What Is The Difference In Tailgate Mechanisms: Bullnose vs Bricknose?

[Gary Lewis]

I'm in the market for an electric tailgate lock, and the hunt isn't going well. I've only found one that comes close to fitting, and it is the Pop & Lock PL8200, which is said to be for 1987 – 2007 FORD F250 (FOR TAILGATE WITHOUT OEM MANUAL LOCK). But they don't have one for earlier trucks.

So, what is the difference in the mechanisms between the Bullnose and Bricknose tailgates? Can I make this one work? Is there another one someone knows about?

Here's a snag from their instructions to show you what little info I have on it. (And trust me, those blue wire taps will get thrown away, as I have the same opinion of them that Jim does.)

[ArdWrknTrk]

It's kinda crazy they don't show 1987-1997 F-150.

It was the '97-'98 model years when 250HD/350 were different, before the '99 "SuperDuty" update.

I can take some pics of the guts of my gate, but I don't have a Bullnose gate to compare.

LMK

[Gary Lewis]

It's kinda crazy they don't show 1987-1997 F-150.

It was the '97-'98 model years when 250HD/350 were different, before the '99 "SuperDuty" update.

I can take some pics of the guts of my gate, but I don't have a Bullnose gate to compare.

LMK

Jim - Thanks for the offer. I have the Bullnose gates so will take pics of the guts of one of them. But it isn't urgent as I plan to spend some time today calling the tonneau and roof top tent manufacturers to see what will work..

But assuming I find that there is a combo that will do what I want to do then I'll need to figure out how to lock to 'gate.

I have a lock I bought years ago, but there's not much with it. It is just the actuator. And it can be moved w/o power. I assumed that the locks wouldn't be able to be moved w/o power, so I'm confused as to how they work.

Here's the whole of the instruction page from the 1987+ lock. Does it make sense to you how it works?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Jim - Thanks for the offer. I have the Bullnose gates so will take pics of the guts of one of them. But it isn't urgent as I plan to spend some time today calling the tonneau and roof top tent manufacturers to see what will work..

But assuming I find that there is a combo that will do what I want to do then I'll need to figure out how to lock to 'gate.

I have a lock I bought years ago, but there's not much with it. It is just the actuator. And it can be moved w/o power. I assumed that the locks wouldn't be able to be moved w/o power, so I'm confused as to how they work.

Here's the whole of the instruction page from the 1987+ lock. Does it make sense to you how it works?

A) it says "All other Ford Ranger up to 2009 and Ford F-series trucks up to 1998"..

We know there were no differences between 150, and 250-350 up to the 1996 styling change.

B) I don't think it matters if you can manipulate it, since it is buried inside the tailgate.

All that matters is that the bolt throws out and blocks the scissor mechanism from being able to pull the latch rods.

These pot metal handles snap off all on their own. It's not like you could force it without defeating yourself.

Besides, as I have pointed out many times before. Locks are for honest people, opportunists and idiots.

A determined and experienced criminal will do whatever they please.

You may not like that, but I'm telling you like it is.

[Gary Lewis]

A) it says "All other Ford Ranger up to 2009 and Ford F-series trucks up to 1998"..

We know there were no differences between 150, and 250-350 up to the 1996 styling change.

B) I don't think it matters if you can manipulate it, since it is buried inside the tailgate.

All that matters is that the bolt throws out and blocks the scissor mechanism from being able to pull the latch rods.

These pot metal handles snap off all on their own. It's not like you could force it without defeating yourself.

Besides, as I have pointed out many times before. Locks are for honest people, opportunists and idiots.

A determined and experienced criminal will do whatever they please.

You may not like that, but I'm telling you like it is.

I understand, and agree, that a determined & experienced criminal can defeat the lock. Any lock. But I'm just trying to have reasonable security such that I can feel comfortable leaving things in the bed of the truck when we go in to eat, or overnight at a hotel. (Obviously we won't leave the crown jewels there.) That's the way Blue is set up, meaning a locking tonneau and tailgate lock, and we feel fine leaving things in the bed.

So you think the bolt just goes above one arm of the scissors mechanism and keeps it from going up? That would make sense. So if the one I have will bolt into the mechanism I have then problem solved. Or even if it can be made to bolt into.

You've helped a lot as I hadn't twigged as to how it works. So don't worry about the pics for now. Let me see what I can figure out with the one I have.

THANKS!

[85lebaront2]

Gary, might work, might not. Tailgate latches through 1986 were plunger style into a latch plate. Starting in 1987 through end of the OBS bodies (1996 for F150 and F250LD and 1997 for F250HD and F350) they are the station wagon style, similar to the doors. A dual rotating pair of hardened "jaws".

The early ones can be defeated (or opened) by forcing a big screw driver in and forcing the plunger in one side at a time. The later ones, the actual locking mechanism has to be released by pulling the rods (there is an access panel on the inside of the tailgate).

A friend over here had a Dodge Ram with a fiberglass cover on the bed, it actually covered the top of the tailgate and could be locked. I do not remember the brand and he (a) sold the truck and (b) is now in Idaho.

[Gary Lewis]

Gary, might work, might not. Tailgate latches through 1986 were plunger style into a latch plate. Starting in 1987 through end of the OBS bodies (1996 for F150 and F250LD and 1997 for F250HD and F350) they are the station wagon style, similar to the doors. A dual rotating pair of hardened "jaws".

The early ones can be defeated (or opened) by forcing a big screw driver in and forcing the plunger in one side at a time. The later ones, the actual locking mechanism has to be released by pulling the rods (there is an access panel on the inside of the tailgate).

A friend over here had a Dodge Ram with a fiberglass cover on the bed, it actually covered the top of the tailgate and could be locked. I do not remember the brand and he (a) sold the truck and (b) is now in Idaho.

Well, I cannot tell you the difference in the tailgate mechanisms. That's because the Bullnose tailgates don't have an access panel to remove, like the instructions imply the Bricknose and later 'gates do, so you cannot see the mechanism.

From what I can tell there are only two alternatives if I want a locking Bullnose tailgate. First, find a key-lock for the handle, and they may be available. Second, cut up one of the spare 'gates I have and make a panel to fit BB's 'gate.

Jim - Could you shoot a pic of your access panel and measure it, please? I don't mean for you to pull it off, just a pic of where it is and then dimensions. Perhaps that will help me understand if the patch panel idea is reasonable.

[grumpin]

Well, I cannot tell you the difference in the tailgate mechanisms. That's because the Bullnose tailgates don't have an access panel to remove, like the instructions imply the Bricknose and later 'gates do, so you cannot see the mechanism.

From what I can tell there are only two alternatives if I want a locking Bullnose tailgate. First, find a key-lock for the handle, and they may be available. Second, cut up one of the spare 'gates I have and make a panel to fit BB's 'gate.

Jim - Could you shoot a pic of your access panel and measure it, please? I don't mean for you to pull it off, just a pic of where it is and then dimensions. Perhaps that will help me understand if the patch panel idea is reasonable.

A couple of these?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-4-1-2-in-Chrome-Key-Locking-Hasp-13527/202950144

[85lebaront2]

Well, I cannot tell you the difference in the tailgate mechanisms. That's because the Bullnose tailgates don't have an access panel to remove, like the instructions imply the Bricknose and later 'gates do, so you cannot see the mechanism.

From what I can tell there are only two alternatives if I want a locking Bullnose tailgate. First, find a key-lock for the handle, and they may be available. Second, cut up one of the spare 'gates I have and make a panel to fit BB's 'gate.

Jim - Could you shoot a pic of your access panel and measure it, please? I don't mean for you to pull it off, just a pic of where it is and then dimensions. Perhaps that will help me understand if the patch panel idea is reasonable.

Gary, the Bullnose tailgate mechanism is simply two pull rods and a scissors style mechanism the handle actuates. I can take pictures and measurements of Darth's since he has a 1996 bed and later tailgate.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Well, I cannot tell you the difference in the tailgate mechanisms. That's because the Bullnose tailgates don't have an access panel to remove, like the instructions imply the Bricknose and later 'gates do, so you cannot see the mechanism.

From what I can tell there are only two alternatives if I want a locking Bullnose tailgate. First, find a key-lock for the handle, and they may be available. Second, cut up one of the spare 'gates I have and make a panel to fit BB's 'gate.

Jim - Could you shoot a pic of your access panel and measure it, please? I don't mean for you to pull it off, just a pic of where it is and then dimensions. Perhaps that will help me understand if the patch panel idea is reasonable.

I will.

But if I'm going there I'm going to pull the panel off and beat some dents out.

It is pretty much the whole inside of the tailgate.

It must be fun to fish the Bullnose mechanism in from the side!