must be the socket type and they would not add any security.

Thanks

[poloace]

Another hot item to steel is your spare tire. At work a few years ago. Thief got about a dozen trucks. Lower a little cut cable, boom done.
Don't even know you are missing it.

[Loui]

Didn't happen to me but a local company had the fuel stolen from 3 of their trucks. The thieves drilled a hole in the bottom of the plastic fuel tank with a cordless drill. Also took their spare tires. Expensive repair I'm sure.

[RichR]

On the news last night in Denver Colorado, theft of tailgates sky rocketing. I have a lock I purchased at Genos Garage that makes it harder to remove tail gate, works like a hose clamp. I do however have a 5th wheel tail gate- stock safely in shop.

[MtnGuy]

A couple of years ago, I lowered my tailgate onto some tools sitting on my bumper, and left some dents in 1 area. I have left the dents, as I figure that is a good theft deterrent......they probably don't want a dented up tailgate.

[Artemus Gordon]

Yes it's still problem in California. Those gates are worth a lot of money. I had my added to alarm system. I must tell you guys, my camera system picks up a lot of people eyeing my truck up close. Between the camera glowing night vision and my lighted dash camera, they usually walk away. I take out the "Dash Cam" card and download it often. It's shocking what you catch. Mine run 24/7 and I got some up close and personal, snoopers around my RV and truck. I offered the photos to our local police and they were not interested. I bet these are same guys who steel stuff. Also I have Amazon, Camera Stickers everywhere. Call me paranoid but I got pictures to prove why! PS. One guy came up my driveway, never flinched at 250 Halgen Spotlight, but when he saw the Cameras, he walked off! It was 3:30am. Most likely just a nice guy selling vacuums? Lol.

[davidaf]

I'll bet you $100 this is my tailgate: http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pts/5043449961.html

Cyber sluth says, not mine after all. The one in the pic has a Flex Fuel badge.. No such badge on mine.

[mail2us]

The Ford tailgates are in demand. A friend with a collision shop says used F-tailgates are at $1200 or higher here in western Carolina. A new Chev tailgate from a dealer for a mid 2000 date sells for about $500-600. The Fords require more in their structure.

[richfaa]

We have the V tailgate. The OEM gate is stashed away for when we trade the truck. We have not heard of one being taken around here.