Back in town from a huge road trip and can ship same day!

Do you want me to test anything specific with the 2020/remote start key to verify how it may/may not work with your system (whether wired or wireless)?

Kaitlyn,

I realize my previous message wasnt the most clear. The only testing I would suggest is to take your keys and throw them inside the car. Close it up and use the rear buttons to see if vehicle locks or unlocks. When doing this, I would suggest having your spares handy, but far from vehicle where the vehicle doesnt pick them up.

Next, try the same thing with a set of keys in the hitch, and a set of keys inside the vehicle. I'd be curious what happens.

With 2nd key not nearby, the car won't lock or unlock using the buttons on the hatch (Forgot to check, but wonder if I locked it if the button would unlock...)

With the 2nd key nearby, the car will unlock and window roll-down, but won't lock.

In the above situations, the locking causing the long beep with driver screen display "Key detected in vehicle"

Just installed this mod. Finally easy access without having to deal with tire carriers! Took about 30 min to install.


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thank you Kaitlyn! In reading this, it does appear there is no way around having to keep a set of keys nearby the car without having a set inside for vehicles with the smart key system.

Yeah... really sad! More than anything I want to be able to unlock the hatch from inside.. window control/etc. just a bonus.

Obviously there are security systems at play, but does this mean there is no way that the hatch can be unlocked from a button/slider? Whether electronically or mechanically?

Even as a two-step process... since I can still unlock with the fob in the car, I just don't have any latch or pull or anything to get the back hatch unclicked

@nytosc , will the hatch pop button function on the 2020+ model years? Is @kaitlyn2004 the first to attempt this mod on a 2020?

Maybe a brute force method will work, that is, a manual latch disengage. I believe that’s the reason for the little panel cover on the bottom of my hatch door. Pop off the cover and you have access to the area around the latching mechanism. I haven’t done this but you’d have to cut through the plastic dust covering, attach a string to the release lever and fish it back through a hole in the cover. Googling around the forum I see others have done this. This link is the only one I’ve seen that has photos, although not so clear.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/1609636-post54.html

Rear Hatch Mod (no electric)(open from inside)

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Kaitlyn,

For smart key system equipped trucks, the kit as is will allow you to provided the keys are outside the vehicle. The caveat here is that with the keys outside the vehicle, you can lock it, but if someone pressed on the rear door hatch they could in theory unlock the vehicle.

Another test that may be of interest would be take 1 fob and put it in the hitch. lock car and keep other fob far away. Now go to drive side door with the smart key system and try to open the front door.

If it doesnt work, maybe something of interest to you would be a defeat switch where you can press a switch and defeat the rear door handle button when camping inside the vehicle- you would put keys in surf lock, get inside the vehicle then press a button that disables the rear door handle from working from the outside. You can now operate the kit (window up / down lock / unlock and hatch pop) while no one from the outside can do so. Just a thought but this may be of interest to you. If so, happy to design something at cost. Just let me know.


The kit does work, but you have to keep the keys outside of the vehicle as noted above. Unfortunately the smart key system is as smart as it sounds and wont let you lock keys inside vehicle with rear exterior buttons.

up top!

A few people have asked about shipping times with the holidays. I have noticed packages taking a little longer but as I understand, USPS is able to deliver by Christmas for priority packages if placed in mail by the 19th. Between now and Christmas I will be upgrading shipping to Priority mail.

I have lots of kits in stock if anyone wants one- just let me know!

I'm really interested in this kit; however, I have a 2020 with smart keys. What's the behavior when disabling the smart key (hold lock, press unlock twice)? Does it behave as if the key isn't in the truck?

OP, great mod. Thanks for posting. I hope to be ordering one

Sent you a PM

PMd ya!