Just Got A Locking Tailgate Handle From Dealer

[nootron69]

Long story short, had to get truck inspected, so I tried to get it done on my Monday off. Failed emissions because I re-flashed my stock tune too late (not enough time to have truck relearn all the ecm garbage). So I re-scheduled the emissions part for this past Friday, and while I was at it I ordered the locking tailgate handle after reading the horror stories of all of the tailgate thefts here, and to help protect my new tonneau cover. Passed emissions on Friday, and they got the part and installed it. Anyway, I paid $100 installed. Too much? I was thinking this install needed a locksmith to key up with the ignition key, but too late I realized this was a super easy install after reading the instructions-all you have to do is insert the key before your install it on the truck (the dealer was nice enough to leave the box on my passenger seat with the instructions and my old tailgate handle). If anyone on here wants a locking GM tailgate handle, just order it online and install it yourself!

[stormrider]

Nootron,

It cost me $85 installed when I picked up my truck on delivery day. I tried to get them to throw it in as part of the purchase and they said trhey would give me a "discount". guess I saved 15%

Found out the same as you how easy this would have been. Oh well

[700 sportsman]

my dad ordered one for $48 brand new off ebay and I installed it myself and it works like a charm

[Thurman]

The locking tailgate handle kit should cost no more than about $40 to your local GM dealer. Now, IF you know someone at either the dealer or a local parts store, that's what you could pay for the kit. Shopping on-line for this will get you many prices for the OEM units. David

[trucc_boi]

gm lists it for 49

 

locking tailgate handle

[MarkD]

They probably charged you 1/2 hour (local dealer rates are $97/hour) labor + parts + shop disposables + tax.

 

Personally, my own labor isn't worth $100/hour so I, and most other people, would do it themselves.

[99kon]

That's my next mod but I'm going eBay. You don't need a locksmith. No more than $50.

[Zembonez]

INSTALLED, I think that sounds fair. You could have done it for half of that yourself.

[LawmanSS]

I paid about $40 for mine and installed it myself. It was a fairly easy and straight-forward install.

[nootron69]

They probably charged you 1/2 hour (local dealer rates are $97/hour) labor + parts + shop disposables + tax.

 

Personally, my own labor isn't worth $100/hour so I, and most other people, would do it themselves.

 

My labor isn't either!!! and I work on Blackhawks! Seriously though, I was just trying to get a climate survey from any peeps that got one installed from a dealer to see how much they paid. I have gotten several parts from my dealer that seemed a little high (ie-mud flaps--but at the time, that was the only place you could fine oem gmc flaps). I guess installed it wasn't too bad, but once again, I never would have guessed how freaking easy the install was. I ASSumed some voodoo was involved to key it up with your ignition key. When I failed my emissions on monday, it was kind of an afterthought, like, "Oh yeah, by the way, can you get me a locking tailgate handle and install it friday when I come back?" Oh well, I guess we all wipe our a$$ with our hard earned money at several points, but man, that saying that hind-sight is 20/20 is SOOOOO true.

[trucc_boi]

if anything you only ended up spending $50 on the installation and it saved you some time.. plus the guys working at the dealership get paid which puts money back into your community

 

we can do an economic impact analysis of the a$$ wipe of your hard-earned money, and i'm sure it comes back to you in a certain percentage.

 

life/truck maintenance is a zero-sum game.

[nootron69]

if anything you only ended up spending $50 on the installation and it saved you some time.. plus the guys working at the dealership get paid which puts money back into your community

 

we can do an economic impact analysis of the a$$ wipe of your hard-earned money, and i'm sure it comes back to you in a certain percentage.

 

life/truck maintenance is a zero-sum game.

 

True that is man, and like you said, saved my dumb a$$ some time in the cold cursing! To be honest, the peeps there are cool as anything, and I really don't mind giving a couple extra bucks to some honest dudes. When I got back from Iraq, my wife took my Sierra down to the dealer to get it detailed, so I had a super clean truck to come home to, and they did it for free when they found out the situation-so I can't bitch! They dont know me from adam when I show up, but I would like to surprise them with a Plaque or something!

[nickvrebel]

first:

don't remove your tune "for emissions purposes" when getting an annual inspection. A proper tune will actually HELP pass the test.

I personally don't use the dealer for inspections anyway.

 

second:

you can get the locking tailgate handle from gmpartsdirect.com for ~$40 to your door, it takes 10 minutes to install.... personally I spent an extra $7 on primer and paint and painted mine with Duplicolor to match the truck, 10X's cleaner look and the locking function = win.

[nootron69]

first:

don't remove your tune "for emissions purposes" when getting an annual inspection. A proper tune will actually HELP pass the test.

I personally don't use the dealer for inspections anyway.

 

second:

you can get the locking tailgate handle from gmpartsdirect.com for ~$40 to your door, it takes 10 minutes to install.... personally I spent an extra $7 on primer and paint and painted mine with Duplicolor to match the truck, 10X's cleaner look and the locking function = win.

 

Thanks man, I appreciate it. Only prob is I already spent the money! So yeah, I know, I am a little slow, don't need help with that LOL. You did read the whole thread, right? As far as using the dealer for inspections, I normally don't either, with the exception of this truck. I bought it new there, and it was the first "new" vehicle I have ever bought for myself. I figure that there is no way I can have warranty issues with undocumented maintenance, and plus needed a tire rotation-I have no access to a lift.