Rear Hatch Mod

[loki]

Does anyone know if there is a similar tailgate mod for the L400 as there is for the L300? I would like it if my rear gate came up another inch or 2 so I'm less likely to crack my head if the ground isn't perfectly level :(

[Green1]

due to a design difference between the L300 and L400, there is no "similar" mod, and definitely nothing as easy. I do have a couple of ideas though, but I haven't had time to try them yet... stay tuned?

[loki]

due to a design difference between the L300 and L400, there is no "similar" mod, and definitely nothing as easy. I do have a couple of ideas though, but I haven't had time to try them yet... stay tuned?

That was my fear, I had looked at it but not for very long, didn't look like there was an easy fix but I was hopeful that someone else had figured something out. I guess the easiest (but likely not the cheapest) would be to source some struts that still fit when closed but extend a tiny bit farther (wouldn't need to be much longer as they are very close to the hinge) the other option is to make new brackets for the top which I might actually try at my dad's shop with scrap metal.

[mararmeisto]

Are the mounting brackets labelled in a similar fashion to the L300s? If so, it should be a simple swappy-change...

[Green1]

Are the mounting brackets labelled in a similar fashion to the L300s? If so, it should be a simple swappy-change...

The reason it works on the L300 is that the strut attaches to a pin at the bottom of the lower bracket, by swapping the 2 struts the pin ends up at the top of the bracket, giving you that extra height.
the problem is, on the L400 the strut attaches to a pin in the MIDDLE of both brackets, so swapping the 2 wouldn't gain you anything.

I also don't think that the L300 brackets would likely fit the same on an L400

The solution therefore involves some more creativity.

[TardisDeli]

Green1 is right, we couldnt see any way to do it, we looked at someones L400 who wanted Jay to do the lift he does for L300's -- the star fix at our mini meets -- but no way. Christine.

[Green1]

The ideas I have basically involve moving the "pin" on the top bracket further from the door, either with a modified bracket, or spacers (and new stronger bolts (There's a LOT of sheer force on those things!))
When the door is open, the small lift near the hinge would give a larger lift at the end of the gate (where we care about it) and when closed it would move the end of the strut towards the vehicle (not requiring the strut to fit in a shorter space), There seems to be enough room in there to do some, though I haven't checked yet to find out how much room there is for this.

[jessef]

Lift your L400 2" Problem solved

[loki]

Lift your L400 2" Problem solved

:) well it is lifted 1" already, and I can't afford to spend any money atm so I will likely just try to fab up a couple new brackets. the other reason to mod the hatch would be to make it easier to load larger things in there as the bottom of the door seems to be a couple of inches at least lower that the top of the opening so things like a big long hutch or couch or what have you would be more difficult to get in.

[macro]

Any luck on the hatch mod? I'm in the same boat for one that opens wider, Sure would be handy for work.

[Feds]

The rear hatch setup is tough from a mods perspective. I want to move my spare onto the door, but I have no idea how I'm going to increase the strength of the struts.

[macro]

I just want mine to open another 6". I'm only 5'7" and I have to duck. Seems like it could do with a little more. Or a vertical split door. That's the dream.

[fredt]

it can be done :) http://www.mdocuk.co.uk/forums/viewtopi ... ff8ab9eb61

[yojimbo]

The rear hatch setup is tough from a mods perspective. I want to move my spare onto the door, but I have no idea how I'm going to increase the strength of the struts.

You can forget this, you'll never lift the weight of a spare with the struts, you'll need a swingaway.

Being in the uK i am tempted by some sgs struts for my tail with bike rack on, but its a tossup, as I may go back to the ladder instead, and then it would want to fly up and take my head off no doubt!

[FalcoColumbarius]

The rear hatch setup is tough from a mods perspective. I want to move my spare onto the door, but I have no idea how I'm going to increase the strength of the struts.

You can forget this, you'll never lift the weight of a spare with the struts, you'll need a swingaway.

Being in the uK i am tempted by some sgs struts for my tail with bike rack on, but its a tossup, as I may go back to the ladder instead, and then it would want to fly up and take my head off no doubt!

In British Columbia this is referred to as "barber chairing", originally a logging term from when the logger felling the tree would stand behind the falling tree not realising that when the tree hit the ground the bottom would kick back and up, successfully removing the head of the logger. The cut of the tree trunk looks like a reclining chair, hence the name. As unlikely as it may appear at first I could see an accident like this occurring if for some reason the spare tyre were not on the tailgate, for instance, when the gate were opened.

Falco.