Split gate hatch

Joel H · Post by **Joel H** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:28 am

Something I've been working on. I've been using spare parts I have and mocking it up on my parts truck.

Here is the start of this project.

Tailgate

Tailgate and cut hatch

The rough cut. I have to cut the hatch ner the black line yet on both sides. This is going to creat the pocket I need for an overlap.

The top of this tailgate will be used to shorten the other tailgate.

Since I'm going to be trading a hatch from my 90 parts truck I figured I would mount up the parts I did have already.

Tailgate mounted. I'll have to mess around with the hinges to get them set right. Not bad for Eyeballing it though.

Body lines match

Upper hatch installed

Gate down, hatch closed

I had to trim a bit more off the top of the tailgate. I'll be using part of the silver one to fill it in.

All closed up. :-D

More to come.

84_4x4 · Post by **84_4x4** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:01 pm

wow that looks awesome i need to make one of those did you just use a ranger tailgate and a bronco ii door and cut and weld becuase im gonna make a trip to junkyard and fab one up

Post by **Nobody** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:06 pm

Nice work. Nothing like having a tailgate to sit on.

Joel H · Post by **Joel H** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:35 pm

84_4x4 wrote:wow that looks awesome i need to make one of those did you just use a ranger tailgate and a bronco ii door and cut and weld becuase im gonna make a trip to junkyard and fab one up

I haven't gotten to the welding part yet. Just done a whole lotta cutting.

The ranger tailgate is going to have to be trimmed down almost 1.5" in height. I cut first before thinking about things. So I messed up a but but had access to another tailgate to use for parts so it's not that bit of a deal to me.

For latches I was planning to use the hatch latches on the tailgate and then using the tailgate latches on the hatch to lock onto the top of the tailgate. The other thing I want to do is relocate the handle to the inside of the cargo area. So it can be jimmied open easily.

There is still more to come so stay tuned.

vlpronj · Post by **vlpronj** » Sun May 13, 2007 10:26 am

Wow! I've been thinking about this since I parked my BIIs next to my Honda Element. So glad to see somebody doing this, it appeals a lot more to me than "just" a chop top; even though it's less work, it's more what I'd like to do.