Al Wolbach Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Just read on the net that thieves new target is pick up tailgates. Quicker than cat. converters I guess. I have an 09 pick up that the tailgate locks on but I have not been locking it for obvious reasons. I think I will start now. For those of you that may not know: you can remove a tailgate from some older trucks in about 10 seconds without tools. Not sure about the new trucks. Just a word to the wise.........Al Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted October 24, 2011 BassResource.com Administrator Posted October 24, 2011 Yep, our truck has a backup camera in the handle, and I guess that's the appeal. We were told by our dealer 2 years ago when we bought it to keep the tailgate locked or somebody would steal it. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted October 24, 2011 Super User Posted October 24, 2011 Wow, brazen criminals! Luckily, it would take more than a few tools to get the gate off my '10 Sierra. Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted October 24, 2011 Super User Posted October 24, 2011 Brazen is right. There was a story in the local news a couple of months ago where they hit a Ford dealership. The crooks made off with 12 or so tailgates. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted October 24, 2011 Super User Posted October 24, 2011 I wonder if there are bumper thieves? The camera/sensors are in my truck's bumper. Quote
tholmes Posted October 25, 2011 Posted October 25, 2011 I wonder if there are bumper thieves? The camera/sensors are in my truck's bumper. There will be now Tom Quote
Super User Raider Nation Fisher Posted October 26, 2011 Super User Posted October 26, 2011 Thats odd. We had a rash of them down here about 5 years ago. They stole the tailgate off my company truck and seven others in the parking lot of the apartments we were living in. When the cops busted a group of people doing it, they found over five hundred of them in a warehouse. Including the one off of the company truck. Maybe it just comes and goes in phases. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted October 26, 2011 Super User Posted October 26, 2011 I thought you were going to say the scrappers are doing it. The morons stealing these, Can they tell if there is a camera in the gate or do they take all of them and hope for the best? Forgive my ignorance, but it the camera noticable in the tailgates that are equipped with them. Don't have a back up camera and I only lock mine when the cover is on the back and there is stuff in the bed. Quote
OHIO Posted October 26, 2011 Posted October 26, 2011 I thought you were going to say the scrappers are doing it. The morons stealing these, Can they tell if there is a camera in the gate or do they take all of them and hope for the best? Forgive my ignorance, but it the camera noticable in the tailgates that are equipped with them. Don't have a back up camera and I only lock mine when the cover is on the back and there is stuff in the bed. You can tell pretty easy. They are usually on the emblem or the latch. They are on the emblems on Fords a lot of the time. Quote
Super User grimlin Posted October 26, 2011 Super User Posted October 26, 2011 My brother got his stolen earlier this year...Crazy Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted October 26, 2011 Super User Posted October 26, 2011 There is always an item that's popular with thieves. Being in the scrap business I know quite a few used auto parts dealers and airbags are a very hot stolen item, have been for years. So much stuff going on and most of it doesn't hit the news, if it does it's a 2 nd page story and doesn't hang around too long. Quote
Al Wolbach Posted October 26, 2011 Author Posted October 26, 2011 I live in East Tennessee and things happen here years after the rest of the world has forgotten about them. My 09 pick up has a locking tailgate but I haven't been locking it. I locked it a couple of days ago and it will remain that way. It may not stop the thieves but I do want to make it as hard as possible.................Al Quote
Al Wolbach Posted October 26, 2011 Author Posted October 26, 2011 Wow, brazen criminals! Luckily, it would take more than a few tools to get the gate off my '10 Sierra. Take a good look at your tailgate, you might be surprised how easy it would be to remove. In my area of the world the GM products are the first hit by theives. Easy turnover I suppose.................Al Quote
Super User J Francho Posted October 26, 2011 Super User Posted October 26, 2011 It wouldn't be easy at all, without tools. They'd have to own some special Torx style wrench or cut the cables. Not impossible, but not without tools. Besides, if they're after the electronics, they have to take the bumper. You sure those missing tailgates you see aren't intentional? A lot if guys up here take them off in winter. Quote
Super User Dan: Posted October 27, 2011 Super User Posted October 27, 2011 A lot if guys up here take them off in winter. Or to make it easier to see the boat when you back down the ramp! Quote
Super User slonezp Posted October 27, 2011 Super User Posted October 27, 2011 Or to make it easier to see the boat when you back down the ramp! Which is what a non boater (buddy tourney) in my club did. The boater had him back up the trailer so he could drive the boat on. Only he didn't remove the gate, just lowered it. The boater was waving his arms and screaming from the boat, and his wife was doing the same from shore. CRUSHED the tailgate. Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted October 27, 2011 Super User Posted October 27, 2011 I don't know about the later models, but my 07 New Sierra pickup can have its tailgate taken off in seconds. The cables have a clip at the top which makes for easy removal. The clip has a large hole with a slot toward the end of the cable. Release the clip, push the cable so the large hole is lined up with the head of the support "bolt" and slide it over the head. The cable is now separated. The bottom is the same as every other pickup I have owned. There is a cup on each side at the bottom. The cup on the passenger side has a section cut out of it. After unclipping the cables, lift the tailgate to a 45 degree angle, and lift it on the passenger's side. The notch allows it to lift free from the mount on the truck. Bring the tailgate away from the body on the right side. Once it's clear of the body, slide it to the right. That's it. Can easily be done in less than a minute. No wrenches or tools required. Maybe some trucks are different, but these directions apply to all brands of trucks according to the results I got from a google search. Quote
Super User Redlinerobert Posted October 27, 2011 Super User Posted October 27, 2011 The new tailgates come with locks. Thanks God. Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted October 27, 2011 Super User Posted October 27, 2011 The new tailgates come with locks. Thanks God. I usually keep mine locked, always when away from home. For those who don't have locking tailgates, back your truck up to a wall, pole, tree, or whatever when you park it. Then it cannot be opened far enough for removal. Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted October 27, 2011 Super User Posted October 27, 2011 Locks are no barrier to any expert theif, locks detour amateurs. A car theif can break into your car and drive it way almost as fast as you can with your key. I always had a convertible, the ones with soft tops I often left unlocked(top usually only put up when it rained), I didn't want my top slashed. They were gonna get the radio anyway.......lol Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 It wouldn't be easy at all, without tools. They'd have to own some special Torx style wrench or cut the cables. Not impossible, but not without tools. Besides, if they're after the electronics, they have to take the bumper. You sure those missing tailgates you see aren't intentional? A lot if guys up here take them off in winter. its nothing to cut a couple cables. two weeks ago a thief or thieves came down the street i live on in the middle of the night and hit any vehicle that was unlocked for the batteries. popped the hoods and cut the battery cables on all of them. got 7 batteries total on the street. lots of people cussing outside that morning when they went to leave for work and found out they had no battery. it takes seconds to cut a cable. Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted October 27, 2011 Super User Posted October 27, 2011 its nothing to cut a couple cables. two weeks ago a thief or thieves came down the street i live on in the middle of the night and hit any vehicle that was unlocked for the batteries. popped the hoods and cut the battery cables on all of them. got 7 batteries total on the street. lots of people cussing outside that morning when they went to leave for work and found out they had no battery. it takes seconds to cut a cable. They've still got to unbolt the hold downs or whatever you call them. In the case of my truck, they'd have to remove four bolts to get a corner brace out of the way, then remove the clamp that holds the battery in place. The battery is tucked part way under the left fender, against the cabin firewall, and beneath said corner brace. They want easy pickings and they know which batteries are readily accessible. Same with the lock on a pickup tailgate. There are plenty of pickups around and most do not have the tailgate locked. It's a waste of their time to break the lock, and end up with a damaged tailgate. None of the deterrents prevent theft. Unless the thief has an order for a particular item or automobile, they will grab the easiest pickings. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted October 27, 2011 Super User Posted October 27, 2011 its nothing to cut a couple cables. two weeks ago a thief or thieves came down the street i live on in the middle of the night and hit any vehicle that was unlocked for the batteries. popped the hoods and cut the battery cables on all of them. got 7 batteries total on the street. lots of people cussing outside that morning when they went to leave for work and found out they had no battery. it takes seconds to cut a cable. I suppose they would use tools to cut the cables, eh? Like I said. And why so many people leave their cars unlocked? Quote
OHIO Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 You sure those missing tailgates you see aren't intentional? A lot if guys up here take them off in winter. Why? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted October 27, 2011 Super User Posted October 27, 2011 Prevents snow drifts in the bed. Quote
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