stolen tailgates.....
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
They are selling them to body shops for cash and the body shops make more money when they sell it to the customer or ins co for full price. Yes, i know this is illegal, but it still happens. Not everyone is an upstanding member of society. 
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Saline, MI
Originally Posted by ANAP
Is it already locked or do you have to lock it?
No, you have to lock it. I just wonder if locking it is enough to keep them from stealing it.
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Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
You guys should look into these and see if they work for the new f-150, me and my father both have ours. 
http://www.mcgard.com/automotive/pro...page=5&group=8
http://www.mcgard.com/automotive/pro...page=5&group=8
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,009
Likes: 1,517
From: Maine, Virginia
You don't need a lock. Attach a hose clamp around the passenger side hinge point on the tailgate. It may not stop a determined thief but it may slow them down and discourage a would be robber.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 18
Late model Fords have a keyhole for the ignition key beside the tail gate latch handle.
Now its making me wonder; is that lock and the spare tire access lock specifically keyed to the ignition key? I guess it would be because otherwise any Ford ignition key could open it - probably harder to make a universal lock then one keyed to each truck. Never mind.
I was thinking of putting the VIN somewhere on the tailgate. I can letter pretty well (old draftsman) with a Dremel with the very small diamond ball. But, unless the thieves changed the lock, the fact that my ignition key worked the lock would be good enough to ID it as mine.
Tip: put some light lube (even WD-40 is okay) in those two locks to keep them free. I had to remove the spare access lock recently and it almost didn't work.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,764
Likes: 2,590
From: The Shenandoah Valley
So .... that's why all those mismatched tailgates in Michigan?
