Rear Liftgate Question

[Belcher]

Does anyone know of someone or you personally have mounted a fuel carrier to the rear liftgate...just wondering if it could be done and install stronger shocks to lift the hatch...I know people add additional weight with ladders, but didn't know if this could be done. Looking at mounting (2) 3 gallon rotopax only. Probably adding 40-50 lbs when full.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Engineer]

Has not been done on this forum to my knowledge. As mentioned the Ladder is the only thing I have seen attached to the rear lift gate. I have seen fuel cans mounted on bumper swing outs and I think even a hitch mounted one but not something bolted to the lift gate.

Its not a bad idea but would require stronger shocks as mentioned and a custom mount, I would start with basing the mount design on how some of the ladders mount and take it from there. Another option is something mounted to a ladder itself but I don't think that's practical due to the space constraints and weight of the fuel cantilevered out nest to the ladder.

I saw someone mount a couple packs in the spare tire area (tire was removed). Not sure of the dimensions but you may be able to get a single pack to fit inside the spare wheel, run the chain for the tire through the center of the pack where the normal latch would go and then some sort of foam cut out to keep if from moving around.......random thought

Or go against conventional wisdom and store inside ( I will admit I did this for a few weekend trips an never had any fumes) but long term I prefer not having fuel in the passenger compartment.

 

[vjack]

That seems like a lot of weight to be adding... two 3-gallon rotopacks will weight over 50 lbs on their own, and then when you add the weight of a mounting solution you will probably be closer to 60 or even 70 lbs.

Plus one other thing to think about is that (unlike a ladder) you can take the gas on and off. If you replace the shocks with stronger ones, but then don't have the gas cans mounted to the rear you are going to get a very powerful tailgate lift. I think that would be dangerous.

Depending on what you are doing, maybe a hitch-mounted cargo carrier would suit your needs? Obviously that is going to hurt your departure angle but if this is mostly for camping / overlanding that may not be a problem.

 

[Belcher]

My overall thought was to craft an aluminum bracket out of 3/16" sheet making use of the stock license plate 4 bolt holes....waterjet the bracket and bend...1 rotopax to the left and 1 to the right of the license plate...kind of between the plate and the outside edges. Replace the license plate on the bracket and through bolt with longer bolts to secure. Next step would be to find some heavier duty gas struts to lift the gate when the tanks were full. 80% of the time they are going to be riding around empty...the rest will be weekend warrior.

If I ever sold the vehicle I could remove with out having holes everywhere.

I love the swing outs, but they are way overkill for what I need here in NC. and I can't get over hauling the fuel inside with kids.

Thanks for any extra help.

Chris

 

[coulter6]

Since you're using the extra gas only on weekends, you may want to look at a hitch mounted holder. That way when you're not carrying extra gas you can remove it. I had a hitch gate modified to hold my Rotopax containers. Hitchgate also makes gas can holders that bolt to the tire holder.

Since you have metal working skills why not make you own receiver mounted holder.

 

[wild_turkey]

3rd gen did it

OP, I saw a post where a 3rd gen had 6 gallons plus his trasharoo mounted to the Gobi ladder. I was planning to do the same, but probably not 6 gallons.

Here is the link:

Rotopax on 3rd Gen

He also recommended a set of these lift support clamps to hold the gate open when it is overloaded. Seems like they should work as long as the gate isn't way overloaded.

Lift Support Clamps

Does anyone know of someone or you personally have mounted a fuel carrier to the rear liftgate...just wondering if it could be done and install stronger shocks to lift the hatch...I know people add additional weight with ladders, but didn't know if this could be done. Looking at mounting (2) 3 gallon rotopax only. Probably adding 40-50 lbs when full.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[bjohnston115]

Does anyone know of someone or you personally have mounted a fuel carrier to the rear liftgate...just wondering if it could be done and install stronger shocks to lift the hatch...I know people add additional weight with ladders, but didn't know if this could be done. Looking at mounting (2) 3 gallon rotopax only. Probably adding 40-50 lbs when full.

Thanks,
Chris

Someone on here attached a Hi-Lift to their gobi ladder on their hatch and said it was working fine. I don't remember who it was but I do remember reading it not too long ago (5 months) on here.

 

[calvinv8sr5]

Also you'd have ti worry about thr gas spilling sone how everytime you lift them up, that would be my luck

 

[DesertCanyons]

Fuel cans on rooftop rack

I don't put fuel inside the car either. When I go camping I put the propane fuel on the roof. Consider a roof rack mount that you'd use on long weekend warrior excursions.
There are low profile gas cans you can put on a roof rack that make it easy to carry them.
Here's a simple example of a utility roof rack that works:
4runner Roof Rack:Â*5th Gen 4Runner Roof Rack

I wouldn't want the fuel tied to the back door. As far as safety goes they almost might as well be inside the car. I try to tie my fuel on top in a way that would allow them to break free in a bad accident or roll over. I tie a rigid box on top but the cans are pretty much free to fall out.

It's too much weight for the tailgate too, IMO.