In this article we go over how to make a homemade tailgate lock for your pickup tailgate using a barrel bolt. This works great if you have a locking cap or tonneau cover but your tailgate doesn’t lock. Cheap and simple.
- Get a barrel bolt lock from the hardware store (the bigger, the better). Make sure it has the 3rd piece on the bottom of the picture.
Barrel Bolt Lock
- Line it up on the top corner of your tailgate and cut out any raised bed liner.
Homemade Tailgate Lock
- Line the metal bracket up with the barrel bolt on the side of your truck bed, under the liner.
DIY Tailgate Lock
- Mount the bolt and bracket and drill out hole in the middle of the bracket.
- Test it out!
