Fix for low rising hatch door on ARE toppers

[22MavLar]

Thought I would share as it was 30 min fix for around $60. My excitement after the topper was installed turned to annoyance pretty quickly when I opened the rear hatch for the first time to see it only open to a 90 degree which meant the hatch door was in my teeth. Completely useless for loading or unloading.

I ordered a new universal mount bracket and new 14" lift supports from amazon.

I started by drilling out the original lower bracket rivets. Then bolted up the new bracket and snapped on the new longer lift supports.

Hatch door now lifts significantly higher and I'm not bending over or banging my head on it.

Here's the bracket and lift supports:

Vepagoo 10MM Ball Stud Adjustable Curved Mounting Brackets, Mounting Kits for Gas Spring Struts Shock, 2Pcs Black : Amazon.ca: Automotive

KEMANI SX140P15 14 inch 15Lbs/67N Gas Spring Shocks Struts Lift Support for Truck Cap Camper Shell Topper Rear Windows Canopy Door Toolbox, Set of 2 : Amazon.ca: Automotive

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[prsncat]

Thought I would share as it was 30 min fix for around $60. My excitement after the topper was installed turned to annoyance pretty quickly when I opened the rear hatch for the first time to see it only open to a 90 degree which meant the hatch door was in my teeth. Completely useless for loading or unloading.

I ordered a new universal mount bracket and new 14" lift supports from amazon.

I started by drilling out the original lower bracket rivets. Then bolted up the new bracket and snapped on the new longer lift supports.

Hatch door now lifts significantly higher and I'm not bending over or banging my head on it.

Here's the bracket and lift supports:

Vepagoo 10MM Ball Stud Adjustable Curved Mounting Brackets, Mounting Kits for Gas Spring Struts Shock, 2Pcs Black : Amazon.ca: Automotive

KEMANI SX140P15 14 inch 15Lbs/67N Gas Spring Shocks Struts Lift Support for Truck Cap Camper Shell Topper Rear Windows Canopy Door Toolbox, Set of 2 : Amazon.ca: Automotive

I contacted my dealer to ask if they had a solution for where the rear door opened earlier this week. Then, I read your post. Your solution is brilliant. Thank you for posting! I am ordering the parts as soon as I am done writing this.

Note: The links @22MavLar provided are for Amazon-Canada. Copy the description and paste it into the search if you are using Amazon-US.

 

[Maverickman74]

Nice, that looks about where my MX opens to. Ours opens to right at 5'11" Just enough to hit my bald head. If it ever starts to sag I may look for a longer strut.

 

[prsncat]

Nice, that looks about where my MX opens to. Ours opens to right at 5'11" Just enough to hit my bald head. If it ever starts to sag I may look for a longer strut.

I thought the MX opening was "just right."
Like the OP stated, the V doesn't open far enough or angle up like the MX.
Thus, this modification will significantly and practically change where the rear door opens. I will receive the same parts next week, and I plan on taking before and after pictures.

 

[prsncat]

I thought the MX opening was "just right."
Like the OP stated, the V doesn't open far enough or angle up like the MX.
Thus, this modification will significantly and practically change where the rear door opens. I will receive the same parts next week, and I plan on taking before and after pictures.

Thought I would share as it was 30 min fix for around $60. My excitement after the topper was installed turned to annoyance pretty quickly when I opened the rear hatch for the first time to see it only open to a 90 degree which meant the hatch door was in my teeth. Completely useless for loading or unloading.

I ordered a new universal mount bracket and new 14" lift supports from amazon.

I started by drilling out the original lower bracket rivets. Then bolted up the new bracket and snapped on the new longer lift supports.

Hatch door now lifts significantly higher and I'm not bending over or banging my head on it.

Here's the bracket and lift supports:

Vepagoo 10MM Ball Stud Adjustable Curved Mounting Brackets, Mounting Kits for Gas Spring Struts Shock, 2Pcs Black : Amazon.ca: Automotive

KEMANI SX140P15 14 inch 15Lbs/67N Gas Spring Shocks Struts Lift Support for Truck Cap Camper Shell Topper Rear Windows Canopy Door Toolbox, Set of 2 : Amazon.ca: Automotive

I should have looked closely at your shell and compared it to mine. You selected a single T-handle with sliding bars for locking the door to the shell.

I chose the dual T-handles on either end of the door to the shell. This is important since the cam on the end of the T-handle must rotate ninety degrees - from vertical up to horizontal.

The locking cams hit the new brackets as it rotated down.

Consequently, I had to modify them to remove 3/4-inch (reduced in total length from 2-3/4 inches to 2 inches) to allow them to rotate without hitting the new bracket.

It works great once I finished making the modifications.

By the way, if anyone is wondering, the two screws holding the bracket to the shell must be at the lowest setting (maximum door shock extension length).

Thanks to @22MavLar for figuring this out!

 

[22MavLar]

There's always something. Glad it ended up working out for you.
I recently spent the day putting on the 2" rough country lift so the rear hatch is even higher haha.

 

[tom_tucker]

There's always something. Glad it ended up working out for you.
I recently spent the day putting on the 2" rough country lift so the rear hatch is even higher haha.

I recently mounted a rear view camera back there centered above the hinge. If the ARE window opened any wider, it might contact my cam. I could have put it near the brake light higher up. The cam is a good option, IMO if you have a bed top. Wolfbox rear cam, I got the cheap one.

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