Electrical tape.....$0.49 a roll at Harbor Freight.

 

I used an old bicycle tube... just cut a piece off, worked great and it was free:thumbup:

 

Exactly what I did. Only I put mine inside the tube and left a little flap to cover the screw. Can't hardly tells it's there and protects the paint AND the clamp from rusting.

 

Same here, used a thin piece of rubber from an old hard drive cover. No premature rust from scratched paint here.

 

so what is the point of this mod? i did a search and this is the only thread about this particular mod i could find.

 

so what is the point of this mod? i did a search and this is the only thread about this particular mod i could find.

toyota made it too easy to remove the tailgate from the truck, just push one side and it comes out.
a hose clamp might prevent it from being "borrowed" and used as a sand surf board.. and i saw a post where someone leaned on the side just right and accidentally unhinged it and the gate got dented

this is a good mod, and you can also do a "pop-n-lock"
mod to try and keep your tailgate

( go on e-bay ans see how many are for sale)

 

There were a lot of tailgate thefts occuring, due to the ease of removing the tailgates, and alot of them were ending up on Craigslist, Ebay, etc. Replacement tailgates from the dealer are over $1000.00, this was a cheap and easy deterant. There are also hoseclamps out there that use a special key, to make it even more difficult to remove the clamp, unless you have the key.

 

There are also hoseclamps out there that use a special key, to make it even more difficult to remove the clamp, unless you have the key.

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Do you have a source for these? I can't find anything like them.

 

Would a hd 1/4" plastic zip-tie do the same thing ? Wouldn't cut into the paint, and it would take a hell of a knife to cut through a good heavy duty one.

 

Yes -but what about when YOU want to remove your tailgate.

The hose clamp is a cheap deterrent, and when you want to remove it, the appropriate tool will do it with ease -and safely.

As noted, if it takes a tool, and you have to fumble in the dark to deal w/ it, most will leave it to look for easier pickin's. But I'd much rather the hose clamp and not have to risk me or my paint when cutting it.

 

yep that is why i did both
hose clamp and "pop n lock"

figure it will slow them down a bit longer and not that big a thing for me to remove the tailgate
guess i'm a old "belt and suspenders" type of guy ;-D

 

Put some heat shrink on the hose clamp for protection...I think some clamps even come with a rubber sleeve.

 

^
Get the special keys from Autozone or Pep Boys. I can't remember. Easy to find.

 

I used two heavy duty zip ties. Just enough to slow down someone.

 

Yep, theres never anything theft proof. All you can do is slow the thieves down.

 

I doubled mine up. Got the hose clamp and used electrical tape to prevent wear.


Also went with this

 

thanks for clearing that up for me