Rear Hatch Handle?

Is this what you are referring to?

http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/trunkhandle.html

 

That's the one I used. Somewhere here (or maybe at http://www.prisuonline.com ?) I wrote a description of an installation requiring no drilling.

 

I have had mine installed for a year and it works great. Really helps to keep fingerprints off the spoiler for those who can reach it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdpigott\";p=\"77911)</div>

$16.50 for a small piece of sheetmetal with two holes in it? I think I'll continue to use the license plate.

 

But....

There already IS a handle and it's on the INSIDE of the door, (offset for righties, sorry) so you don't get your hand all dirty/wet pushing on the outside of the hatch.

Reach up, pull down, hatch closes.

Why are people bolting extra handles on the outside?

 

the wife was bitching about her arthritis bothering her when she used the inside handle so made her one out of ABS dash material, about 3/16" thick with a UV resistant vinyl cover. Cost $0.00

 

speaking of closing the hatch.. has anyone had it so the hatch doesn't close all the way on first try? as if it lowers at a slight angle maybe and simply doesn't meet up exact to close all the way? i find this happening a fair amount. I must open and close my trunk at least.. oh.. 10 times a day.. that's minimal. on average i close that trunk 20 to 30 times a day. i consider myself a test dummy for the trunk and doors working properly.

 

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Happens to me, too, if I just use the handle inside the hatch. You have to pull down pretty quickly to get it to latch. I've begun pushing on the license plate to close the hatch--works better for me.

 

i've started to do that too.. pull the handle down so i can reach it.. and then just push on the license plate.. but the license plate gets dirty really quickly with all the driving i do.

 

Odd, I've just been able to grab the inside handle and give it a nice swift pull down before letting go. Closes perfectly every time.

In the cases where I feel the need for more caution, I'll bring it down slowly, put my palm flat on the center logo, and push with constant force until I hear a nice closing noise. I don't wear rings, watches, etc. so YMMV here.

 

i found out today that i do use the center emblem.. it's more stable... but... after oh. (since december.. average 10-15 deliveries a day.. 2 opens and closes per delivery.. average... hmm... so i'll say 13 a day.. so 26 open close sessions.. probably more like 30 a day because i have to load them too.... hmm... 6 days a week.. so 180.. a week.. and x4.. so 720.. hmm... so, i've closed my rear hatch about 2880 + times in the last 4 months. or so... i guess it works well.. but i notice it doens't close every time anymore.. sometimes i get that first latch and then i reopen it and close it useing the emblem. it's as if it leans from the force i use to close it.. or maybe i'm just getting tired after close to 3000 times closeing it.. lol

 

just a quick couple of questions for V8 do you lube the hinges on the hatch and the door? Also how much play in the hinge assy on the hatch now that your having problems closing it if not straight down on the hatch emblem? I'm sure that Toyota doesn't count on 3000 cycles in the life time of the car. Some thing to consider I think.

 

haven't lubed anything... it's not hesitating in any way.. i just think with the angle that i pull taht inner handle, there is a normal flex.. well.. if there is a normal flex.. after so many time if you don't pull down hard enough.. it won't close exactly. the flex creates sway.. i can picture it but bad at explaining.. normal for me. lol

the one thing i do find interesting.. if you leave it open for a long time and try to close it. the shocks are stiff.. that's normal though.. i just find it funny though.

I washed my car the other day (rained yesterday).. and it closed fine from the inner handle.. know what i'm thinking.. maybe the carpet hits it.. kinda gets in the way. that carpet always sneeks back on me.. if it were to hit it at all, it would stop it from closing all the way.. or create a small bounce.

 

i wish Dave would make a remote open and close for the hatch.. that would be cool. I can picture it.. but i don't have the cash to buy parts and experiment.

 

Any chance of talking you into writing more detailed instructions? Please? Also, where do you get "ABS dash material"?

Thanks, I like the idea of this handle and would like to make one myself.

 

I got a bunch of pieces of the stuff from a friend of friend who worked for the sub-contractor who made the dashes for the White Western Star trucks. I'm sure if you looked under plastics in the Yellow pages and did some calling you'll find a supplier. The one in the photo is 3/16" gray ABS with a uv tolerant vinyl coating on it. Took of the plate measured it and added 1 1/4" to the bottom and layed it out with a pencil. Placed the piece on a plywood scrap and with a Box Cutter and a square, made multiple passes over the scribed lines. Rounded off the corners with a file and where the bottom of the plate was scribed another line. Took my heat gun and heated that line till the ABS was quite hot then bent the bottom over the corner of my work bench with a scrap of wood till it was 90 degrees to the bench top. Let cool and layed out the holes for the mounting bolts and drilled them and installed it. If you can't get ABS try aluminum and prime it with zinc chromate primer and then paint with a color of your choice. Colour of the car or a contrasting colour. Put 2 dabs of RTV silicone on the back to keep it off the hatch. This took me about an hour on a saturday morning.

 

Thanks for the play by play. I can't wait to attack that project and bring the hatchback up to speed with the rest of the Prius.