Two friends have had their tailgates stolen. Is there any way to secure them better or even lock it up?

 

Ebay has tailgate locks for the Ram trucks..not sure how secure they are though.

 

I know guys used to put a hose clamp on the half hinge. It would not make it impossible,but a deterent,and they may move on to the next one.Watch for em on e bay.

 

I know why they steal them too! I "crunched" mine while trying to hook up gooseneck horse trailer in the dark, while deer hunting. $1286.00 to replace! Well worth doing something to try to deter theft!

 

When I installed my Husky aluminum tailgate it had a lock but I also did as "bumpytruck" said and put a hose clamp on the 1/2 hinge. If they broke the lock they are not going to just yank the thing off the hinge.

 

Of course now I'm seriously brain farting. There is a bracket you can buy that will hold the tailgate down with a bracket and bolt. It's pretty cheap too. I just can't remember what brand it is. Someone here knows.

 

Makes me want to convert to a flatbed in the morning

 

Same place as the jimmy-jammers for the doors - TruckTechniquesLLC
www.trucktechniques.com

CD

 

A company called Bully makes a OEM tailgate lock that replaces the OEM handle. 10 minues to install and locks with a key...

A picture in inclosed in this link...

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...+tailgate+lock

HUb

 

like stated earlier. a stainless steel hose clamp-preferrably with an allen head, instead of a phillips screw driver head- theives may have a screw driver with them- most won't have allen wrenches, though!

 

Tailgates are big money. A new one,painted will run nearly $1000. Because it's usually a grab and dash, you just need something to delay them, and they'll give up and go somewhere else. The hose clamp method works, as does a short bolt and 2 nuts jammed together inside the release eye.

 

I'm from Alabama, what is the half hinge and how do you put a hose clamp on it? I have a Lock with key in my handle, looks factory, but would like to do the half-hingy-moddy too. Please, no jokes, I called my friends in West Virginia and Mississippi and they didn't know either.

 

I'll be honest, when I mangeled my tailgate, I had thought about going to wal-mart for one... in the parking lot. (wouldn't really do that...) found one off a wrecked 05, painted it cost me 700 smackers. I see why people steal them.

 

Hey nelrod. The half hinge is the cup-like fitting on the tailgate that receives the oval pin on the bed. One side is a complete cup while the other side has a big cutout in it/ When you drop the gate halfway, the cutout in the cup allows you to lift the gate out and away. A tightened hose clamp around the notched cup will prevent the gate from being lifted out.

 

The tailgate is removed by opening about 1/2 way and lifting the passenger side off the hinge pin.
Hope this helps: