Tailgate latch ideas?

[jpdeuce]

Has anyone done anything different with their tailgate latches? Now that I have the Supertop on, it's kind of a pain to unzip the rear window a little bit, reach in blindly trying to un-hook the latches, so that I can drop the tailgate and unhook the rear window. This makes putting stuff in and out of the "bed" a real pain.

Has anyone done anything different to solve this? Would a newer style Jeep tailgate work that might have a handle/latch that would still work with the full soft top?

Thanks in advance
JP

 

[AK-RWC]

I don't understand your trouble; with my SuperTops, I've always been able to open the window first. ???

 

[Chipster1990]

I have the same problem with my Supertop. I've been trying to come up with a better type of latch. Maybe something spring loaded that's easier to release. I have not come up with a good solution yet!

 

[jbeemer]

I have the same problem with my Supertop. I've been trying to come up with a better type of latch. Maybe something spring loaded that's easier to release. I have not come up with a good solution yet!

X2 no good solution yet, everything I came up with involved putting holes through the tailgate and repainting.

I have ran mine with just the zippers and the bar on the outside of the tailgate. It keeps everything dry, but it started to wear a line in the paint.

 

[rustycrawler]

I"m having a hard time visualizing this issue, probably because I'm not running a Supertop. Can someone post a pic to enlighten the rest of us please?

 

[tower210]

I have this problem, and I'm not sure it's the same everyone else is experiencing.

My tailgate "latches" (I don't know what else to call em) seem to be too loose, or they won't turn at all when tight (prolly due to my linex). I have to take my torx socket and loosen significantly (through the zipper) and spin the latches out of the way. I think if I could find or make a hand knob that allowed me to easily loosen and tighten the latches (needs to be small enough to clear the tailgate opening); it would be better. Better yet would be a spring that went in that bolt assembly that allowed the bolts to be tight enough, but the spring put the tension on the latches, but leave it loose enough I could still turn them by hand.

 

[jpdeuce]

Here's some pics of mine, to help visualize. It could also be an issue with the way the PO mounted the tailgate. Not sure what those extra little pieces are sandwiched in the latch. You can see how the rear window bar comes down lower than the top of the tailgate, so it gets held in. So, the window can't roll up without the tailgate getting dropped, but to get to the latches you have to zip up the sides and reach in blindly.

 

[jims chop shop]

 

[jpdeuce]

How much work was that? That'd be sweet.

 

[barrys]

Pretty sure there should be a "springy washer" between the gate and the bolt head. I know my one CJ8 had it. I think the technical name is a wave washer.

 

[jpdeuce]

Pretty sure there should be a "springy washer" between the gate and the bolt head. I know my one CJ8 had it. I think the technical name is a wave washer.

Pretty sure you can see them in my photos, although mine are not very "springy".

 

[cbford]

I don't see the latches in your pictures, only the hinges? With a chrome spacer my hinges don't have.
I have seen the spacers on a cj7. So maybe they are to make space for a tailgate gasket?

Wave washers didn't work on mine with lined interior. I twisted the latch slightly, and made a spacer to go under the bolt. It works like a wedge - the further down you push, the tighter the latch gets.
Still have to unzip top though.

 

[Polarfire]

The LEGACY Scrambler has this setup:

 

[LEGACY]

The Set-up on the Legacy works OK, but in the long run something like a bear claw would be better.

 

[AK-RWC]

http://www.aqualu.com/5126-cj7-yj-cj8-non-storage-tailgate.html

 

[BRKLYNZ28]

Lol and I gave legacy credit for building that tailgate too.. 😕

 

[LEGACY]

No it was aqualu, hence the marine latches

 

[aluke0510]

Have a look at the latches used on Toyota Landcruiser fj's 40 and 45's. This style of latch is still used to this day on many foreign market trucks. Nissan's come to mind for these. Hard to find the cruiser ones but you see them from time to time. Also a simpler one is the Land rover series and defender ones. All of these unlatch from the outside and would be rather simple to adapt to the Jeep and still look like it could have come from the factory.

Toyota examples:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FJ40-Land-C...OEM-/221738184812?hash=item33a0a0306c&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOCK-AND-LA...974-/281511419597?hash=item418b635ecd&vxp=mtr
http://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/tailgate-hardware-1965-fj45-hinges-and-latches.262701/
http://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/oem-tailgate-latches.428000/

Nissan Hardbody and Patrol backie (some images in these sales brochures; if you can get the part number could probably order them new):
http://www.nissan.co.za/~/media/Files/Nissan/Asia Pacific/NSA/e-brochure/NEW PATROL PICKUP 2014
http://www.nissan.co.za/~/media/Files/Nissan/Asia Pacific/NSA/e-brochure/NP300 HARDBODY

Land Rover Series (similar to Defender pickup latch):
http://www.roversnorth.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=MUC8748
http://www.roversnorth.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=LR016431
http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/2009/10/side-mounting-a-tailgate/
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...s-For-A-latching-Method-for-a-Custom-Tailgate

 

[Bad Karma]

Great post Aluke0510!!!

 

[Randyzzz]

Bringing this thread back from the dead. Has anyone figured out how to build a better mousetrap? I mounted my tailgate tonite and while it fit great, the latches are loose. I even went for the Kentrol replacements. And once I installed the weatherstrip, it stuck out 3/8” on the top corners! I made some UHMW spacers and that helped some, but there’s got to be a better solution. Any ideas?

Tailgate installed.


Closed with spacers-


Spacer-