Big David

I Google searched it but found nothing.
I'm sure there has to be someone on here that has done this.

This is on a 99% off road only XJ but would apply to street driven Jeeps as well since it will be seeing highway speeds while on the trailer.
My first thought would to drive the pins out of the hinge & replace it with a smaller pin/bolt or similar.
But it would be difficult to hold it & line up the hinges.

My second idea, & the one I'll try, would be to remove the nuts on the inside & remove the hatch with the hinge attached. Reattaching would be easier. Just put the hatch in place, lock the bottom in latch, & fold the hinge over into the holes. You would need to then crawl inside & zip the nuts on with a impact or ratchet.

I want it removable for 2 reasons. It gets hot in the southern states & the airflow would be great since my a.c. stopped working. In the winter it would be nice to hold the heat in.

Thoughts?

Jimbo Slice

First thought would be exhaust gas getting sucked into the vehicle.

Big David

While off road?
I busted my back glass out one weekend & didn't notice any. I drove it on the road & trail.
I have a extra hatch cut & ready to be used as a tailgate to hold any trash thrower back there.

Jimbo Slice

Yeah man, I mean... it's a cool idea and if exhaust gas isn't an issue... have you though about making that half gate a swing out?

If airflow is what you desire, would it not be easier to simply remove the glass for summer and then put it back in come fall?

4.3L XJ

My thoughts too

Big David

Yes, it & the side windows but then I'd have rain to worry aboot.
Thanks for the input.

Jimbo Slice

Alright... sip on this for a minute and tell me what you think.

Mount a vertical male pin on each side of the opening and a female vertical receiver on each side of the gate... possibly somewhere near the stock shock locations?

Mount a couple handles on the outside of the gate to lift it up and off the male pins and vice versa.

Use some oversize guitar case latches (one near each corner maybe?) to "latch" it tight to the seal when installed.

Quick pop your four latches loose and lift the gate off. Maybe get you one of those truck tailgate nets for those gateless days.

Big David

This is why I posted. That is thinking outside the box.
Now I have a few options to think over.

Jimbo Slice

Here's another thought...

Mount some male or female horizontal guide pins to the inside hatch combing. Then mount the opposing type to the hatch itself. Two should work, but four would be better. Now instead of lifting the hatch on and off, you are sliding the hatch on and off. The added benefit is that you can use your stock latch handle on the bottom and just add a couple case latches to the top... outside for ease of use, or inside for security.

If security is of no concern, perhaps two or four hood pins set horizontally?

Just spitballing here. I mean... You could mount horizontal studs and then drill holes in the hatch and hold it down with washers and nuts if you want the Mad Max look.

Big David

I'd like to use the hatch as it was designed in the winter time.
I'm leaning towards just removing the nuts on the inside.

Jimbo Slice

And replacing them every time it rains?

fb97xj1

If only the 97-01 had wing windows.

Big David

I may go wheeling twice in the summer. Remove the hatch when I get there, reinstall it before I leave.

Martlor13

seems like a lot of work for only 2 trips out. Roll all the windows down if there are so little trips out in summer...but thats just me cuz i would be too lazy to keep removing it

Jimbo Slice

Yeah, I thought this was going to be a regular occurrence.

If it were me, I'd just roll the windows down and call it a day.