Tailgate gone

[CaptnJohn]

My tailgate is safe in my garage. I bought a Husky 5er gate (about $600) for my last truck and transferred it to this one. Less weight and much more convenient. It took $40 to connect a camera up.

[RoadRunnerTR21]

I had my tailgate stolen from DFW airport back in the mid 80's. It cost me 4 grand to replace it. When I reported it to DFW PD they laughed and said "well we got another one!". Sorry, that pissed me off. So why would you want to go on the cheap and park in a hotel parking lot when something like this can happen? It does not make any sense. I know of a bunch of people who do that and they are just taking a risk that is to high. I've flown 2.3 million miles with AA alone. When I fly, I go to a controlled parking lot that has security. Sure something can happen with insider stuff but parking in a open hotel parking spot is not worth the risk. Whether it's a tailgate or other things that I can't mention on this forum, I won't do it anymore. Lesson learned.

[Slufoot733]

Yeah, I'll say: HOLY COW! That's outrageous! I think I'll have my tailgate WELDED in place ! SHEESH!

[Loneoak]

Someone we know owns a Ford dealership. One morning he got to work, and all the tailgates had been stolen from all the trucks in the lot. After that, he ordered locking tailgates on all the trucks.


We have a locking tailgate on our truck, and always keep it locked when it is closed.

[browens62]

Here is the Ram Multifunction Tailgate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJvruCcHz78

[richfaa]

Our OEM tailgate is in our shed at home. We have the V tailgate which is not all that attractive to tail gate thief's but very handy for us. We had the same on our previous truck. When we trade tucks the buyer get a shinny new tailgate.

[Chasw98]

I do feel sorry for you losing your taklgate. We are from Fort Lauderdale and brought our F350 & Montana down to hitch shop for brakes, bearings, shocks, etc. Spent the night in a local hotel before leaving on vacation to MIL in Pittsburgh. Woke up in the morning and the whole truck was gone! Police said why didn’t you have a hidden disconnect installed? Then he said it is probably already in a container waiting to go on a ship to South America. My new truck has all sorts of disconnects on it.

[laverdur]

Easy target with huge black market resale value. A hose clamp on the right side will deter theft. McGard makes a lock that is better.

[Mosnowman]

Can anyone post a pic of the hose clamp fix? Being mechanically challenged not sure exactly how to do it. Thanks!

[laverdur]

The attached pic shows the black McGard lock on the right side hinge for the tail gate. A hose clamp would go in the same place.

[Jim.Burke]

Masterlock has a stainless steel tailgate lock that has a normal key that you can put on your keychain. Also, it looks like it would be easier to install.

https://www.masterlock.com/personal-use/product/8253DAT

Here's a video of Mike Rowe (the guy from "Dirty Jobs") installing the masterlock tailgate lock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VopUWfzxkKk

You can find it on Amazon for $15.79

[srnoyes]

Can you no longer just buy a left side hinge and replace the right side hinge with it? Granted it makes the tailgate semi permanent but isn't that the goal? I did this many years ago on the advice of my insurance agent and it worked like a charm.

[laverdur]

I just took a quick look at mine. The part that would need to be changed is welded to the tailgate so it looks like the option to change the hinge is gone.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by Jim.Burke

Masterlock has a stainless steel tailgate lock that has a normal key that you can put on your keychain. Also, it looks like it would be easier to install.

https://www.masterlock.com/personal-use/product/8253DAT

Here's a video of Mike Rowe (the guy from "Dirty Jobs") installing the masterlock tailgate lock



You can find it on Amazon for $15.79

I have one of those Master Tailgate Locks - not impressed! I prefer the hose clamp as, quite frankly, is probably, IMO, stronger then a couple pieces of flimsy stamped steel and some plastic (yes, plastic) loosely wrapped around the hinge. What thief carries a screw driver and unwind an inch of clamp in the dark when all he wants to do is to steel a tailgate in just a few seconds.

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by Mosnowman

Can anyone post a pic of the hose clamp fix? Being mechanically challenged not sure exactly how to do it. Thanks!

Here is a pic of mine The screw head points toward the bed, meaning you can't get a screwdriver or nut driver on it with the tailgate open. you must raise the tailgate, lie on your back, and reach up under the truck to reach the clamp. That slows everything down. And if done at night would have to also have a flashlight shining up there to find it.

[laverdur]

Here is a link to the McGard lock and an application guide.



http://www.mcgard.com/automotive/tailgate-lock/


Typical of McGard, it uses a special key. The name of the game is slow down a thief so that an unprotected tailgate becomes a more attractive target than mine. Ford tailgates with the OEM camera are expensive to replace, complete with paint.

[srnoyes]

That prompted me to look at my, new to me, 2015 F350. They changed the left hinge from a round cup on the truck and moved the cup to the tailgate. I'm going to have to remember to keep mine locked and think about doing the hose clamp or something for added security. Thanks for the information.

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by BiggarView

Pix did not come through.

Tried to cheat and copy and paste it. Think I corrected it now.

[laverdur]

The factory tailgate lock is not secure. Thieves can pick it or drill it out in seconds. A friend who had a 2013 F-350 lost his tailgate while eating dinner at a restaurant one night and it was locked with the factory lock.

[Rondo]

Hey Ed, maybe they needed your tailgate for the new GMC commercial for the fold out tailgate. A lot of people carrying tailgates up the streets and up the hill! LOL Sorry, just had to throw that in! Sorry for your loss and the cost of the new tailgate!