I'm posting this to help anyone who is travelling and needs to theft proof their tailgate...my 2001 doesn't have a key lock so to prevent any opportunist from stealing my gate while on trips I placed a stainless hose clamp around the lower right hand side hinge pocket with the gate installed....

A kid at work just spent $40.00 on a "theft proof strap" to secure his. Mine cost a dollar.

I also installed a small gate latch on the inside corner to prevent the gate being pulled open with the canopy locked ...cheap and effective.

Kurt