Upper tailgate - can it open higher? My forehead hurts :frown: (1 Viewer)

[OZCAL]

Upper tailgate - can it open higher? My forehead hurts...

I'd like my upper tailgate to open higher. Has anyone tried to install longer shocks? I change a lot of diapers back there and am constantly smacking my head on the tailgate . I'd imagine the body mounts would have to be lowered to accomodate the longer shocks when closed?

Thanks,

David

 

[NorCalDoug]

You must be very tall
I'm 6'2" and have yet to hit my head on the upper gate.

I have not heard of anyone changing the shocks out. If the body mounts have to be changed, wouldn't they have to be raised rather than lowered? They way I'm picturing it, the longer shocks when the hatch is closed would require the body mounts to be higher than they currently are...or am I just picturing it the wrong way...

Now that I think about it...could you keep the existing shocks and only raise the body mounts for them? This would give you more height. The difference when closed would be that the shocks are not fully compressed -- I don't know if that would have any effect on the shock.

 

[patpend2000]

You would be suprised what new shocks can do for the tailgate, when you open yours, can you push it up higher? If so, that means the shocks aren't extending all the way and need to be replaced w/new ones from CDan.

 

[jaysdead40]

6'5" + OME J springs = No more headaches

 

[ultimauk]

I'd like my upper tailgate to open higher. Has anyone tried to install longer shocks? I change a lot of diapers back there and am constantly smacking my head on the tailgate . I'd imagine the body mounts would have to be lowered to accomodate the longer shocks when closed?

Thanks,

David

Funny that NorcalDoug and myself are 6'2" and I also bash my head on my upper tailgate, but Doug doesn't?

If more people (6'2") chime in, we migh figure out if it's the shocks or not.

 

[sjcruiser]

Funny that NorcalDoug and myself are 6'2" and I also bash my head on my upper tailgate, but Doug doesn't?

If more people (6'2") chime in, we migh figure out if it's the shocks or not.

As patpend pointed out, if you could push your upper gate higher, you'd likely have bad lift shocks. Another factor is the cruiser's lift - NorCalDoug has 3"+ lift that might explain the different experiences.

I only have issues with the lower tail gate though (don't ask!)

 

[Arleaux]

6'4" w/ 4" lift, no bangy.

 

[ryanjl]

6'5" with about 3" of lift on the back, don't remember hitting when it was stock.

I'd see if it's the stock shocks that have lost some pressure.

 

[OZCAL]

You must be very tall
I'm 6'2" and have yet to hit my head on the upper gate.

I have not heard of anyone changing the shocks out. If the body mounts have to be changed, wouldn't they have to be raised rather than lowered? They way I'm picturing it, the longer shocks when the hatch is closed would require the body mounts to be higher than they currently are...or am I just picturing it the wrong way...

Now that I think about it...could you keep the existing shocks and only raise the body mounts for them? This would give you more height. The difference when closed would be that the shocks are not fully compressed -- I don't know if that would have any effect on the shock.

Thanks Doug-

I'm 6'3", taller in heels

I'm struggling with my geometric/spacial acuity which failed me in the Ipswich railroad museum parking lot yesterday and hasn't volunteered to help since. But I think the current shocks are an "exact" fit, so if the body mounts were lowered the gate wouldn't open all the way, and if they were raised it wouldn't close due to the shocks bottoming out. I think I have to detach them from the body and see what happens in different configurations.

Thanks,

David

 

[OZCAL]

6'5" + OME J springs = No more headaches

Now THAT is an excellent idea!

Patpend, Ultimauk and Sjcruiser, yes the shocks extend all the way on their own.

Ultimauk I wonder if our overseas models have different shocks? I am not entirely sure I smack my head on the LX in California.

David

 

[scottm]

On my '97 the airsprings aren't fully compressed with the hatch closed, they have a bit over 1/2" left to full compression. You can see it with the hatch closed looking through the gap. So you could raise the mount points on the body 1/2". The mount points on the hatch are about 1/4 the way out from the hinge. If you raised the body mounts 1/2", the hatch edge would go up about 4 times as much, 2 inches. Moving the hatch mounts requires drilling and tapping four new holes 1/2" higher, not much to that.

The next step up requires fabricating new brackets and buying longer airsprings. Maybe you could drill out the pins on the existing brackets, thread the holes, and put shoulder bolts in the holes to mount the airsprings. That assumes you can mount the body mount further down, I'm not sure how much metal there is to drill and tap lower on the door frame. New brackets would work for sure. An hour to design, another to cut, bend, drill, and tap the brackets. About $50 each for airsprings and swivel ends. Spraypaint, install. I think you could do it for $200. Get the lift.

 

[OZCAL]

That's the math I was looking for!

The mount points on the hatch are about 1/4 the way out from the hinge. If you raised the body mounts 1/2", the hatch edge would go up about 4 times as much, 2 inches.

Scott - that's the math I was looking for !

Also - "airsprings" - I knew there must be a better term than "tailgate shocks" - thanks for that too.

I'm going to investigate your observation further. Does anybody have any comment on moving the mounts? I know there might be some wiring back there to avoid drilling/tapping through.

By the way I never conceived of my diaper changing snafu being a pro-lift kit argument, but it sure is a good one! My wife even admitted so!

Thanks,

David

 

[GXO]

6'4" here (man, we have some tall SOBs here) and no problems with 3" of lift.

Note: 1982 FJ-60s with sagging stock springs and good quality "airsprings" in the lift gate results in stitches and medical glue to put this big dumb humpty dumpty back together again.

Nothing like remembering the good ol days...ugh

 

[OZCAL]

Thanks Dan. So far the smart money is on a lift, it's just that you need so much smart money...

David

 

[GXO]

Pretty much. If the gate is angled to greater than the roofline the airsprings are good. If that is the case then taller = fix for you. If it is not the case, replacements are the cheapie.

*edit* OH, and if you change diapers back there I can personally be your witness that a lift helps a GREAT DEAL. Mine is a touch higher than the changing table and is perfect for my wife (5'7") and myself to reach. Also makes it the ideal height for camping when you need an improvised table.