Yukon/Tahoe Barn Door-Tailgate Swap
John Miller
Anyone out there ever try swapping out their barn doors for the tailgate and
window combo? I've a 97 Yukon and the barn doors with their center of the
rearview mirror block out is taking a while to get use to (I've had the
truck less than 2 weeks...ok "SUV")
Sure their are all kinds of issues, but since both are available on the
Yukon/Tahoe, they should be "field replaceable. My only questions concern
what needs to be added/removed, like wiring for the wiper for the lifting
window.
A folding down tailgate would be nice for carrying plywood with the seats
folded down, among its other benefits.
I would imagine anyone who worked for a body shop might have some
perspective on this. Finding a spare tailgate/window/wiper combo might be a
problem, however patience and consant junkyard searching should turn
something up...
Email responses ideas urgings and ROFL to ki...@erols.com if you will for
expediency sake (so much for that patience thing, eh?).
Jack
Buster Christenson
left a bit on your window. You'll then get a decent
view out of the drivers side rear door.
It'll look a little odd with the rearview mirror off-center
though.
Buster
rlh6805
of the "d" pillars. Besides a tailgate on a yukon/tahoe/suburban
is stupid, so much so that they discontinued its availability
for the new 2000 models. You now can get the cargo doors(not
barn doors), or a liftgate.
Rob H
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Spencer Flesher
and they should still be available.
On Thu, 18 May 2000 08:55:48 -0700, rlh6805 <rlh...@excite.com>
wrote:
rlh6805
sfle...@netdoor.com (Spencer Flesher) wrote:
>I think the barn doors are gay also......real trucks have
tailgates
>and they should still be available.
>
>
discontinuance of that option. Not ordered very much. Tail gates
are for pick-ups. If you want a tailgate buy a pick-up.
Derek
> I think the barn doors are gay also......real trucks have tailgates
> and they should still be available.
>
> On Thu, 18 May 2000 08:55:48 -0700, rlh6805 <rlh...@excite.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Your idea is very impractical. It would take a major reworking
> >of the "d" pillars. Besides a tailgate on a yukon/tahoe/suburban
> >is stupid, so much so that they discontinued its availability
> >for the new 2000 models. You now can get the cargo doors(not
> >barn doors), or a liftgate.
> >
> >Rob H
> >
> >* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
> >The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
> >
when you have a whole bunch of soccer moms who have to reach over the
tailgate to put the groceries in the back of their tahoe --- THIS is probably the
reason the barn doors are the only option.
Off topic -> your reasoning about "real trucks" seems to be conceived by a 12 year old.
rlh6805
>when you have a whole bunch of soccer moms who have to reach
over the
>tailgate to put the groceries in the back of their tahoe ---
THIS is probably the
>reason the barn doors are the only option.
>
>
>Off topic -> your reasoning about "real trucks" seems to be
conceived by a 12 year old.
>
>
having to reach across the tailgate that it was discontinued.
However the cargo doors(not barn doors!!) are not the only
option on the new for 2000 models. The other is a lift gate.
Where as either the glass can be raised for access, or the
entire rear gate can be lifted, kinda like some mini-vans(hate
the comparison). But they are practical.
John Miller
la Caravan with which to access the rear storage area of wagons. Personally
I hate them. Its a shame GM decided to change them and market the vehicles
towards soccer moms... I think they missed their real audience.
As for the conversion...Not being overly original I got the idea from a
1996 Consumer Reports review, as well as from a recent issue of Grays
Sporting journal. Both recommended the practicality and safety (better rear
view) of the tailgate/window over the barn doors. Window up to access rear
cargo area contents and not have it spill out, to block rain etc. The
tailgate for...tailgating, sitting, hauling etc. The only advantage to the
barn doors is closer access to cargo area contents. That and tradition, I
seem to remember them on Suburbans for decades!
As for practicality, thats amusing; we're talking about Yukons, Tahoes and
Suburbans here, not Escorts and Tracers! Its not a verhicle I need
(practicallity), I don't haul horse trailers and the like, its one I WANT.
Kind of like that first beer at the end of a hard day's work or fishing or
hunting...its comforting, refreshing, rewarding and satisfying.
I realized when I "settled" for the model with the barn doors rather than
waiting for a tailgate/window combo that this was an avenue I'd have to
explore. I'm still interested in the mechanics involved. So it takes a long
weekend to do, after the replacement rear end parts are acquired, no big
deal. Any ideas for the conversion, I've made up my mind to at least explore
and plan and price it out
Anyone try?
Jack
rlh6805 <rlh...@excite.com> wrote in message
news:13fc7259...@usw-ex0101-007.remarq.com...
Buster Christenson
this 92 at a great price, but it had cargo doors. I took it.
I think the only drawback about the cargo doors is that pillar
in the middle. I like opening the doors and being able to
reach most of the way in.
Ford figured it out on the Excursion. Throw a lift hatch
window on the back, with two small doors on the bottom.
Although it looks a bit more complicated to use though.
Hey, how about rear view camera/monitor setup? Micro B&W
cameras go for about $100 and you can get those little TV's
from radio shack that'll accept Composite video for around $70.
Hmmm, I might check this out. I have one of those little cameras
laying around here somewhere.
Buster
SCOOTERTRS
tailgate. It was available when we got the truck. Negatives we feel we have
w/ the cargo doors:
1. Cannot expand cargo area. W/ a tailgate, you just drop it and you now have
added a full 1 1/2 feet to cargo area. full 8' 2x4's or sheets of plywood do
not like Tahoes.
2. Ever try to load anything in the rain? That nice ulphostered interior gets
soaked when the cargo doors are open. Roofline is too short. Does not cover
all carpeted areas. Also, w/ the cargo doors you, the cargo handler gets
soaked while you load the back.
3. Even more important, in our family all the men are over 6' tall. We all
have an indentation on our forehead where we encountered that sharp edge of the
top of the door curving in area. And it hurts like a son of a #X@$$$$%.
Usually happens when it is raining and you are in a hurry!!!
4. and yes, the pillar blind spot.
Do not get me wrong, we love the truck, we just would have preferred
tailgates...
I know it does not answer the original poster but recently I have had a
tendency to digress... maybe its due to all those forehead encounters w/ the
top of the cargo doors!!!
Roy Bragg
former Suburban owner with liftgate, I personally liked it and it looked
better. But, the "barn doors" as referred to earlier have their advantages too,
like not having to reach around the gate with bulky items.
Roy
David Warby
Spencer Flesher <sfle...@netdoor.com> wrote in message
news:39255a21...@news.netdoor.com...
> I think the barn doors are gay also......real trucks have tailgates
> and they should still be available.
>
>
>
> On Thu, 18 May 2000 08:55:48 -0700, rlh6805 <rlh...@excite.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Your idea is very impractical. It would take a major reworking
> >of the "d" pillars. Besides a tailgate on a yukon/tahoe/suburban
> >is stupid, so much so that they discontinued its availability
> >for the new 2000 models. You now can get the cargo doors(not
> >barn doors), or a liftgate.
> >
RAZZ
the real SUV( K/5 blazer) were meant to be. Not a oversized 4-door station
wagon with a soft truck suspension!