Rough 'n tumble the barn door?

[Reg Wang]

anyone here don't particularly handle the barn door with care, and just let it swing open until the fully opened position?

 

[re_guderian]

I don't. Casual perusing (read: total reliance on my faulty, old-man memory) seems to indicate on Prado, GX 470, and 460 forums regarding either the Prado OEM spare tire carrier, or the JW aftermarket one seem to indicate that doing what you mention repeatedly can lead to weld failures on the door panels in critical places. I know I've read that at least once. Somewhere. And it's with a spare on the door... But still, doesn't seem like a "best practice" of any sort... But hey, you do you, and let us know...

 

[r2m]

I absolutely don't! I let my bumper swing-out one time with out when I was at a odd angle and I didn't catch it in time. It sheared off the locking pin on the MetalTech bumper that locks it in place in the open and closed position. Had to replace the entire pin. Then I had some knuckleheads at the car wash, after cleaning the rear with the swing-out open, try to close it without lifting the locking pin. They bent the heck out of it. I was able to save the pin by straightening it again, but you know what happens when doing that, it'll just become weaker and more likely to bend/shear again.

With that preamble being said, I am also careful about swinging the rear door open also. But because it has that strut, it doesn't open with the speed of the front doors, so never really had to worry about it. Also if I'm at an odd angle, I can lock that strut to keep the door open.

 

[virtualpj]

I have my spare attached to the rear door, so I'm always careful when opening it.

 

[Reg Wang]

Thanks folks. To elaborate, I am always the ultra OCD when it comes to any swinging doors. I once witnessed an F150 owner just kick open the driver's door and went about his business, that did not sit well with me. My wife also likes to let the door fully open and create full clearance, before she got out....not ok with me. So you can see how I feel when the barn door of the GX, parked nose-up on a hill, "lost control" and swang open by itself. The pneumatic strut did try to catch itself, but it is NOT like an office chair or a hatch tailgate strut, it does not provide damping, so the barn door got stopped momentarily, and proceeded with more swinging...anyway, I will not let that happen ever again.

 

[virtualpj]

I haven't tried it, but supposedly there's a heavier duty option for the strut that could give you piece of mind, from the Aussies that often run heavier doors with spares attached: Prado 150 series rear door strut - https://www.strutyourstuff.net.au/collections/all/products/prado-150-series-rear-door-strut