Interior rear door opener mod

papawhisky · Samba Member Joined: April 05, 2007 Posts: 186

I would like to be able to open my rear door from the inside. Has anyone got pix of a mod? I am assuming I can do something as simple as drill a hole and run a cable loop at the right place.
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Papawhisky
88 Westy
70 Bug Vert (project)

1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

Exactly. Take off the rear panel and study the mechanism for a minute. You'll probably need to drill a small hole in "lever arm" of the latch mechanism, but it's really a simple project. I ran a cord with an extra length of fuel line over the top of it (for added girth) up to an extra door handle (stock brown) that I attached to the interior as well. This way I can both open AND close the rear door from the inside. It's great for when you're camping and want the fresh air, but around 3am it becomes too cold and you want to close the hatch. You can accomplish it all without ever having to leave your bag.
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'85 Westy

Captain Pike · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

What happens when your dog/child bumps into it and falls out the back? Sad

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LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

Sodo · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:50 am Post subject:

westynova · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:35 am Post subject:

I found this a while back. It has a photo of the wire loop idea but no demonstration on the inside of the panel. Also has a good idea for the sink up-gradge.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/westy/westymods.htm

westynova · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:40 am Post subject:

Keeping on the door idea, i recently snapped off the handle on the sliding door. I will eventually replace it; but in a effort to stop the same thing happening to the next handle, has anyone come up with a better fix.

I was thinking of installing a grab handle on the outside at the rear of the door. I could use that to close it.

Any thoughts, ideas?

Anyone have a Side Sliding Door Handle kicking around?

Home Team Van · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:44 am Post subject:

here's another hatch latch write up.

http://www.griffco.ca/interest/vw/HatchLatch.htm
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82 Diesel Westy

spitsnrovers · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject:

I've made the same mod, details here www.griffco.ca/interest/ but haven't installed the hatch door back into the van yet to prove it.

Let me know what you think of this one.

papawhisky · Samba Member Joined: April 05, 2007 Posts: 186

Ill definitely pull the panel and do the mod. I like the idea of adding a strap for closing it as well. Innovations!
Thanks-
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Papawhisky
88 Westy
70 Bug Vert (project)

dravin21 · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:57 am Post subject:

doyll · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 4:37 am Post subject:

Link to thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=317601&highlight=

woggs1 has links to his website with some writeups I found of different installs.

I would love to see a pic of the factory emergency release latch. Pretty sure it's just a piece of rod welded on.

bond007x · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2021 8:44 am Post subject: Re: Interior rear door opener mod

Well, I just ran into the stuck hatch latch issue this morning as I'm trying to prep the engine/car for smog test in another 6 hours .... ugh!!!

Update to one of links (apparently changed around 2018):

http://www.griffco.ca/VW/hatchlatch.htm

Now I just hope I can get the darn thing opened! Wink

valvecovergasket · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2021 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Interior rear door opener mod

looks to be just begging to be gowesty-kit-ified

4Gears4Tires · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2021 9:31 am Post subject: Re: Interior rear door opener mod

I would like a Vanistan version plz and thx.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

valvecovergasket · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2021 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Interior rear door opener mod

danfromsyr

just an FYI for this thread

many VW models have a (mandated safety) release for inside the trunk
these snap into a panel and have a cable that pulls the latch..

shouldn't be hard at all to rig into a westy rear panel

like this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/233560339909
https://www.ebay.com/itm/114773117468

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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Crooked Designer

I got an old door latch and grab handle and made my own using a bicycle brake cable and housing. I'll try to dig up the interior photos, but you only need to apply enough pressure to spring the latch (which doesn't seem like much if you're pulling from the correct position.

Also, FYI it still works to open from the inside when the hatch is locked (as the locking mechanism just rotates the opening pushing device out of the way.) because the pulling end of the cable is attached directly to the opening mechanism of the latch.

I wanted OEM look and for the latch handle to be high enough to clear any bedding / pillows. Mounted the pull handle this way as the structure inside the door is the beefiest right here and there were places to drill and mount the expanding nubs that the pull handle screws into. Works really well. Only thing I wish I had was a beefier return spring on the handle. Doesn't effect how it works, just don't like having the handle staying open until I shut the hatch.

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'85 Westy full camper, Subaru 2.5L, 5 speed SubiGears + 5speedbus shifter kit


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