Make Sure Traveler is drivable with tailgate/liftgate open.

[Logan]

Random thought occurred to me while talking with a friend. And this is more of a "lets make sure this works this way" sort of post.

I'm a long time SUV owner. And importantly, an SUV owner who hasn't owned a truck.

Which means that I've used my SUV as a psuedo-truck many times. My 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee has brought home/hauled all sorts of things, including both of our couches, the kitchen table, a full size L desk (72in per side), and fits a surprisingly large number of 2x8x10's in it. And many of those things were done... with the tailgate open, or partially open (tying it as closed as it can be).

In the realm of modern vehicles, it seems like driving with the tailgate/liftgate open is something that feasibly might be considered "bad", and COULD be something that could prevent the vehicle from moving/being driven somehow.

One of the large selling points for the Traveler to me is the width and potential to fit full size sheet goods (especially with that split tailgate down).

So please make sure that the vehicle is still drivable with that split tailgate down (or the liftgate open, or both).

I'm sure this was already in the cards. But in the spirit of the "if you want something, now is the time to say it" vibe I got from the CES videos, I thought I'd do my part and make sure .

Cheers .

 

[J Alynn]

Random thought occurred to me while talking with a friend. And this is more of a "lets make sure this works this way" sort of post.

I'm a long time SUV owner. And importantly, an SUV owner who hasn't owned a truck.

Which means that I've used my SUV as a psuedo-truck many times. My 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee has brought home/hauled all sorts of things, including both of our couches, the kitchen table, a full size L desk (72in per side), and fits a surprisingly large number of 2x8x10's in it. And many of those things were done... with the tailgate open, or partially open (tying it as closed as it can be).

In the realm of modern vehicles, it seems like driving with the tailgate/liftgate open is something that feasibly might be considered "bad", and COULD be something that could prevent the vehicle from moving/being driven somehow.

One of the large selling points for the Traveler to me is the width and potential to fit full size sheet goods (especially with that split tailgate down).

So please make sure that the vehicle is still drivable with that split tailgate down (or the liftgate open, or both).

I'm sure this was already in the cards. But in the spirit of the "if you want something, now is the time to say it" vibe I got from the CES videos, I thought I'd do my part and make sure .

Cheers .

Fully onboard with this but creates a concern for people who get the exterior spare tire carrier. I would hate to see some genius try to drive with rear open while bungeeing the tire carrier to the side mirror or roof rack or something even dumber. Could see that swinging back around and destroying both gates. Just thinking down to the lowest common denominator

 

[Logan]

Fully onboard with this but creates a concern for people who get the exterior spare tire carrier. I would hate to see some genius try to drive with rear open while bungeeing the tire carrier to the side mirror or roof rack or something even dumber. Could see that swinging back around and destroying both gates. Just thinking down to the lowest common denominator

Absolutely valid concern.

And one I totally didn't think about when I was posting this, as I've never had a swing out tire carrier like that. So thanks for bringing it up.

I was mostly thinking "please don't somehow prevent us from driving if we have the rear liftgate/tailgate open". But yeah, swinging tire carrier of doom, breaking the tailgate/liftgate, or the side glass... or clothes-lining another vehicle or pedestrian would be horrible. Lets not do that.

 

[J Alynn]

Absolutely valid concern.

And one I totally didn't think about when I was posting this, as I've never had a swing out tire carrier like that. So thanks for bringing it up.

I was mostly thinking "please don't somehow prevent us from driving if we have the rear liftgate/tailgate open". But yeah, swinging tire carrier of doom, breaking the tailgate/liftgate, or the side glass... or clothes-lining another vehicle or pedestrian would be horrible. Lets not do that.

At a minimum assume top gate will operate open at least to a certain speed. Would be nice for air flow. I think your idea is on point I just don’t know what the carrier does for liability from SM POV. Personally common sense should prevail but everyone has a bad moment

 

[Mousehunter]

I have a swing out rear tire carrier now on my LJ. Nothing quite like accidentally not fastening perfectly and taking out a garbage can beside the road after you take your first left turn.

 

[Scoutsie]

Christmas trees. That is a situation where doors might not get shut. We never put our trees on the roof or had a roof rack on any of our cars because there was always this fear of stuff flying off on the highway because something wasn’t secured properly. Think of the Christmas trees!

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

Random thought occurred to me while talking with a friend. And this is more of a "lets make sure this works this way" sort of post.

I'm a long time SUV owner. And importantly, an SUV owner who hasn't owned a truck.

Which means that I've used my SUV as a psuedo-truck many times. My 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee has brought home/hauled all sorts of things, including both of our couches, the kitchen table, a full size L desk (72in per side), and fits a surprisingly large number of 2x8x10's in it. And many of those things were done... with the tailgate open, or partially open (tying it as closed as it can be).

In the realm of modern vehicles, it seems like driving with the tailgate/liftgate open is something that feasibly might be considered "bad", and COULD be something that could prevent the vehicle from moving/being driven somehow.

One of the large selling points for the Traveler to me is the width and potential to fit full size sheet goods (especially with that split tailgate down).

So please make sure that the vehicle is still drivable with that split tailgate down (or the liftgate open, or both).

I'm sure this was already in the cards. But in the spirit of the "if you want something, now is the time to say it" vibe I got from the CES videos, I thought I'd do my part and make sure .

Cheers .

I’m definitely in agreement here. Been there, done that, would love to be able to continue doing it. In SUVs of my past I have also rolled down the rearmost window or opened the upper portion of the rear access (flip window) for ventilation in hot weather for those vehicles that were not a removable top configuration.

 

[oldgeeksguide]

Fully onboard with this but creates a concern for people who get the exterior spare tire carrier. I would hate to see some genius try to drive with rear open while bungeeing the tire carrier to the side mirror or roof rack or something even dumber. Could see that swinging back around and destroying both gates. Just thinking down to the lowest common denominator

Ok, another reason to stick with 33” tires

 

[Logan]

Ok, another reason to stick with 33” tires

TBH thats also a major consideration for me.

I might use the tire carrier on longer trips, but as it doesn't fit in my garage with the carrier on it (furnace and water heater eating the space on that side), I'd likely leave the carrier off around town.

I've said a few times, but I feel like we need 3 tire locations on the Traveler.

1) Under body (pros, more space in the cargo area, good aero, always with you. Cons, might not work with harvester)
2) Inside the rear cargo area (pros, good aero, always with you, works with any version. Cons, uses cargo space)
3) External carrier (Pros: Always with you, lots of cargo space. Cons, aero impact, more annoying to use daily (another thing to move when opening the back), and huge increase to OAL).

 

[oldgeeksguide]

TBH thats also a major consideration for me.

I might use the tire carrier on longer trips, but as it doesn't fit in my garage with the carrier on it (furnace and water heater eating the space on that side), I'd likely leave the carrier off around town.

I've said a few times, but I feel like we need 3 tire locations on the Traveler.

1) Under body (pros, more space in the cargo area, good aero, always with you. Cons, might not work with harvester)
2) Inside the rear cargo area (pros, good aero, always with you, works with any version. Cons, uses cargo space)
3) External carrier (Pros: Always with you, lots of cargo space. Cons, aero impact, more annoying to use daily (another thing to move when opening the back), and huge increase to OAL).

Yeah, initially I was wondering if the swing arm could be removable, but it doesn’t look that way. Won’t fit in my garage either.

 

[oldgeeksguide]

Yeah, initially I was wondering if the swing arm could be removable, but it doesn’t look that way. Won’t fit in my garage either.

Or maybe I’m wrong about that - https://scoutmotors.community.forum/threads/removable-traveler-spare-tire-mount.1534/

Hard to keep up. I need to take J Alynn’s course on how to use

 

[J Alynn]

Or maybe I’m wrong about that - https://scoutmotors.community.forum/threads/removable-traveler-spare-tire-mount.1534/

Hard to keep up. I need to take J Alynn’s course on how to use

UH-HUH!!!