My buddy has an FJ and equipped his tailgate with a MOLLE rack from Springtail Solutions:

http://www.springtailsolutions.com/subpage2.html

They don't make anything X specific but have some generic mounts that might work. This may be an option for those who want to keep the cargo area clear and don't want to go with a lobo rack.

How much weight could the liftgate take? I'm thinking of mounting a MOLLE tool/misc. bag on the liftgate next to the FAK.

Prolly not that much without changing the shocks... when theres snow and ice on mine it can barely take the weight and it doesnt take much.

From what I can tell, the vehicles that they make those for mostly have rear doors that swing open on hinges, not lift gates like on an Xterra.


Now if you could fabricate hinges for the Xterra door to make it open like that, you'd be set. Oh ya and you'd probably make a killing because everyone would want one...

Yeah, that would be a sweet mod. Perhaps a few pounds wouldn't hurt; just a "break-down" kit. Pretty cool concept though.

That's a great concept but probably more usable like others said on side open hatches. I've had to get my FAK out/in before and it's kind of a PITA hanging upside down like it does.
As far as weight, people hang Gobi ladders on their hatch and they still open, how much do those weigh, 10lbs or more?
If you really can't work with a lobo rack maybe what the X needs is an interior swing away arm to hold stuff like that molle rack, that'd be an interesting mod.

From what I can tell, the vehicles that they make those for mostly have rear doors that swing open on hinges, not lift gates like on an Xterra.


Now if you could fabricate hinges for the Xterra door to make it open like that, you'd be set. Oh ya and you'd probably make a killing because everyone would want one...

I could do it.:wink-big:

But it would be crazy money, lol.

Yeah unfortunately with just the regular first aid kit in mine loaded to the gills the door already needs some help going up. As others said maybe you could get stiffer shocks. I know people have done it for the gobi ladders.

I guess Gobi has stiffer hatch struts for the Gen2s but not the 1s? In addition to the break down kit, I'm thinking about adding a Glock or Gerber e-tool too. I got other projects to do before this though.

swing gate huh?

I'm gonna go hit the pull-n-pay and get some door hinges off an old truck. :D

honestly though....... is it even possible? other than the obvious answer that "anything is possible"

I'm gonna go stare at my truck for a few hours and think'n'drink

If the lift gate could be converted to swing, the possibilities would be endless.


I really think it could be done, especially if someone could find the hinges off of a H3, FJ Cruiser, or something else that has that setup.

I also want roll down glass like a 4 runner

That sounds more difficult, but not impossible.

I was behind an FJ the other day; they only have one hinge above the driver side tail light. On the X, you would lose the rear windshield washer/wiper unless you relocated it and would probably have to add a latch (door handle?) on the pax side. I think it is totally doable, probably a lot easier than we collectively think. Since it is a liftgate, it can't be heavier than the FJ tailgate, right? Anybody want to swing by their local fab shop and get a quote?

It won't be heavier, but that also means it probably won't be as strong.

The wiper fluid thing can probably be set up to run from the side by a crafty person.

The handle and locking mechanism would both have to be moved to the side. Not impossible, but it could be hard to make it look stock on the outside.

Making the lift gate swing out would be too costly, and then we would look just like the FJs, which nobody wants.

One of the above posts popped this image into my head:

Jeep
Trail Doors
Half Doors
Tubing

http://www.jeep4x4center.com/warrior-products/images/jeep-tube-doors.jpg

Just put one of those in the back, so the lift gate still opens up, and this could be about half the height of the rear opening, and swing out like the FJ doors.

Kind of like a double door concept.

Awesome idea, sounds like a good solution.