Remember the tailgate use to be the hatch and would lift upward which is why th handle is at the bottom unlike an actual truck tailgate where the handle is toward the top. Now that the hatch is like a tailgate it opens downward like a truck tailgate. Problem is when ya lower the tailgate the handle was in the way and would hit the bumper. We recessed it and now it sits perfect. Hang on and I'll show you a pic of what I'm talking about.

 

Here you can see how if the tailgate is lowered, the recess comes into play. It was a must. Of coarse the pic is showing the subframe instead of the bumper steel. Hope this helps explain it better.

 

Oh ok I understand now, so you are using the stock handle.

 

I probably wouldn't have been to hard to put it on the top and cover the hole from the bottom one

 

Yes didn't figure there was any reason to change all the workings on the inside to a different location and it still works good.

 

And another cool fester is the release button to lift the back glass which is electronic is still on the tailgate and is still functional for the back glass. LOL.

 

Feature not fester. (Autocorrect)

 

Loo so your rear window pops up cool!

 

Where are the latches on a grand? Did you build hinges or buy some?

 

It clears a tire when its on the back, at least on after market wrangler bumpers

Posted to soon, never mind lol

 

looks pretty cool, i wanna see how it looks when finished

 

Yeah we ALL wanna see this when its finished. I love watching the new fab ideas become a reality. You gonna be afraid to wheel this thing?

 

Factory latches still work exactly the same. The hinges are heavy duty hinges that I bought at Tractor Supply and shaved down to where they fit in place correctly. They work nice.

 

LOL! It will see "some" mud and easy trails but it won't be grinding off any rocks anytime soon. LOL! My buddies are calling it the Mall Crawler. We have named it Griffon. If anyone is not aware of what that is, type it into Google and you will find out why we went with that name. LOL!

 

That's great!!!