tailgate warning light???

[BTurpin]

Has anyone hooked up a warning light or something to alert for a tailgate down? Three times in one month I've drove off with my gate down. So far I haven't lost anything ( this year that is) but the potential is there. I can't see my tailgate out my rear window thanks to my oversize tool box.

Maybe there is a way to link to the door ajar alarm. Any thoughts?



Thanks

 

[bighammer]

ANYTHING is possible. It might turn on the dome/cargo lights when opened too.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Could you get some type of sensor from somewhere like Radio Shack and wire it to a small LED on the dash?

 

[DFrank]

I think you need to find a little button style switch like the ones in the door or like ones i've seen in closet doors and then wire it to your own little "idiot" light.



Let me know if you find a good switch; I'd like to use one to activate a light on the bottom of the hood.

 

[walmor]

Might I suggest CLOSING IT when you get done doing whatever it is you do back there.

Just a thought.

Walmor

P. S. I know, theres one in every crowd.

 

[VStahl]

a switch for the tailgate

check with a place that installs car alarms. They have the pin switches that they install under the hood, in tool boxes, tailgates... that will trip the car alarm if any of them are opened. it is a simple two wire switch that you could use to wire straight into the "door Ajar" warning light, to display on the dash.

 

[FJfonda]

I looked into doing this with my cap door. My advice would be to use a proximity sensor and not any kind of switch that has external moving parts that could corrode or get broken. Proximity sensors are magnetic/reed switch set ups that are used in house alarm systems for windows and doors. Pin switches around the tailate area will get broken multiple times.

 

[BTurpin]

Thanks for the good advice. I'll check my car alarm place today and see what they can do. Magnetic switch seems like a great idea.

 

[crebelein]

Originally posted by Jeff Clark

Could you get some type of sensor from somewhere like Radio Shack and wire it to a small LED on the dash?

get a plunger switch (like for hoods, or doors) and run a wire to small led on your dash somewhere. it's that easy. i've been meaning to put one in my truck but haven't had a chance...