Idea: Rear doors instead of hatch

[bigalpha]

How hard would it be to convert the rear hatch into a set of doors like a Tahoe has? Is there any benefit to having doors instead of a hatch (besides being able to mount the spare to the door).

 

[CherBear]

How hard would it be to convert the rear hatch into a set of doors like a Tahoe has? Is there any benefit to having doors instead of a hatch (besides being able to mount the spare to the door).

I have thought about this too. Seems like the hard part would be getting the glass cut to fit. Hinges, opening handles ect could be cannibalized from a Tahoe or similar vehicle.

You would also have to think about how the rear hatch provides structural support to the rest of the Jeep.

What if you just moved the hinge to the side of the Jeep? So it was one BIG door that swung out to the side. You could mount a spare on it, but it would be rather awkward to handle in a tight parking space.

 

[kastein]

That would also go poorly in parking garages - remember that the D pillar is angled in as well as forward. When the hatch "opens" remember that those angles will be added together, I would guess that the bottom edge of the hatch would end up pointing up at about a 30-40 degree angle.

EDIT: also... not sure why you'd do that. Maybe you like the look more? I can't see it helping me load stuff in very much, and it would mean I can't use the hatch as a roof while sitting on the tailgate eating/working in the rain.

 

[bigalpha]

Ah yeah, I hadn't thought of the hatch angle - that would end up being pretty insane. I don't guess there's a simple way to solve that problem unless you only had one hinge near the bottom where the angle is more vertical. But then the doors would fall off.

I just like the way the doors look, plus you could mount a spare to it. I will agree that the hatch is an excellent umbrella.

 

[kastein]

Tough to mount a hinge at the bottom... considered it. The tail lights get in the way.

The hatch on a 97+ is a much better umbrella, water doesn't leak in around the rear hatch glass on those :roflmao: Still I'll take a slow drip over being completely soaked.

 

[bigalpha]

Ah well, that's why I don't fabricate stuff.

Now that you mention it, water was dripping in through that window seal last time I used it. Pissed me off, too.