One piece hatch

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bugsnbikes

bugsnbikes

Joined
Jul 3, 2005
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a few pics of progress started on hatch and tailgate delete.

got some 1.25" tube bent up and welded in to snug up just inside the moulding with some 3/16"plate mounts for both the stock hatch-hatch lifts and hinges.

still spending alot of time staring at it trying to figure out if i should do a 16oz waterproof canvas or canvas behind steel mesh inset between the tube........etc. I will probably end up just diving in and doing something and seeing how much i hate it or not.

so far- the whole thing weighs about 10-12lbs---flies up with the stock lift struts--and extends out nicely to make a natural little awning. Alot less flex than the stock hatch.
hatch delete 001 (Medium).webp
hatch delete 002 (Medium).webp
hatch delete 003 (Medium).webp
 
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Interesting. Is the canvas going to be able to keep dust and exhaust stench out? Looks like you'll find out. If it seals up pretty well around the edges, I think it should be OK.:cheers:
 
drove it home from shop last night like this and no exhaust smell.......

the plan is to add an angle lip that will cup the stock moulding--should seal up better than stock for dust and more importantly - water. will probably do that while waiting for canvas and mesh to arrive
 
What's gonna keep the bears out? Looks good though. Bending multiple repeatable angles is a PITA
 
What an interesting concept. Seriously. But what was wrong with the stock lid and tailgate? I kind of like the tailgate seat and those drop in lids which create storage look pretty cool. Will you be able to see out of this when it's done?
 
Subscribed cause im interested as hell to see how this pans out ... so far, I'm digging it.
 
Bugs... What is the main design goal? weight reduction?

Been reading this coming in your sigline and have been excited to see. I was thinking you were going to ditch the tire carrier and get the spare inside (partial or completely) The toyota trails article with the LX570 at baja type carrier is what I envisioned.

With your sleeping platform and tools there seems youll want watertightness like you say. Our club was at Windrock and all had to traverse a deep hole and it seems only landtank and I escaped the liquid mudbath of the rear carpet (didnt have to reverse for second attempt) but several other 80s got soaked due to the poor lower weatherstripping seal. Cool idea, not at all what I was imagining but thats the great thing about 1000's of different minds here on mud.

:cheers: keep at it
 
The bears are gonna be licking their chops when they see this.
 
nice nice .. wonder why not add the spare tire to the hatch and sure use strongest struts .. with some kind of lock if where necessary to hold it when it's open ..
 
Tapage said:
nice nice .. wonder why not add the spare tire to the hatch and sure use strongest struts .. with some kind of lock if where necessary to hold it when it's open ..
Click to expand...

yeah- i thought long and hard about doing the spare on the hatch (still might happen)......but one problem is that the dang spare is about 125lbs right now. I was more seriously contemplating it so i could delete the weight of the current tire carrier piece which is bolt on. The reality is that its not a ton more weight than that super heavy stock hatch............so it could probably happen with some beefier struts.

As soon as i welded in the center pipe----all i could visualize was triangulation from the upper hatch hinges down to the center of where spare would bolt up.............certainly would be stronger and easy if it were centered. A little tougher if it were offset to one side. may still happen--im just starting with what ive got (which includes the current carrier on the bumper swingout) and see which way this ends up going.

i may have to do one like you are describing since its bolt in anyway and only takes 6 bolts to remove and swap it out back to stock or other. Maybe a wheeling version that just holds a centered 37and hi lift underneath baja style is next on my list. hrmmm.......wheels are spinning.
 
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jfz80 said:
Bugs... What is the main design goal? weight reduction?
Click to expand...

Kept staring at the Lukes 3500lb spindles and realized---heck, gotta put em thru their paces and get crap outa rig and onto the swingouts. deleting hatch/tailgate frees up alot of room for stuff. Will be fun to see how much crap i can get out and how much space i can free up inside under the full length bed.

Definitely need to weigh the hatch/tailgate and post up...... armchair guesstimate is about 110lbs total. (?). Gotta love shedding 100lbs after throwing on 5 of those 125lb 37" military oz;s.
 
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Black Rhino 13 said:
But what was wrong with the stock lid and tailgate? I kind of like the tailgate seat and those drop in lids which create storage look pretty cool. Will you be able to see out of this when it's done?
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with stock lid and tailgate- just is getting in the way of all the crap im gonna load on the swingouts.

things i like already:
1- it really sticks out alot further when opened--should be a great awning in pounding sun.
2- to be honest- i thought id miss the tailgate....but so far- its ALOT nicer to be able to reach further into the cab without climbing onto the gate.
3- i can sit on the d.o.m. bumper wraparound.--so all seating isnt lost.
 
bugsnbikes said:
Nothing wrong with stock lid and tailgate- just is getting in the way of all the crap im gonna load on the swingouts.

things i like already:
1- it really sticks out alot further when opened--should be a great awning in pounding sun.
2- to be honest- i thought id miss the tailgate....but so far- its ALOT nicer to be able to reach further into the cab without climbing onto the gate.
3- i can sit on the d.o.m. bumper wraparound.--so all seating isnt lost.
Click to expand...
Those are some pretty good points... I wonder if anyone welded up the two hatches together to do a concept like yours? Would be really heavy on the hinges and those shock things I'm sure
 
Sort of off topic,but Roy has some interesting parts. They need to make a leakproof plug so I can remove the weight of my totaly un-used sunroof and install the correct headliner.
Anyone know of such a thing stateside?
 
Schwein said:
wow if you could cut a window in that the fiberglass setup would be pretty cool!
Click to expand...

I'm sure cutting it out and adding some Lexan would be pretty easy for most body shops
 
Kajun said:
Sort of off topic,but Roy has some interesting parts. They need to make a leakproof plug so I can remove the weight of my totaly un-used sunroof and install the correct headliner.
Anyone know of such a thing stateside?
Click to expand...

There are many French/British/German companies that make overlanding parts like these for many vehicles. There were tons of companies making them for defenders because they were so mod friendly for mods like that and then the aftermarket caught up with the LC's, Gwagens and the like.
 
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