FOB / Locked out dilemma

Yesterday I was going on a group bike ride (2 hrs from my house). I put my fob in my bike bag. The ride start location changed, so we all decided to drive to the new location. I put bike back in truck, closed tailgate, and I was screwed. I have a hard Extang tonneau cover. No way to open the truck or get to the fob. I called Toyota roadside assistance and they said either retrieve my other fob or have the truck towed to a dealer and they would be able to open the bed. They said just getting in the truck would not give me access to the bed. Wound up driving all day to get other fob (which I just got a few months ago). If I didn't have a second fob I guess I would have been paying to tow it. I get that it was my fault, but it seems like there should be a way to access the tailgate. If there had been a child or pet in the truck I would have had to break the window. I just recently let the Toyota app expire. I tried to reactivate it, but the last step in that process is to scan the QR code on the truck screen (ugh). Even if I had been able to open the doors I don't know if I would have been able to open the tailgate.

Anyone else do something like this? I have been reluctant to put my extra fob in a hide-a-key bc I don't know if it will allow someone to just walk up and enter my truck. Need to do some testing on the fob in the hide-a-key. If I had AAA open the door and the alarm goes off, can I access the tailgate by unlocking all the doors?

 

how far in the bed was the FOB? i can stand a couple feet away and someone can hit the tailgate button and it works. the app just unlocks the doors it doesnt pop the tail gate. seems like there needs to be some thing like a a reverse kill switch hidden some where for times like this.

 

If you want to use a hide-a-key you could always remove the battery from the fob. Then if you end up needing it, install the battery.

Also, having an electronic tailgate lock is a nice thing since it means access to the cab also gives access to the bed. Is this not standard on the 2022+ tundras? (Not meant as a dig, I really don’t know).

 

The fob was about in the middle of the bed. When the fob is in the cab of the truck the doors will not lock. I guess the tailgate does not have this feature.

Willard, there is no button in the cab to open the tailgate. If there is no battery in the fob, where would the battery be if I need the extra fob (in the truck that I cannot get into)?

I talked with Toyota again and they said the only way in is with the fob. I'm going to try and open the truck with the metal key (alarm will go off) and try to unlock the doors and see if the tailgate will open.

 

Easy solution. Put the physical key to your second FOB in a magnetic box and hide it under the truck. Then put the second FOB in the center console or glove box (turned off to save battery). The physical key will allow you to open the doors only, but won't start the engine. That's why you leave the second FOB in the cab.

 

My second fob did not come with a metal key, just the fob itself. But your idea seems like the best solution. Thanks.

Supposedly the new Tacomas have an interior tailgate button........

 

You should have gotten the metal key for the second FOB when you purchased the truck. Mine was inside the owner's manual packet. I think that was standard practice for every truck that came with only one FOB at purchase.

 

Since the fob was in the bed, what about the small lock/unlock button to the right of tailgate handle button. ??

 

Go back to the dealer and get another cut key. I went back and forth with my dealer and Toyota Corporate on this. At the end of the day, my dealer got slapped for not giving people two cut keys just to save themselves $9 each.

 

I think you misunderstood what I was saying.

I don't know about 22+ model years, but my 2020 had the electronic tailgate lock. It was tied to the doors. Unlocking the doors also unlocked the tailgate. There wasn't a separate button in the cab or anything like that. My current frontier and F250 also work the same way.

As for the battery, I suggested removing it when using a hide-a-key if you are worried about the proximity allowing a random person to walk up and open your doors. Take the battery out, but store the battery with the fob in the hide-a-key. Then if you need to use it, retrieve the hide-a-key, put the battery back in, etc.

 

I was thinking the same as well as the tail light button. I’m sure tried they one. I’m gonna run some tests. OP makes a real good point for keeping the Remote Assist subscription. That would have worked. I let mine recently expire. Might be a good excuse to keep it. I’m already missing the Truck Is Unlocked warnings.

 

Just a personal rule for me: FOB or key remains on my person at all times when not at home. I don't put it in the tank bag of my motorcycle either. Reasoning is that if I am separated from my bike I don't want to lose my key. If you bail to avoid running over a nasty drop but the bike isn't so lucky then you are boned. Same reason anything like a Garmin inReach should be attached to your person and not the vehicle. It's the only sure way.

 

I wonder how hard it would be to add a button for the tailgate inside the cab?

 

That doesn’t work with 3rd gen. There is only an electronic button to release the tail gate. If you don’t have a key fob near you then it will not open.

 

Ha. I deleted it when I realized it was a 3rd gen.

 

There was actually a post a while back of a member on the forum adding an interior tailgate release button to his 3rd Gen that had the taillight button.

Here's the post with a semi write up: https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...gen-tundra-today.104778/page-173#post-3427848
And he has pictures in his gallery of the install: https://www.tundras.com/media/users/chris-01456.108857/