A man and woman were recently arrested in my area for stealing pickup truck tailgates. It seems the airport parking lot was a prime location for easy pickings, and the article noted that in some cases a tailgate will cost in excess of $1,000. I figured it would be a good idea to install one.

Any suggestions as to which style to get? I'm considering the Pop & Lock Tailgate Security power lock that ties into the vehicle's power lock setup. In my mind, that is better and more convenient than a locking handle that requires a separate key.



Does anyone have any suggestions or feedback for tailgate security?

 

I bought the type that works like a specialty padlock. It attaches to one of the hinge pins and it is supposed to prevent thieves from lifting up the end and pulling the tailgate off. My tailgate hasn't been stolen ,but I can't say for sure anyone has tried. Mine is similar to this one.

 

Is that made of metal? How well does it hold in place?

I did consider those but read reviews that they were plastic and could easily be defeated. If anything, I'd consider going with both the electric lock and also the lock you posted.

 

Mine is all metal(primarily stainless with something brassish).It is stout and would be difficult to break. It came with a couple stick-on pads to presumably keep it from rattling, but the pads were very small. If mine rattles I haven't noticed, but one could easily add an extra piece of say self-adhesive weather stripping if needed.

 

The heavy duty tape makes sense and isn't an issue. I need to reposition the LED strip located under my tailgate which necessitates my purchasing tape.

Your input is appreciated.

 

No problem, glad to help.

 

Clicked on an ad from a Featured Sponsor (right side of the screen) and voila!

https://www.tuffyproducts.com/p-242-...protector.aspx

I think I found a winner.

 

That's a pretty sleek design and eliminates the rattling issue. It's not a lock, but anything that makes a thief have to work is a deterrent.

 

Very true. The article discussing the two stealing tailgates in my area stated a tailgate thief only needs ~40-seconds to remove one. Unless it can be yanked in a hurry then they won't deal with the hassle. It's the old "time is money" argument.

 

It really is pretty cheap insurance for a $1000 tailgate! We have several different ones for Ram and Dakota, depending on the model and year.
https://www.tuffyproducts.com/p-242-...protector.aspx