nukinfuts29

so here is an interesting idea, and i need input since i have some planning time (its cold as hell out)....

I go to a LOT of bon fires in the spring/summer/fall and sometimes in the winter. I want to convert my rear lift gate from an upward lifting gate to a downward opening tailgate

OR

Create some kind of "split gate" where half opens down, ideally with the upper portion (incl window) removeable. I already have removeable doors so that just fits.

input please

mattfish1

That would be freakin awesome but no help though.

jeepman13

yea this would be nice becasue i to do alot of bon fires and at night when it gets colder the things holding up the hatch dont like to stay up and fall on people heads haha so i am trying what ever you get info wise!

nukinfuts29

Right now i have a tenative plan to buy a junk gate and execute a plan to torch it in half

Tankerblade

Only issue i could see is the strength and integrity of the actual door itself. But i think, if you cut the inside stuff off, and build/make a frame on the inside, with your choice of openings it would work. Although i am not sure how things would work with the window....

rideordie66

If you could make the window roll down that would be awsome!

nukinfuts29

Well the gate itsself, since we will sit on it, would have a custom inside surface anyway. Maybe gut it, stick square tubing frame inside, and seal back up with a diamond plate surface.

jeepman13

i am defenitly trying this..good idea!

nukinfuts29

beyond my skill set for sure

Tankerblade

Might be the way to go...however what part is exactly going to be lowered? the entire thing, half, or what?

nukinfuts29

here is what im thinking as i go over this in my head. Imagine the door as it is now. Remove the handle, like if it was shaved. Cut the door in half. The top would need a lever of some sort, and it would lift up just as it does now, leaving the bottom half in place.

The top would be removeable, much like wrangler (and my cherokee) doors.

The bottom half would drop down with like, two spring loaded bars, Grab the little rings on each side, pull in, and it drops. Sort of like a lot of trailer gates drop down. Would be supported by pip style roller hinges in the bottom on each side and tailgate cables.

Inside re-enforced as mentioned.

Tankerblade

Bare with me as i try to together a mental image, are your going to make a cut horizontally or vertically?

nukinfuts29

Horizontally.

I wish i had any skill with GIMP or Inkscape so i could put it on paper

THENNING

it would take a good bit of fab work but i def think it can be done...it kinds of on the lines of what this guy did minus the chop top and yours would have the fold down tailgate...

nukinfuts29

Exactly. I will try this week to do something in CAD