So, I was reading an old car mag at a mates place last night, and it had a big spread on a yellow 1200 ute, with an off its lips S/C V8 in it.
The engine combo etc was nice (not my personal cup of tea, but each to their own) but the thing that REALLY caught my eye, was the side opening tailgate on the ute tray.

As much as I love the clean simple shape of the 1200 ute, the stupid handles on the tailgate look like arse, and the novelty is starting to wear off having touse weld to build up the catch hooks every now and again.

So, my question is, has anyone here done it, and if so, how?

And if, like me, you havent, but want to, how would you go about it?

I remember my old mans XB wagon had a side opening tailgate. Anyone ever seen this type of hinge? Would it be adaptable to suit?

disscus...

MASSIVE PIANO HINGE

I've seen a Datsun modified for side-opening tailgate. I'll look for the pics.

If you don't like the external latches, how about this internal-latch mod?

I'll ask my mate who own the yellow dat and I'll let you kno what he did

make a billet hinge based on the bottom ones and mount the two on the side or enve base them on the bonnet hinges

I did look into doing that, but after examining the tailgate, I dont think it will be strong enough to supprt itself from the side, just by moving the hinges. My question was really aimed at people who had done it, or seen it done, as I wanted to know what sort of framing etc people did inside the tailgate to help stop sagging etc.

As for the "internal latch" mod - anyone have any idea how that was done? I started looking into mounting door catches on either side of the taigate, with the striker loops welded to the tray, but stalled at trying to figure out how to release 2 catches, mounted mirrored to each other, with the one handle (the releases will need to be pulled in opposite directions)

i would weld a 25mm rhs frame on the inside the tailgate with a brace for support in there then when u attach ur hinges you shouldnt get any sag but u will need to brace the tub side too

as to the internal latch could u mount one upside down and run to cables to the release???

suzuki vitara tailgate hinge strong enuff to support the spare tyre aswell

I used the latches out of a toyota hilux for the internal latches - just mounted the handle inside the tray and shortened the linkage rods. I managed to pick up a complete tailgate plus all to the bits mounted to the body and just cut out the sections I needed.

My mates yellow 1200 ute in the pic all he used was a piano hinge for the rear door