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Did this about 2 years ago to my 2016 jeep Cherokee. Used a wrangler mount and drilled directly into the hatch. Took the rear interior panels off and drilled through the body as well. For added support I used a piece of 3/8 flat stock steel on the top holes about 10 inches wide. Haven’t used the hatch much but wanted to see if someone else has done something similar tho replace the hatch struts to compensate for the added weight.
Did this about 2 years ago to my 2016 jeep Cherokee. Used a wrangler mount and drilled directly into the hatch. Took the rear interior panels off and drilled through the body as well. For added support I used a piece of 3/8 flat stock steel on the top holes about 10 inches wide. Haven’t used the hatch much but wanted to see if someone else has done something similar tho replace the hatch struts to compensate for the added weight.
pondering the mount with this setup I saw yesterday on a Grand Cherokee....
I have seen lift strut mounting points rip out of the body, sheet metal torn where the strut mounting ball is on the D pillar. This has happened with a hatch unladened by a spare tire on it.
Extra weight of a tire there will cause more stress on those mounting points when hatch when open, and if you upgrade to higher force struts, that will also increase the stress on the mounts when closed and struts are compressed.
If a strut fails, or strut mount tears, then a very heavy hatch and tire will come crashing down, someone could be hurt bad like then.
get a swing out carrier, a drop down hitch carrier, or mount on the roof. but mounting to the hatch is just plain not good is my opinion.
