Has anyone seen a rear hatch that is split in two?
 

I have seen alot of owners cut the back off and take the hatch and put it in place of the empty space created just behind the rear seat. I may have seen one or two try to make that rear hatch with a split opening where the glass lifts up.
My question is has anyone see or heard of anyone making the split opening where the glass lifts up and the bottom (or what would be the tail gate) fold down. The tail gate if its the oem would be too thick to fold down so I think an mj tail gate would be better as its thinner. Any ideas or thoughts on this is greatly appreciated.

I haven't seen what you speak of. I do like how I've seen the back too end chopped along the rear windows and back with the rear open like a truck with no tailgate, or even they weld it back on just behind the seats. IDE like to see if anyone else has seen what you're talking about.

The only ones I have seen doing this and using the stock hatch, do not open at all. Sealed shut.

It's called a clamshell and yes, I have seen it, but it was years ago at a car show, so unfortunately no pics. It's been on my "Mod List" for some time now but I want to cage mine before doing it.

You're on the right track as for how to do it. In a nut shell:
- Metal boxed taillights built into rear quarter armor (gives the support you'll need for the next item to function properly).
- MJ tailgate cut down to fit and modified with a latch receiver.
- Lower portion of the OE hatch cut off with release lever moved up directly below the window.

In all honesty, it would be a good amount of fab work to make it happen and have it look clean, but it is possible. You just have to really think through all the little things that need to be done to make it right.

x2 on caging mine. I saw a pic of one but it didnt look like it latched or locked very well. Of course you want it sturdy and to lock well to keep everyone out.

I really like the chop tops that alot of XJ'ers do. 1 side of me is do it and the other is leave it and look for another alternative.

Check out this link and scroll down to the fourth post. See how it doesnt latch or lock. It sure looks cool, kind of like an MJ with a shell on the back.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/xj-tailgate-90208/

Yeah that looks pretty much like a bed cap from that view. Not at all what I'd want as a final product. The one I saw was done really well with the upper hatch actually locking down to the top of the tailgate. Really wish I had pics of it.

You know if you really look at the picture of the link I posted, its been photoshopped. There are erase lines all over it. If you look closely you can see that the rear hatch has been erased just below the window and then if you look at the background where the trees are, there are things missing or it just doesnt look right.

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I'll try to search for it, but if you search on pirate somebody had a black Xj, it was caged, he chopped the entire top off of it and had a split rear gate I believe. The top was removable, and he even had a lift setup to pull the top up into the loft of his shop. Not exactly what you're looking for, but close.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/jeep-...ject-pics.html
All the pics are gone, sorry haha

go back to the pa cherokee thread! U aren't allowed out of the room, dang it!