Mine is getting the zip tie this morning!

 

I ordered the gate keeper thingie. It is pretty nice but a bit expensive. I'm pretty good with mechanical stuff but it took me close to an hour to install it. The bolt that has to be removed is threadlocked big time, and there is very little room to move a wrench. I had to use an 18" breaker bar for most of it. The bolt is a T50. They give you a bit in the package.

The summary? The zip tie method is probably just as good and it is cheaper and it is definitely easier to install.

So, learn from my pain.

(I'm sure the people that make this thing mean well, but this just isn't worth it. I also ordered a set of Jimmi Jammers so we'll see how those work out.)

 

I know this is a silly question, but how do you attach the zip tie? Is there a special way to loop around something then zip it in place? I too had my tailgate slip off its pins, if you can call it that.

Thanks for a response.

 

Check the pictures above in the 5/3/07 post by xyzzy. Just wrap it around the "barrel" on the tailgate to close the slot in the barrel and keep it from being able to come off.

 

What I am saying here is, do not close or slam the tailgate hard because you'll easily crimp the latch. The latch is now designed inside the metal tailgate with two holes to catch the latchpins. If you slam the tailgate, you'll smash the holes closed and the latch will stick. In the older tailgates, the metal latches on both sides of the TG were outside the edge of the TG...now they're inside where you can damage it, if that makes sense. And because the tailgate is so light vs. heavy in past designs, it's easy to throw it too hard, thus causing damage. That's why "DAMAGE" is spelled the way it is.

 

When I used to have same problem with my Mazda's tailgate.. A friend of my suggested to me that I should get a Mazda tailgate handle... And indeed was convenient.. It is integrated with special mechanisms that optimize its use such as the tailgate locking system and the tailgate cable. The tailgate lock allows the owner to have the sole access on his cargo area, keeping all cargos secured. The tailgate cable is the device that supports the entire tailgate structure, allowing it to be rigidly held when extending it open and preventing it from sagging, which in turn minimizing the damage to my tailgate itself... I feel your pain because I know how defective tailgate handle can give you lots of annoyances like a tailgate that will not shut close and lock, the owner being deprived of accessing the cargo area, and a sticking handle which stressfully allows you to exert a lot of effort just to open it... Hope this helps... Good luck!!!