Do you need to know what type and options your Ford F-Series tailgate has? Then you have come to the right place!
We created this article is to help you identify the type of tailgate and tailgate options installed on your vehicle so that you can easily use the "Find My Kit" page on our website. This information in combination with our decision charts will help you determine the kit that best fits your vehicle.
Since 2015, Ford has produced several different styles of tailgates along with additional options. It is important to note that tailgate types and options are two different elements making up your tailgate and both are critical when determining which anti-theft/security kit will best fit your truck. We will describe each tailgate type and each tailgate option in detail along with photographs for quick identification.
First up: Types of Tailgates
There are five types of tailgates that Ford has produced over the last decade or so. These are Basic tailgate, Power Tailgate Lock, Remote Tailgate Release, Power Tailgate (aka PowerClose), and Pro Access Tailgate.
Currently, our products are intended to provide comprehensive anti-theft/security solutions for the Remote Tailgate Release type. Our products may fit the other styles (see the detailed descriptions below), but our products were specifically designed to fit this particular style of tailgate.
The Basic Tailgate
A basic tailgate (Figure 1) must be manually locked and unlocked with a physical key. It must be opened by hand with a lever type handle. The tailgate will be physically lowered to open and lifted to close by hand. Our security kits will not fit this type of tailgate. Trucks with this tailgate style typically do not have BLIS tail lights.
Figure 1. Basic Tailgate
Power Tailgate Lock
A tailgate with a power tailgate lock (Figure 2) is electronically locked and unlocked with the key fob but must be opened by hand with a lever type handle. The tailgate will be manually lowered to open and lifted close. Our anti/theft security kits will not directly fit this type of tailgate. A key piece of our kit, the GatePlateTM, interferes with the manually operated lever (actuator). The GatePlateTM requires modification in order to work correctly. Currently, we are investigating to see how we can modify it to fit this particular type of tailgate. It is rare to see this type of tailgate in combination with BLIS tail lights, however, we have come across this on 2015 to 2020 XLTs with BLIS and 2021+ XL/XLT/Lariat SuperDuties.
Figure 2. Power Tailgate Lock
Remote Tailgate Release
A tailgate with remote tailgate release (Figure 3 - F-150 and Figure 4 - SuperDuty) can be electronically opened (lowered) 3 different ways:
- With the key fob remotely
- A button inside of the cab
- The electronic button on the tailgate handle
This type of tailgate must be lifted by hand to the closed position. There is no lever type handle to open the tailgate, only an electronic button on the underside of the handle. Our kits were specifically designed to fit this type of tailgate. It is the most common 2015+ tailgate style (F-150 and SuperDuty) and is the most likely to have BLIS tail lights.
Figure 3. Remote Tailgate Release: F-150
Figure 4. Remote Tailgate Release: SuperDuty
Power Tailgate (PowerClose Tailgate)
A power tailgate (aka PowerClose tailgate) can also be electronically opened three different ways:
- With the key fob remotely
- A button inside of the cab
- The electronic button on the tailgate handle
It is similar in appearance to the Remote Tailgate Release style, but has one major difference - it can be closed using the key fob. So instead of physically closing the tailgate with your hand all you have to do is press the key fob and the tailgate will lift up into the closed position on its own. This type of tailgate includes a motor to facilitate electronic closure, but can also be lifted manually. See this YouTube video for an example of a Power Tailgate.
These types of tailgates use a different latching system that is not as vulnerable to manipulation. Our products are not intended for this type of tailgate, which is common on 2021+higher end trim F-150's and SuperDuties.
Pro Access Tailgate
The pro access tailgate (Figure 5) has the ability to open selected sections of the tailgate by swinging to the side as well as opening like a normal tailgate. We do not sell products (yet) for this type of tailgate. Once we have the opportunity to fully examine a pro access tailgate, we will be able to determine if this type of tailgate has the same vulnerabilities.
Figure 5. Pro Access Tailgate
Let's Discuss Tailgate Options
Now that we have identified one element making up your tailgate, we will discuss the second element - tailgate options!
Ford not only produces different styles of tailgates, like above, but also different tailgate options across multiple trim levels. F-Series trucks are interesting because they have so many available options to choose from.
Does your tailgate have any of the following options?
- Tailgate steps
- Drop in plastic bed liner
- On board ramp storage
- Work surface.
These four tailgate options are critical when selecting the appropriate kit. When following our decision charts, first you will need to determine what type of tailgate your truck has. From there, you will determine if your tailgate has tailgate steps. Followed by, is your truck equipped with any of the remaining three options (drop in plastic bed liner, on board ramp storage, or a work surface).
Below we will identify each of these options.
Tailgate Steps
Tailgate steps can be identified by looking at the top of the tailgate. A tailgate with steps will have a square button that can be pressed to deploy the steps as well as a rectangular cutout that functions as the bottom step. When deployed, the steps look like the image shown in Figure 6. It is important to note that tailgate steps can be combined with several other options (e.g., ramp storage, worksurface, etc.) depending on the trim and year.
Figure 6. 2015-2020 F-150 with Tailgate Steps
Plastic Bed Liner
A drop-in plastic bedliner (Figure 7) includes a ribbed/corrugated plastic piece that covers the tailgate access cover (inside face of tailgate). If you prefer to keep this plastic cover on the inside face of the tailgate, requires re-use of special OEM fasteners that cannot be easily duplicated with a security head. The “find my kit” selection tree will guide you to a kit that does not include security fasteners to replace the 8 access cover screws. It is noted that this will leave open a potential vulnerability, where a thief can open the tailgate by unscrewing the OEM fasteners and removing the inside face (access cover) of the tailgate.
This can be treated in two ways: (1) the end user can fill the OEM screw heads with epoxy to prevent someone from easily removing the fasteners, with the risk that it may be very difficult for the end user to remove in the future, or (2) remove the plastic cover (can retain the drop-in liner in the bed) and purchase a kit that includes the 8 security screws for the access cover. If you have questions about which kit would be needed if you select option 2, feel free to reach out via our “contact us” link on our webpage.
Please note that a plastic bed liner is different from a spray in liner. You can compare Figure 6 (plastic bed liner) and Figure 7 (spray in liner) to see the difference.
Figure 7. Example of Tailgate with Plastic Bedliner over Access Cover
Stowable Ramps
The stowable ramps include a metal exterior access cover (identified by red arrow in Figure 8) and two ramps that connect to a lip on the access cover. Retaining this special access cover on the tailgate inside face (which is a key element of the stowable ramp option) requires re-use of special OEM fasteners that cannot be easily duplicated with a security head. The “find my kit” selection tree will guide you to a kit that does not include security fasteners to replace the 8 access cover screws. It is noted that this will leave open a potential vulnerability, where a thief can open the tailgate by unscrewing the OEM fasteners and removing the inside face (access cover) of the tailgate.
Unlike the plastic drop-in liner, it is not recommended to remove the metal cover since this is a key component to use the stowable ramps. In order to remedy the remaining vulnerability that the OEM screws allow, the end user can fill the OEM screw heads with epoxy to prevent someone from easily removing the fasteners, with the risk that it may be very difficult for the end user to remove in the future.
If the end user determines that they no longer wish to be able to use the ramps, the exterior access cover can be removed, which will reveal the standard access cover installed on other tailgates. This interior access cover can be secured by purchasing a kit that includes the required 8 security screws. If you have questions about which kit would be needed if you select to remove the ramps from your truck, feel free to reach out via our “contact us” link on our webpage.
Figure 8. Image of Stowable Ramps - Deployed
Work Surface
A tailgate with a work surface is shown in Figure 9. The work surface is attached to the inside face of the tailgate using OEM metric bolts. We currently do not offer a kit that replaces these bolts with security bolts, requiring re-use of OEM fasteners. The “find my kit” selection tree will guide you to a kit that does not include security fasteners to replace the work surface OEM bolts. It is noted that this will leave open a potential vulnerability, where a thief can open the tailgate by unscrewing the OEM fasteners and removing the inside face (access cover) of the tailgate.
In order to remedy the remaining vulnerability that the OEM screws allow, the end user can fill the OEM screw heads with epoxy to prevent someone from easily removing the fasteners, with the risk that it may be very difficult for the end user to remove in the future.
Figure 9. Tailgate with Work Surface
We hope the information provided will better assist you in choosing the correct GateGuard anti-theft/security kit. Just remember, tailgate types and options are two different elements making up your tailgate and it is important to know both when selecting our security kits.