I doubt this is a new topic by any means but figured I'd do a quick post on it anyhow. We just purchased a new 2017 F250. Part of the appeal for us is the new aluminum body, which includes the tailgate. As I understand it, the tailgate is easy to remove and expensive to replace. Quick research on the topic reinforced that notion, so I added an aftermarket part to help deter Mr. StickyFingers.

Digging through my tools, I found an inexpensive steel hose clamp like you would use on a radiator hose. Crank it down with a screwdriver and you're done. I figured that'd possibly add a few minutes delay, so it's worth the .50 investment. If you're not already familiar with why this helps, lower your tailgate and look on the right hand side of where it attaches to the bed of the truck. Once the tailgate is down, you can simply pull it out at an angle after detaching the cables and off it goes. The hose clamp is meant to temporarily delay or possibly deter the thief by basically "clamping" where it attaches.

Today I did one better. Knowing all it would take is a few minutes and a screwdriver, I ordered a McGard tailgate lock off Amazon. It's under $20 and uses a KEYED tool, not unlike a wheel lock. So it's one step harder to take than it was before. Will it stop a determined thief, no. Will it give me time to intervene - maybe. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

 

May I also suggest engraving your tailgate in a inconspicuous place with your DL#. The majority of these stolen plates are sold to low level salvage yards/junk yards. The. They find their way back to the auto repair shops. I've seen it happen first hand.
Guy gets tailgate stolen; takes to Ford house. Shop calls around looking for a tailgate. They find one. And get it delivered. Come to find out it's the customers stolen tailgate (it has a distinguishing mark). Anyways we went to seller to get paperwork on the tailgate origination. They bought it off a "gentleman". The businesss did get and make a copy of his DL, it was as a fake however.
Anyways lockem up and markem up. I have

 

So did the customer get his tailgate back without having to pay the ransom?

 

The hose clamp is a good deterrent that I've been using for years, with one small twist. I orient the clamp so it has to be accessed from below, between the body and bumper, with the tailgate lifted at a 45 deg. angle. Between that and keeping the handle locked when not in active use, I figure I'm pretty safe.

 

A lot of complaints about the McGard and how easy it is to remove. Stick with the hose clamp. Read the reviews on the McGard. I did and decided it wasn't worth the money.

 

can they steal the tailgate if it's locked?

 

That's what I was thinking? You can't open Mine unless with keyfob.

 

Come on guys....they can steal your wife's bra while your standing next to her if they want....but seriously.....what they do is take the panel off right behind the fake handle/button. It's 8 hex screws to remove the "half" panel on the tailgate. With a small drill....45 seconds or less and it's off. Once that's off....it's gone.

 

Kenv's got a point - with enough time and resources, anything's possible. Now I'm visualizing... it's 2am and I'm asleep in the camper.. not a creature is stirring.. except Mr. Sticky-fingers outside.. "thump, clunk.. rattle rattle".. then the distinct racking of the 12GA. Deadpool quote: "This guy's got the right idea. He wore the brown pants."

 

With a tonneau cover they can't even get to the torx screws. Ultimately anything can be stolen. But if a thief is cruising the parking lot looking for tailgates and sees a truck with a tonneau cover, I'm pretty certain he's going to just keep cruising by looking for the easy truck. If they are taking the time to unbolt 8 torx screws, they're gonna take the extra 2 minutes to unscrew, or worse rip off, the hose clamp.

 

I'm forced to park outside 24/7 so I worry about this a bit, but I'm also about 1.5 inches from hitting a brick wall when I back into my spot. That's gotta have to slow em down a bit.

 

Keepem honest.
1. A dog that does not sleep when I sleep. Good boy!
2. When I'm not in it the truck is always locked, alarm on.
3. When all else fails, 45 ACP.

 

As long as my truck is in my yard I'm not worried, its when I'm out and about that has me concerned.
3 years ago some clown actually tried to rip-off my truck at a little after mid-night. All I can say is that he now knows what a 3 round burst of a 45 ACP sounds like and he is still in prison.

 

One of my favorite shirts says. Yes I have a gun, but I will only shoot you if you make it past my German Shepherd.

Back to tailgate: I did the mcgard thing, I have the bed cover, I lock it and it gets backed in a lot thus restricted opening. But, hey last time they took the whole dang truck.

 

Been using 2 hose clamps since 1997....no issues yet!