Truck AWOL has me looking at upgrading my security. I just ordered tailgate hinge lock http://www.trucknvans.com/Gate-Keeper-Tailgate-Protection-p/200514.htm I'll keep you posted. My gate has some minor paint rubs from hay bales but not dents or scratches... would be a prime target.

By far a good idea to do this. You don't even have to live in the big cities now for your tailgate to go missing.

Poor mans tailgate security is to wrap a hose clamp around the slotted side and set up in such a fashion that you got to lay on your back and reach up to remove it. So when the tailgate is lowered the hose clamp is facing the bed now a thief won't be able to get it off.

I'm thinking more along the lines of drilling and tapping the stud the cable slides over and the put a bolt with a big washer there... Use allen bolts or something the thieves are too cheap to have. Torx!

I'm thinking more along the lines of drilling and tapping the stud the cable slides over and the put a bolt with a big washer there... Use allen bolts or something the thieves are too cheap to have. Torx!

Pick one...

What triggers the truck alarm? Could we just extend a switch to the hood? What I'm thinking, if someone tried to pop the hood, the alarm goes off. If we cleverly block the safety catch on the hood, the alarm goes off & they can't get the hood the rest of the way up to silence it. I think most thieves expect the factory systems... if there's something more, unexpected... they probably won't hang around. It could be another lock on the hood (years ago, with my grill cut for fog lights... I installed a padlock inside... hard to remove if the hood was released). It could be blocking the safety catch. It could be reworking / disabling the factory extension on the safety catch. Ideally it could be undone if the truck is in for service somewhere.

OK, I got the tailgate hinge "lock"... I am very underwhelmed. A 4" piece of bent steel, a lock washer and a round head allen bolt. I think the site has been updated since my order (I got an email asking for a clarification)... I thought the site originally showed a 2 pin security bolt. Maybe if I used RED locktite on it!

Picture please I would like to see this...

NOT worth what I paid. I can't believe they could sell these where someone could see it first. To be a deterant, it will have to be lock-tited in place.

BTW, These tailgate hinges only have 2 bolts each side. Unbolt either side & the tailgate comes off.

Heck my hose clamp idea would of been cheaper...

Your hose clamp would have been much cheaper & might be more secure as it'd be harder to access from underneath requiring the right socket, a good light & a couple of extensions. Parking over a big mud puddle would be the ultimate protection! LOL!! I honestly was expecting the bolt to be a special security bolt at least, not an allen bolt. Give me a Break! As I posted ealier, I got an email to clarify my order... asfter which their web site appears to be updated. I think the site showed a 2 pin security bolt previously. I'm not proud. I'm posting this so other members will know better. We learn from our mistakes as well as our Victories!

I kind of wonder about the security bolt idea too. What happens when the day come you need to remove your tailgate and you've lost the special socket or the socket fails and breaks then what? Kind of like the days back in Cally with special lugs with special keys. I had a set of those on my Charger and one day had a flat tire and couldn't get the tire off because the key stripped the bolt head out. So I had to walk home and get a ride back with a pair of vise grips to get that foul thing out. There is lots of ways to secure stuff but come on when the security makes basic life insane its time to re-think it a bit.