I have heard that the tailgates are easy to remove and that it can be a fairly lucrative business for people to steal them. I have been locking mine, but it's kind of a hassle.
I guess it depends on how often you open the tailgate. I don't open mine on a daily basis so keeping it locked is easy. I also keep my hard tonneau cover and gas cap locked.
All you tailgate lockers should be aware....you're likely to end up with a broken tailgate handle because it's not that sturdy (plastic) and the first person who tries to open your locked gate will pull really hard, thinking it just needs a little elbow grease. The plastic handle will simply break off and suddenly you're looking at a repair cost.
Main reason I keep mine locked is so my bed extender doesn't grow legs.
That and if something/anything has a lock that works, I usually keep it locked, just doing my part with "keeping honest people, honest".
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I realize I should, and know they are easy to steal, but to have to use a key everytime I open the gate is hard to deal with. I don't even have to do that to get in the cab!
Can't they just design some kind of system that secures the gate to the truck and still allows it to open? I have never taken the tailgate off of any of my trucks, but open and close them all the time!
I know some people do, but is it really so frequent that they have to make it a no-tools, 30 second operation? That has always been a bit of a mystery to me. It's kind of like putting a quick release on the step bumper and wondering why so many turn up missing...
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Lock the tailgate? .... where I live no one even bothers to lock their houses! But thanks for reminding me about just one of the reasons I moved to a small town in a semi-remote location.
I have locked my tailgates on this and my last truck ever since my friend had his stolen in a parking garage in the middle of downtown Kansas City. Whoda thunk it? On my last truck I installed an electric lock that tied into the keyless entry. I really wish that Toyota offered that for the Tundra.
__________________ Me: Pyrite Mica 2007 Tundra CrewMax 4x2, SR5, 5.7, Sensors, Back Up Camera, Line-X, Fully Tinted Wife: White 2006 Highlander Hybrid
All you tailgate lockers should be aware....you're likely to end up with a broken tailgate handle because it's not that sturdy (plastic) and the first person who tries to open your locked gate will pull really hard, thinking it just needs a little elbow grease. The plastic handle will simply break off and suddenly you're looking at a repair cost.
I lock mine. I would rather have to replace a broken handle than to have to replace the entire tailgate for alot more $$$.
Another thought for those of you that don't want to always lock it, but want to keep it from being stolen is to add a hose clamp around the hinges. No, it won't make it impossible to steal, but it may be just enough to make someone decide that the next truck would be easier.
__________________ Me: Pyrite Mica 2007 Tundra CrewMax 4x2, SR5, 5.7, Sensors, Back Up Camera, Line-X, Fully Tinted Wife: White 2006 Highlander Hybrid
I have locked my tailgates on this and my last truck ever since my friend had his stolen in a parking garage in the middle of downtown Kansas City. Whoda thunk it? On my last truck I installed an electric lock that tied into the keyless entry. I really wish that Toyota offered that for the Tundra.
I live in the metro area. I initially said "no" to the poll, however I found myself locking my tailgate over lunch recently thanks to this post. The answer is "yes" from now on! Thanks!
Do you lock your tailgate?
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