Has anyone tried changing out or modding the hinges to make the hatch swing up and over the roofline, rather than below it? Maybe something like those smaller C- or scissor-type billet hinges you see on hot rods...
I think this would be killer because it would acconplish two things- make the open hatch sit higher so I won't hit my head on it when I lug stuff out of the trunk, and give more options for a custom wing (not limited to one that has to tuck under the roof edge when the hatch is up.)
Anyone else thought about/actually done this?

 

I was thinking about how cool it would be to hinge the hatch along one side so it opens like a regular door.

That would be sweet.

 

In theory you can make the side swing happen pretty easily. It would allow you to maintain the stock latch point and still use the stock handle. You could simply unrivet/weld the old hinges and reweld/rivet them to the side. I will be taking a closer look at this when I go out to my car in a minute....

 

Personally I'd rather it still swung up, just higher and more over the roofline than stock. A side-swing door (if possible) would be trick for shows but not very practical in the real world I imagine...

 

i have been also thinking about this. i think it would come down to how much you want to spend having this done. i was quoted 2 grand, thats with using hydrolics and door popers. there would also be more waight on the top of the car tou you would also have to mod your roof to take the extra waight of the hydros and every thing to make it work

 

I was just thinking about a pair of hinges

 

Hmm..like, long U shaped hinges? So the hatch swings over the roof line and opens at more of an angle up? I think it could be done pretty easily after you found the right hinges.
That would be sweet. Definately something I'd be interested in seeing.

 

^^^ Exactly. There's got to be a way to do this...

 

The hinges will take up space inside the cabin. Noticably.

 

The lift up hatch was one of the buying points for us. Our Troopers rear door swung out and it sucked.

 

If you could incorporate some kind of sliders into the roof where the rubber strips are, maybe it could swing up and then slide over the roof.

 

I just wish the back window opened, like on my Matrix.

That is one thing I really miss.

-THE DON

 

wait...a slider...on the hatch...
Lets see...build a rail with a lock at the top and bottom of the hatch. It opens the same as stock, but when you manually flip the lock on the slider, you can slide the hatch over the roof until it hits the next lock near the bottom of the hatch so its almost all the way over the top...

I bet THAT could be done. Our hatch is flat enough inside.
Hmm....Thinking...

 

It can't just flip up more. If you did it so the hatch just flipped up more you better include a trampoline with every xB so you can jump up and grab the hatch when you want to close it.

 

i wouldn't mind having some thing like that...

 

how about if the back hatch just slid straight up.... not all the way like 3/4 of the way bc all the way would put way too much stress on the roof... but instead of hinges you use the rails like a van door opens to the side.... Just UP?