 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Calling all owners with Tailgates….drop down or swing? |
 
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5765   
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Wotcha.
I’ve been mulling over adapting my tailgate from drop down to swing. I use the truck bed A LOT and when I didn’t have the hood, access into the back was easy from all directions, including the sides when getting at something sitting under the rear window. But since I added the hood, it’s an effing nightmare leaning in and over the tailgate when in its lowered position. And I’m sure side access will be equally difficult, even without the hood on, when I finally get around to fitting the full SW roll cage. So I’m thinking of changing to a swing tailgate to make access easier, (and also should work better with my yet to be fitted Mantec wheel carrier), but I’m just wondering if any of you out there who’ve made the change from drop down to swing, have regretted it? I do like the usability of the tailgate to perch on, use as a table, etc, but I think it’s benefits are outweighed by the cocking about i have to do to get anything from deep inside the bed. Having a ‘table’ could easily be rectified by having a slimline extendable bed. But generally speaking, any thoughts? Any regrets? Monsieur Le Grenadier I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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17th Aug 2022 9:47am |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4388 
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How about a load bed slide?
For example https://www.vanimal.com/heavy-duty-sliding...-QQAvD_BwE |
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17th Aug 2022 9:53am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5765
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Yup. Sort of what I’m thinking but with swing away gate. Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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17th Aug 2022 9:59am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240 
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How about the best of both worlds:
http://www.purelymetal.co.uk/set-of-double...te-hinges/ Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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17th Aug 2022 10:01am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5765
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LRA. You’ve nailed it. That is exactly what I was wondering about doing. Best of both worlds. Thank you for that. Have a brownie point.
  Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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17th Aug 2022 10:07am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240
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Why, thank you
 Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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17th Aug 2022 10:32am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5765
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I have to do a little jump/hop if I’m to get anywhere near kneeling on the tailgate. The stays are frigging tiresome, I shall check out the series versions. Ta. I might just put a swing door on and then fashion my own bed slider to replace the seat/work bench set up. But first I need to do a graph and work out how many times I use the tail gate as a workbench versus how many times I get fed up trying to get stuff in or out of the depths of the tub. We’ve been doing extensive work on the house and garden and at 5’8”, putting in, let alone dragging out, bag after bag of 35kg ballast/sand/cement is just a balls ache. Or 25 breeze blocks. Or 140 bricks, put in laced removed, one by one. Etc. Etc.
 Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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17th Aug 2022 3:03pm |
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| Bundy Member Since: 21 Sep 2020 Location: Cheshire Posts: 98
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If you make it swing you can't carry oversized loads as easily...
That was my main reason for leaving mine drop down. I'm a dab hand at removing the cables to drop it out the way to load the back as I have a lid that prevents most side access. Cheers Al |
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18th Aug 2022 10:31am |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 761 
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The cables on my drop-down tailgate unclip in seconds if I want to lower it out of the way, although this isn't ideal if you have a towbar (see all the dented tailgates where careless/uncaring users have whacked it down hard).
Surely an inexpensive set of releasing cables and the correct brackets is the simplest/easiest/cheapest solution? |
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18th Aug 2022 11:03am |
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| Grouse Member Since: 16 Apr 2012 Location: on the hill Posts: 512 |
Another vote here for the Purely Metal Tailgate hinges - it gives you the best of both worlds - I paid a bit extra, got them galvanised and then painted with a rattle can
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19th Aug 2022 6:06am |
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| Litch Member Since: 10 Mar 2013 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 760 
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I have side-hinged (have for over 20-years) and the WH carrier attached to it so they swing open together.
Works for me. ONE LIFE, GET IT! |
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20th Aug 2022 10:34am |
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| seriesonenut Member Since: 19 Nov 2014 Location: Essex Posts: 1205
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Pretty sure if you search on JOW240725 's posts you will find James has bottom / side hinge's fitted to his V8 Ninety when he converted to a soft top. 2010 XS USW
1957 Series One 88 diesel 1958 Series One 88 4x2 |
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20th Aug 2022 12:48pm |
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| alwoodley72 Member Since: 14 Mar 2010 Location: salisbury, wilts Posts: 716 
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 Click image to enlarge Every pickup I’ve owned I convert to swing away, so much easier to use, especially if you get a wheel carrier…( choose one that bolts to door) Easy to do as well, I use a leather check strap or a rear door stay to keep it open. Click image to enlarge Next handiest addition is a sliding drawer, massively increases usability, can also get a sliding floor such as mine was before I converted it to aid getting things out. I’m a landscaper/ timber buildings constructor so my pickups always get worked.. Cheers alex 98 300 tdi 90 project 94 Range Rover vogue 4.2 lse 79 911 sc 08 130 double cab utility |
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21st Aug 2022 3:18pm |
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