Thank-you ctilsie242 for the advise.
I've heard of tailgate theft before but never gave it much thought until I read your post. My Silverado has a locking tail gate, and with the shell on the back with the back gate that locks too, I've always felt pretty safe about my tailgate. But I looked at some YouTube videos just a while ago and decided a little extra prevention might save a bunch of cure.
I do not have a tail gate lock that goes around the pivot rod, but I do have radiator clamps. So I just slapped one on the pivot rod, made it good and tight, and twisted the tail up, making it hard to reach the end with a screw driver, and cutting it will be difficult too! It might not stop a thief, but he will have to work a bit harder, going through the shell gate lock, the tail gate lock, and now the clamp on the pivot rod. More than likely, it will not get stolen, but I can see the tail gate on the shell and the truck getting beat up pretty good though now!
Do I feel better now? Well, really not! Now I'll forever be thinking about this every time I park the truck!
