A Daily Driver Report:
The truck scene is so hot right now. We’ve been getting a bunch of shots from Texas Rich and then C-10 Talk did a ride out to Texas and at the recent SEMA Show. No doubt for the past 5+ years, trucks have been really big. The C-10 craze is sprouting out to the big square-bodies and now vintage Ford and Dodge trucks are making the scene.
Here are some tailgates we’ve featured on Blacktop Magazine in the recent past. From a tire-smokin’ Datsun 620 to a restored Ed “Big Daddy” Roth F-100.
One thing about tailgates is, they are easily opened and the tailgates and tail-lights a high target for theft due to their additional electronics and accessories. It might cost you between $2,500.00-$6,000.00 to replace! The people at Pop & Lock have created a few lines of products to protect your tailgate and tail-lights from theft. We recently picked up a couple to share the difference. See how the work below!
For Billy’s 2007 RAM 1500 Crew Cab “Blacktop Baller” we got the Manual Tailgate Lock PL3400. It fits in the handle and features a lock that doesn’t allow you to pull the latch up, locking the tailgate closed. No tools required to install, just unlock the device, and fit it in under the latch handle. We did a test fit first before peeling off the double sided tape underneath. Well, once it was in, it wasn’t coming out without breaking anything, so we didn’t get much in photos of putting it in. We chose the MTL because he is going to go with a hard tonneau cover and this way the entire bed can be secure. We just found another great advantage to this kind of lock. Tail-lights are also on the hit list for thieves. Once the tailgate is open a simple driver can disassemble the tail-light assembly and can be sold on the black market. This Manual Tailgate Lock will help prevent tail-light theft too!
For my 2005 RAM 1500 Hemi “Blacktop Bruiser“, I don’t plan on a tonneau cover, so I chose the “Gate Defender”. It is a collar lock that goes around the slotted hinge on the right side of the tailgate. When we got the device, I took the key to unlock it for installation. The dang thing wouldn’t unlock. I checked the key number with the lock number and it was all good. So I called Jacqui at Pop & Lock and she said with the new design, the tolerances are really tight for security reasons. She suggested to hold the lock with the key turned with one hand and give the loop a good yank. Sure enough, a good yank was all it needed. Easy installation, slipping the loop over the hinge pin, securing the lock and capping it with the protective jimmy hat, err rubber cap.
Photos: Texas Rich, Jotography, Blacktop Staff
Story: Tony T-Bone Colombini