Here is a news article on it:

Pickup truck tailgates: easy to steal, thefts on the rise - Yahoo! Autos

 

Thanks Sean, I'll have to sharpen up my shooting skills,some one has been stealing cat converters around here bad new for them recycle centers wont take them .

 

A hose clamp on the passenger side hinge deters 99% of theft attempts for less then $1!

 

Thats a cool idea...gonna go do that now...

 

I have one on mine. And I put one on my son's f150. My son-in-law bought a new Raptor and he found something for his.

 

If the pickup makers would finally put a keyless lock (just like the doors) on the tailgates, this problem goes away. Anytime you lock the truck, the tailgate would be locked. They have wires running to all of the tailgates now for backup cameras, so it would be very easy to run a tire back there to actuate the lock.

It's too late for this on our trucks, but there is no reason that it shouldn't be standard on the new ones (going back as far as 2008, actually).

 

I'll agree with that, with all the fancy cameras and assisted opening and steps and crap they build into tailgates now, they're practically a 5th door and should get some kind of electronic lock.

 

For what it's worth I keep my tailgate locked. Of they punch it out they've sorta defeated their purpose.

 

I had to look it up to see what you meant....
Put some rubber under the clamp to prevent rusting...

http://home.roadrunner.com/~gunrunner3/clamp.jpg

 

Yep, there are locks out there that sell for about $50. But the clamp is simple and does the trick to deter most a-hole criminals.

 

I lock mine! Don't most come with locking tailgates.

I like the clamp idea Dave! Good to know.

 

Most Fords do, but not electronic. Though you can add it...

I'm good for something once and a while Cory!

 

Oh, I see. So your saying we should not expect much from you for a while? LOL

 

Pretty much! :-)

 

My neighbor lost 2 tail gates & both were locked. They just punch out the locks just like they can on your doors.

After the second one he put the hose clamp on & hasn't lost one since.

I put my first hose clamp on my 89 F350 CC DRW 15+ yrs. ago.