Split Mid Gate.

[fozie]

Did the engineering elders at GM miss this one. Why didn't they split the mid-gate so you could open up a portion of the bed and leave part of the rear seat up. Guess they were worried about the seal and leaks.

 

[NJAV]

Welcome Fozie...I'll move this topic down to the Questions, Probs, and answers...you should get some great feedback there....

 

[steelheadchaser]

The split midgate has been asked for so much on this board that GM would be making a huge mistake not to be looking in to it, IMO. As long as they can make it dry, and without decreasing strength, I think it would be a winner.

 

[half-breed]

My concern would be with a load of gravel, dirt, sand or something similar that the load would push too hard and the "split" would not hold. Its an engineering nightmare to support the loads that a few of us would subject it to.

 

[sjudson]

I would rather see a rear power window instead,I had an Ex Sport Trac and used it alot-My 2 cents

 

[ygmn]

Better to be discussed here as it has in the past.....

 

[Gabe]

Would you want a split midgate or a power rear window. I would like the split midgate only because I still have one kid in a car seat. But a power rear window would be Sweeet!

Gabe

 

[dmacker]

The split midgate gets my vote.

 

[Avrunner]

I would rather see a rear power window instead,I had an Ex Sport Trac and used it alot-My 2 cents

problem is, then you'd probably lose the option of leaving the window on and midgate down.

It'd be great as an opiton though.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

In my opinion, your idea gets an 'A' for creativity but...

You could imagine just how freakin' hard to engineer a split midgate would be. Not only would it have to work but you've got to engineer it for the dumbest 1/3 of the people who would use it. No offense to anyone because I'm sure everyone here knows how to operate and use every accessory and feature on h is/her truck but there are some people out there who would have all kinds of problems with a split midgate.

And that's assuming that the engineers could design and develop such a split midgate that would deliver the performance of the one-piece midgate - perfect seal, easy and simple operation, flawless performance and nothing to go wrong.

I think that's why a split midgate will happen just as soon as they give the Avalanche a convertible top - yeah, now there's an idea!

 

[wolfman]

my next Av Order:
Convertible
Electric rear window
split midgate
third row seating
nah I'll stick with what I have

 

[NJAV]

my next Av Order:
Convertible
Electric rear window
split midgate
third row seating
nah I'll stick with what I have

Stock amber Drl's....that's it!..

 

[pdxkevin]

I was wondering if the midgate helps maintain some of the rigidity?

You could reduce your sand and water infiltration by limiting the split to only one side or the other. Than use a set of interlocking 'W' shaped seals.

The toggle handle which lowers the midgate would have to be overhauled. So it was twist left to open with the window in place. Right to open with the window removed, and pull up to open only the one side.

 

[EarthQuake]

My opinion...someone needs to either A) go up to the Bronx or B) get that TNF rear end from eBay and see if they can work this mod. I keep finding it might be nice to have too. For that matter, why couldn't you split the window too? You may need to double the number of clips that hold in the window, 2 on each half. Or what I think would be pretty cool too is to work out a power sliding window (like in a normal pick-up), using the power from the defroster. Someone may have brought this up before, but I can't remember exactly.

ROAD TRIP TO THE BRONX!

 

[Carnac]

How about this - instead of a split mid-gate (a great idea, but maybe difficult to engineer) GM could put a pass through hatch in one side of the mid-gate. It could be hindged or removable. That way I could lower one seat (probably the small section), still keep some rear seating, and put large items (like 8' 2x4s) all the way through. It would work great for those with dogs too. I think the best way would be to make a removable hatch that just stowed on the floor or dropped seat. That way the current mid-gate seals and mechanics could stay the same. Cheers - Jim

 

[dmacker]

How about this - instead of a split mid-gate (a great idea, but maybe difficult to engineer) GM could put a pass through hatch in one side of the mid-gate. It could be hindged or removable. That way I could lower one seat (probably the small section), still keep some rear seating, and put large items (like 8' 2x4s) all the way through. It would work great for those with dogs too. I think the best way would be to make a removable hatch that just stowed on the floor or dropped seat. That way the current mid-gate seals and mechanics could stay the same. Cheers - Jim

Excellent idea let's sell it to the GENERAL!!!

 

[02-Z66]

would be a good design for the future.

 

[fozie]

I like the doggie door idea. It leaves the mid-gate intac and still opens up the bed for some pass thru items without dropping all the seats.
Fozie

 

[davidi4]

the access ports someone designed to get to the side storage with his SnugTop in place would be perfect for this...

 

[gandolphxx]

Check out this:

More details in Bed Hatches

 

[ShapeShifter]

How about this - instead of a split mid-gate (a great idea, but maybe difficult to engineer) GM could put a pass through hatch in one side of the mid-gate. It could be hindged or removable. That way I could lower one seat (probably the small section), still keep some rear seating, and put large items (like 8' 2x4s) all the way through.

I also like that "doggy door" idea! However, why stop at one?

TWO doggy doors, a small one on one side, and a larger one on the other. That way you can carry two in back, along with something long and narrow. Or, you could carry one in back along with something wider.

A pair of doors, latched at the top, and hinged on the bottom could be really handy. They would have to be waterproof, and at least as thick, strong (and quiet) as the current midgate.

-- SS

 

[dmacker]

SS,

You are a genius. Let's design one, sell it to the General and retire. Then we can make all the GTG's. You would think that with all of the talent at a place like GM, someone would have thought that a pass through was a good idea. They have it in the autos.
They may have have looked at it and decided between a pass through and load bearing capacity when the mid gate is down. Then again maybe not.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Yeah, a doggie door, that's the ticket!

Wait, how about a dutch door?!

Or maybe a pocket door?

How about we call this thread "fantasy midgate" and leave the engineers alone to design vehicles that work really, really well?

Personally, I'm quite happy with the midgate I have. And I'll bet most owners haven't put theirs down more than once to use it (don't count the number of times you've shown off!).

 

[steelheadchaser]

Here is a doggy door we spotted during Wild west 2002.

[attachment deleted by admin larger then 100KB]

 

[ShapeShifter]

Personally, I'm quite happy with the midgate I have. ?And I'll bet most owners haven't put theirs down more than once to use it (don't count the number of times you've shown off!).

I'm very happy with it also. You really think most people use it that seldom? I thought I was using it less than others, as I've had it down only about half a dozen times in the past year. (However, I've had the bed full many times, and I've folded seats to get a flat storage floor in the cab.)

I love the midgate. However, there has been at least one time this past year where I had to drop the wife off at home so my son and I could make a run to Home Depot to pick up some trim. If I had the doggy door, I could've had the wife, son, and the trim in all at the same time.

So yes, I'm very happy. But why can't we dream for more? And who says it can't be made to work really, really well?

-- SS