A-R wrote:
A $2 hose clamp can prevent the "quick" theft of a tailgate
"They" have been stealing tailgates for years. I even had someone steal my tail lights once! They pried the large red outside lenses off. When I replaced them I understood why they had stolen mine >$150 each.
I never let schooling interfere with my education. Mark Twain
Jumping Frog wrote:It is disgusting that the manufacturer designs a tailgate that is so easy to steal. That youtube video showed the guy taking it off in 10 seconds.
Don't get me wrong, poor design does not justify theft. However, it is still poor design.
I believe that, if not for thieves, it might be a good design.
I would love to be able to remove and replace a part on a car in 20 seconds.
It takes longer than that to replace an air filter.
It's disgusting that some people resort to stealing other people's property.
Part of the reason it is easy to remove is utilitarian. Back when pickups were purchased mostly by people that needed a truck for their jobs or farms, removing the tailgate came in handy for some chores. Carrying lumber that is longer than the bed for instance. If you leave the tailgate on, the weight of the lumber bouncing on the tailgate will bend or warp it. My guys destroy our tailgates doing this very thing with loads of HVAC equipment. If loading the truck with a fork lift, it is not unusual to hit the tailgate as you drive up to set the load in the bed.
I'm with wildbill on one thing, it is disgusting that people will steal rather than work. The problem is that the penalties if caught are not much more than a slap on the hand. The odds of getting caught are slim to none. I am not sure why this is getting so much press other than a rash of thefts in concentrated areas but this has been going on for years.
It may turn out to be like the recent thefts of copper, brass and aluminum. Maybe the lawmakers will upgrade this crime to a felony [if it isn't already] if it continues to be a big problem.
Heck, maybe I spoke out of turn. It may be a felony. The reason I made that comment is the Austin police told my son that breaking into vehicles and stealing radios or even the entire consoles off them was a misdemeanor. He said it was the reason it happened so often. Even if they smashed the windows to get the stereo system. My thinking was that they may be treating this situation the same. Stealing the console or stereo out of a car is about the same as stealing a tailgate off a truck.
Even if it is a felony, I think the fear of getting caught is pretty low for these thieves.
Jumping Frog wrote:It is disgusting that the manufacturer designs a tailgate that is so easy to steal. That youtube video showed the guy taking it off in 10 seconds.
Don't get me wrong, poor design does not justify theft. However, it is still poor design.
It takes more than one and a lot longer than 10 seconds to take the tail gate off of a 2500 Dodge Ram if you've never done it before. Don't ask me why I know this.
I have a 2009 2500. It has a clamp on one side held by an allen screw. Once that's off it's a quick easy job to remove the tailgate.
I have always been concerned about this. My one ton has a locking tailgate. I was never very good about keeping it locked.
The other day I jacked up the Gooseneck trailer to disconnect, flipped up the tailgate and tried to drive away...
My tailgate is in a V shape now...
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God, and the Bible." George Washington
Topbuilder wrote:I have always been concerned about this. My one ton has a locking tailgate. I was never very good about keeping it locked.
The other day I jacked up the Gooseneck trailer to disconnect, flipped up the tailgate and tried to drive away...
My tailgate is in a V shape now...
I know quite a few farmers back home who run around without tailgates for that very same reason. :)
I hate to hear this crap. On my super duty I keep the tailgate locked, plus I have an anti-theft Bully tailgate lock. It basically goes around the area where the tailgates slip out of the barrel. I know if they really wanted it they would get it, but this would mean they would have to work more than twice as hard and it would probably make them just move on to another easier target.
"Just put that hammer down and give it h3ll" - Jerry Reid
Topbuilder wrote:I have always been concerned about this. My one ton has a locking tailgate. I was never very good about keeping it locked.
The other day I jacked up the Gooseneck trailer to disconnect, flipped up the tailgate and tried to drive away...
My tailgate is in a V shape now...
I know quite a few farmers back home who run around without tailgates for that very same reason. :)
Yep, 25 years pulling trailers, it finally got me.
There is a guy on CL that says to just tell him what you need and he will check his "inventory" and let you know how much...
seems like the boys in blue should be looking into his business model.
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God, and the Bible." George Washington
Topbuilder wrote:
Yep, 25 years pulling trailers, it finally got me.
There is a guy on CL that says to just tell him what you need and he will check his "inventory" and let you know how much...
seems like the boys in blue should be looking into his business model.
A friend had his truck stolen a few years ago. How they caught the guy was some of our other friends found a guy on CL selling a bunch of parts that were specific to this particular truck. It made me wonder why the cops are not on there looking.
