Mcgard tailgate lock any good?

I plan to install an automated tailgate lock such as a pop n lock at some point but need an interim deterrent in the meantime. Any experience with Mcgard’s tailgate lock?

 

It's a hose clamp covered in plastic. You get the same protection for 1/10th of the cost by just securing a hose clamp around it...

In other words, it's a deterrent that will slow down the thief for about 15 seconds if he or she is prepared for it; a minute or so if they are not; and possibly having them walk completely away from your rig if all they were planning on using for the theft was their hands

 

I have this one myself. As mentioned, it's basically a hose clamp with a recessed screw head. It is designed to slow down the quick smash and grab thief. The benefit of the plastic is just paint protection.

 

I bought one. They got me. I like the plastic cover. No problem with the paint. I imagine that a bare metal hose clamp would scratch things up pretty well.

 

Install straightforward? Did you have to trim it? Take the tailgate off its track temporarily for install?

 

I have it on my 3g...no complaints

 

I have it. I would buy it again in a heart beat. It has a gear style bit to slow down anyone with a screw driver and the plastic makes it look cleaner than a redneck fix. The Ranger gets a lot of my shade tree style things. the tundra gets more of the finished look.

I have the popnlock half installed, but I just havent gotten around to crawling under the truck yet to finish it.

 

Got one from the Amazon Warehouse a while ago. A nice little extra piece of mind.

 

My truck has one from the dealer. They install them on all new trucks, although I’m not sure why. I’ve never heard of a tailgate being stolen anywhere around here.

 

It has a 'key' to turn the screw.
So no, you don't get the same protection with a hose clamp.
Perhaps if you filled and covered the hose clamp screw head with JB Weld, the protection scale would equal out.
But what a PITA it would be to remove if needed..

Kind of like cat shields.
Can they still steal your cats?
Sure, but it is going to be more work and trouble to remove them.
Thieves aren't known for being patient.
They want quick and easy targets...YMMV

Besides that, the McGard lock is prettier than a hose clamp..

 

Tailgate theft was huge in most large metro areas just prior to cat theft... Crews were working them hard and would roll up and try the handle. If it opened they lower it slightly, pop it off and be gone w/in about a minute per tailgate. Cost of replacement for the ones that were stolen through Toyota was about $1,500 for the ones w/cameras; thieves were getting about $300-$500 per on the black market... Pretty good bang for the buck at the time considering it was just a property crime requiring no 'forced entry' or 'strong arming' of the victim (low risk to the bad guy)

 

But, if I'm the bad guy, and I show up to the field as a 'prepared' bad guy... I'm not looking worry about a key for your fancy device or a screwdriver for the hose clamp; I'm just hitting that thing w/a battery powered cut off wheel

Quick zip and it's mine w/either device

 

Yeah, I’m not in a large metro area. I’m in a very rural area. Like I said, tailgate theft was never a thing here.

 

You'd be lucky to get a cut-off wheel down in that corner..
Is it 3/4" wide?
You gonna use your Dremel and 4 or 5 little cutoff wheels
Or just go ahead and cut the hinge while you're at it..

 

Saw a recent article that tailgate theft was making a comeback out here in So Cal. Along with the Toyota OE wheels of Tacoma's and Tundra's
I ended up just throwing a regular hose clamp on mine. It'd be nice though to have a key though.

 

Alright, you've convinced me... I'm buying a McGard lock

 

PM me your address and I'll buy it for you.

 

I have this one too. A little prettier than a hose clamp and doesn’t scratch the paint. I would buy it again….

 

Thank you, but I actually have one already... Bought it hoping it was a little more than what it was, but it wasn't It's actually still on my truck and will serve the purpose of being a deterrent.

It does look better than a hose clamp, but in terms of actual level of protection.. the bottom line is it really just prevents the tailgate from being lifted off w/o addressing the device; really no different than what a hose clamp does in the same position...

If someone is on the fence about spending $30 on one, it's probably because they are doubting its value. So, the other option is to suggest a similar option that would only cost someone a few minutes and a few bucks of their time....

 

If it wasn't obvious, I have the McGard as well..

$26 McGard 76029 Premium Pick-up Truck Tailgate Lock , Black

Amazon.com: McGard 76029 Premium Pick-up Truck Tailgate Lock , Black : Automotive

Now if one had a power-locking tailgate, a hinge lock might not be needed.
But I do and I still have one.

Want to see some overkill?
I have one of these as well..

$46 Genuine Toyota Accessories PT276-34071 Spare Tire Lock for Select Tacoma and Tundra Models, Silver

Amazon.com: Genuine Toyota Accessories PT276-34071 Spare Tire Lock for Select Tacoma and Tundra Models, Silver : Automotive



But I live in Dallas and I have issues as well..
Vehicles are stolen and broken into in my employer's parking lot almost daily.
That is where my cats were stolen...

 

Sure

 

Agreed. If you use a hose clamp, put it on so that you can wrap the excess over the screw slot. My Dad bought an F-150 many years ago and I asked him if it had a lock to prevent the tailgate from being stolen. He didn't know is was removable. We put a hose clamp on it and bent the excess around to make it more of a pain to deal with. If they want the tailgate bad enough, they'll get it. If you make it tough for them, they'll move on to one that's easier.

 

Damn this place, just snagged one off Amazon, 28 bucks is a cheap deterrent.

 

I paid $16.49 in Feb 2021.

 

"ThE eCOnOmY iS fInE"

 

Sometimes living in a small semi rural town in the South is a good thing. People here don’t swipe cats and gates like in some of the shithole places to live.

 

That's because cousin Bubba has a backhoe and Uncle Bubba has a lot of bottom land, and maybe a hog or two.

 

I know the struggle. N then there's this...

 

I do have the pop n lock on my tailgate, but I just installed the MacGard Tailgate Lock on my Tundra a week or so ago.

 

Isn't that where all the meth heads live and breed?