Power LiftGate

C

csoto

New member
Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone has ever installed or considered installing power lifts for the hatch door on a 2004/2003 Toyota 4Runner. If anyone knows of such a contraption, please let me know.

Thanks!

Carlos
[email protected]
 
Register to hide this ad
That would be awesome! I actually was wondering the same. Since our 4th Gen tailgate don't have to be slammed because of the power "latch", I think there might be a chance. The Lexus RX330 has power liftgates and I was wondering if there is any way to use its mechanism. When I get a chance I will try to research it more. Anyone else interested?

On a similar note (since the remote would activate the tailgate) does anyone know if it is possible to make all the windows and the moonroof to open with the remote? Again, I know the RX330 can do it, so I thought it might be possible. I have only had my 4runner for a couple weeks now, so sorry if this is a dumb question.
 
I did a little more searching and found the following thread about rolling all the windows down at once. I will try to quickly summarize the 2 page thread. Someone has a hardware modification idea and it looks like the Japanese version of the 4runner (Hilux Surf) can do it and some people hope there is a way to use some of the Japenese parts to "fix" the US version. But no-one seems to have accoplished this feet yet.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3101&highlight=windows+moonroof
 
I am not sure if this is related at all, but the only vehicles that I see that have the window feature are the ones with the auto up and down feature. If you think about it, our rear windows are auto up and down and we could lower the window through the key. I know the X5, 5 series, new Honda Accord's, and the RX300 have this feature. Anyway, aren't Lexus and Toyota's keyless entry systems almost identical? I heard the beep on a Lexus and the beep on my 4Runner and I couldn't tell the difference.
 
Last edited:
Am I understanding you correct?

"the only vehicles with this feature [the power liftgate?] are the ones with the auto up and down [window/moonroof] feature. I know the X5, 5 series, new Honda Accord's, and the RX300 have this feature [the power liftgate?]"

I thought only the Lexus RX330 had the power liftgate as an option and the RX300 never had it.

I completely agree about the beep. I remember hearing a Lexus RX330's beep, when either the liftgate or the all-window-down function was activated, and it sounded identical to my 4runner's beep when the rear window is remotely lowered. Maybe we could replace the shocks with electric actuators (I am guessing this is what the RX330 uses) and program the remote to actuate the liftgate instead of the rear window. And as you said, we could use the key to lower the window if we want. One concern that I have is that our tailgate may be heavier than on the smaller (based only on overall vehicle size) RX330, and the same actuator might not be powerful enough.

I will try to look into the mechanical setup of the RX330, as soon as I can.
 
Luxury said:
Am I understanding you correct?

"the only vehicles with this feature [the power liftgate?] are the ones with the auto up and down [window/moonroof] feature. I know the X5, 5 series, new Honda Accord's, and the RX300 have this feature [the power liftgate?]"

I thought only the Lexus RX330 had the power liftgate as an option and the RX300 never had it.

I completely agree about the beep. I remember hearing a Lexus RX330's beep, when either the liftgate or the all-window-down function was activated, and it sounded identical to my 4runner's beep when the rear window is remotely lowered. Maybe we could replace the shocks with electric actuators (I am guessing this is what the RX330 uses) and program the remote to actuate the liftgate instead of the rear window. And as you said, we could use the key to lower the window if we want. One concern that I have is that our tailgate may be heavier than on the smaller (based only on overall vehicle size) RX330, and the same actuator might not be powerful enough.

I will try to look into the mechanical setup of the RX330, as soon as I can.
Click to expand...

I was talking about the windows rolling up and down with the remote.

I think you would need a motor or something for the liftgate to go up and down with the push of a button. When I test drove the RX330, the salesman showed me this feature. It sounded like a motor or something driving it up and down. The RX300 didn't have that as a feature. Only the RX330's have this.
 
Ok, I understand you now. Yes, I agree, some sort of motor would be used to lift the tailgate. By "electric actuators", I was thinking of a packaged electric actuator that drove the piston in a linear motion using a motor. I think I saw something like that on the TV show Monster Garage. If I remember right, it looked kind of like a shock.

Internet searching has not yeilded much so far on the RX330's power liftgate. I'll keep you posted on whatever I find. Thanks for the input and interest.
 
Luxury said:
Ok, I understand you now. Yes, I agree, some sort of motor would be used to lift the tailgate. By "electric actuators", I was thinking of a packaged electric actuator that drove the piston in a linear motion using a motor. I think I saw something like that on the TV show Monster Garage. If I remember right, it looked kind of like a shock.

Internet searching has not yeilded much so far on the RX330's power liftgate. I'll keep you posted on whatever I find. Thanks for the input and interest.
Click to expand...

I remember that episode of monster garage you were talking about. It was when they made the crazy delivery truck. They used an actuator to raise and lower the door for the cannon.
 
This hyperlink gives a good explanation of the linear actuator itself and starts to go into the wiring:

http://www.bcae1.com/actuator.htm


Seems like they are common. Here is a site that sells them; note that it is a auto website and it operates on "12 volt dc input":



http://www.autotoys.com/x/catalog/LINEAR_ACTUATOR_12_p_2628.html


That is the most expensive linear actuator on that site and it is only $179. This might not end up being too expensive. I bet there is a lot of other people that would do this simply for the WOW-factor if it ends up being inexpensive. Shoot, lets put them on all the doors too! Only kinda joking. I bet all those experts in the Navigation install threads could be a big help with this.
 
Mark86 said:
I remember that episode of monster garage you were talking about. It was when they made the crazy delivery truck. They used an actuator to raise and lower the door for the cannon.
Click to expand...


Yep, that's the one I saw. I really miss shows like that. I no longer can watch them because I cancelled my cable about a year ago to be able to help pay for my 4runner and these mods that I am going to be doing. I think I will get my parents to Tivo-season-pass it and I will have myself a Monster Garage marathon.

Seems like this is totally do-able. Hopefully, we can do it with our existing remotes. I wouldn't want to carry around a seperate remote. Unless, it could control all of the 5 doors. That might be fun. I checked ebay, and they seem to have several products along these lines. This seems like something that would be done to a car in Fast and the Furious, not an SUV.......but xxxxx I really liked that ejector seat in the sequel! So, I am going to go for it....the auto doors, not the ejector seat!
 
Sorry, coming in a bit late to this discussion, but the Lincoln Navigator has this same option on its liftgate. Weight shouldn't be an issue since the max weight on the one posted was 250 lbs.
I'll follow your progress.

Oh, one more thing, if you don't want to hardwire a 12V supply, you might be able to use the 12V in the rear. Not sure how this would look, but it might save you some major wiring.

Good luck

Patrick
:cheers:
 
I talked my parents into a 04 Sienna Limited. The liftgate in the back must be opened manually. HOWEVER, if you tug down on the leather wrap (like in our 4R's), it automatically lowers. The first time I saw this, I went straight home hoping that the 4R had the same option... Obviously it didn't. ANYWAY.. my point is: Try the sienna forum. Someone might be able to tell you more about this motor/actuator. Even if we could get it to power close, that would be worth a few bucks....
 
Sienna closer

Sounds like a good option. Can someone get pics of the Sienna or Lexus mechanism? Is it using powered lift cylinders or some other motorized system and does it look like it might fit the T4R?
Thanks.
 
Can't find any pictures yet. Maybe someone that is subscribed to the Sienna forum can run a search.

I think the manufacturer is Delphi. Yes, that is the same company that does XM radio. The link following this paragraph says "A manual-to-power operation adds to the convenience and versatility of the power liftgate. A gentle pull on the open power liftgate will activate the power mode, closing the liftgate completely. The power system can also be activated with minimal effort by gently moving the handle." That sounds a lot like the description swooopeno gave of the Sienna.



http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=DPH&script=410&layout=0&item_id=352749
 
Curious to know if anyone figured this out? I seen that the new Sequoia has a remote operated lift gate. I know that this is possible, the only question is how much $.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 340 (members: 2, guests: 338)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,307
Messages
3,554,050
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top