Easy way to protect tailgate?

[eloyr11]

Hi!
The tailgate of my 97 S-10 was stollen 6 months ago. I finally bought a replacement but now I'm worried that the tailgate is stollen again.
Is there an easey way to protect the tailgate?

eloyr11

[ndowdell327]

The easiest way i can think of is to find some bolts with the same thread but just a rare head, instaed of torx they sell saftey head bolts at your local hardware. Now as to wether or not you will find them big enough is another question. Most small family business' are willing to look it up in a supplier book for you... just an idea, haha i work at a small hardware store on the outskirts of houston.

[dugie6551]

You could do a reverse tailgate handle on it. but then you would have to do some welding. Also a lockable bed cover would be needed.

Someone must have really wanted your tailgate because you have to un-bolt them from the bottom hinges in order to get them off.

[OverBoardProject]

since you'd only see it from the inside, why not just use one of those padlock latches and keep it locked?

If it was my truck and I didn't think that I'd take the tailgate off I'd just get the hinges welded on

[xtrememeasures10]

I had someone steal my Euro tails. Got a Hard top bed cover on there now that locks so they cant get the tail gate or tail lights. Thats pretty crazy that someone would steal the tail gate. cheapest thing i can think of is the pad lock idea. weld or bolt the brackets down. Just make it a pain in the ass for someone to take it. There might even be a kit online for a locking tailgate. anyway good luck

[movin2stereo]

First off guys the tailgate is not bolted on the truck.To get it off all you have to do is open gate,undo tailgate cables,lift up right side of gate(passenger)and pull out.That's why they get stolen,it's just that easy.The padlock is a good idea or find a handle lock.I have seen these handle locks for other trucks but I'm not sure for the S10.

[xtrememeasures10]

Yeah i think the fullsize trucks have an option for locking handles. theres probably a kit though. Yeah they are easier than hell to take off tho. Id do the pad lock if i didnt have my hard top.

[movin2stereo]

This kit I seen was a insert that you put in the handle.

[dmbrisket 51]

lol, i have been around trucks all my life (last car owned in the family was an 87 mustang, and mom only ownd it untill 90 when i was 3) and i knew the gates came off easy, lol never though of someone steeling them untill it happend with my f/s, thats when i also learned that you can get talegate locks on the internet cheep try http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...atalogId=10101
JCWhitney look around, i know they exist, i use to own one lol

[dugie6551]

Originally Posted by movin2stereo

First off guys the tailgate is not bolted on the truck.To get it off all you have to do is open gate,undo tailgate cables,lift up right side of gate(passenger)and pull out.That's why they get stolen,it's just that easy.The padlock is a good idea or find a handle lock.I have seen these handle locks for other trucks but I'm not sure for the S10.

Did they change the design from the 1st Gen. model ?

On the 1st Gen. , the tailgate is bolted. But, I have not looked at a 2nd Gen. tailgate. On full size trucks they have the "slip-on" tailgate.

[kenyonja2007]

Movin2stereo is right. On my '94 (first year of 2nd gen) all you have to do is lower the tailgate about 45 degrees, detach the stop cables, and pull up on one side of the tailgate because one of the hinges are slotted. Simple as that.

[dmbrisket 51]

i thought thats how all gats were... how do they bolt them on?

[dugie6551]

Originally Posted by dmbrisket 51

i thought thats how all gats were... how do they bolt them on?

On the early tailgates there is no "slip on" hinge. Both passenger and drivers side hinges are bolted. When you install the tailgate you have to leave one side unbolted and put the two hinge parts together, then slide the tailgate down and add the bolts after everything is in place. It takes some practise. Just think of how the drivers side works on the newer tailgates; that's how both hinges are on the older ones.

I however take my tailgate off on a regular basis, so I did the "slip-on" hinge trick by modifying one hinge, similar to the newer tailgates.

[movin2stereo]

Originally Posted by dugie6551

On the early tailgates there is no "slip on" hinge. Both passenger and drivers side hinges are bolted. When you install the tailgate you have to leave one side unbolted and put the two hinge parts together, then slide the tailgate down and add the bolts after everything is in place. It takes some practise. Just think of how the drivers side works on the newer tailgates; that's how both hinges are on the older ones.

I however take my tailgate off on a regular basis, so I did the "slip-on" hinge trick by modifying one hinge, similar to the newer tailgates.

Yes your right.The 1st Gen bolted on and that was a pain in the ass to remove and put them on compared to the newer slip on style.My friend just got a Nissan Frontier and I noticed they put some kind of ring on the hinge that slips so that the tailgate can't be removed easy.

[movin2stereo]

Originally Posted by dmbrisket 51

i thought thats how all gats were... how do they bolt them on?

The hinges are bolted to the gate and bedsides.The gate then slips into the other half of the hinge.