Rear Side Door Mod

**DR4GON** · 2nd September 2015, 12:39 AM

Has anyone successfully modified the rear passenger doors, to open 90 degrees, in the Discovery 2's?

I'm keen to have a fridge slide out the drivers side rear passenger door, either straight out, modifying the door hinge to open up to a 90 degree angle, instead of what feels like a 60-70 degree angle, or to pivot and swing out an unmodified door. It can be mounted as high as needed, since I'm aware that wheel arch is right in the way, because i can incorporate a fridge lift to lower it down for access.

Is this something anyone has done, or experimented with? Or anyone with an engineering back ground willing to set something up, custom?

(No rear seat, so heaps of room in the car, just no neat way to get it out.)

**onebob** · 2nd September 2015, 10:20 AM

That would be a bloody good mod. I have a regular rear cargo barrier and have permanently removed the rear seats and installed a 2nd cargo barrier behind the front seats and use the space between the barriers for my bedding / swag or tent / clothing bag etc.
Now between the wheels is the ideal spot for heavy items like a fridge, water and batteries but the access through the door opening is awkward which why i use it for soft manageable items atm. My plan is to eventually mount a vertical 48L BOAB water tank to the front cargo barrier.

onebob

Tombie · 2nd September 2015, 11:28 AM

Unclip the pin from the arm and gently / very carefully - move the door through its arc with the front door closed...

This should indicate just how far it can go before hitting...

That will give you a starting point.

**Jazzman** · 2nd September 2015, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Tombie

Unclip the pin from the arm and gently / very carefully - move the door through its arc with the front door closed...

This should indicate just how far it can go before hitting...

That will give you a starting point.

I reckon Tombie is is onto something here. Just not sure how far it would be possible to extend that arm the pins goes in. If the install dimensions work you might only need add 20mm or so.

All ifs but I hope it works. My fridge is mounted on the other side with a fold down table from the rear door. The table is the full length and shape of the door card.

**pop058** · 2nd September 2015, 11:37 PM

IIRC there is a mod to allow 130 rear doors to open fully. Maybe this concept could be used on your D2 (and my D1

).

**Killer** · 3rd September 2015, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by pop058

IIRC there is a mod to allow 130 rear doors to open fully. Maybe this concept could be used on your D2 (and my D1

).

A third link is added to the check mechanism, to allow it to open further and still fold up in the required space, IIRC.

Cheers, Mick.

**onebob** · 3rd September 2015, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by Jazzman

I reckon Tombie is is onto something here. Just not sure how far it would be possible to extend that arm the pins goes in. If the install dimensions work you might only need add 20mm or so.

All ifs but I hope it works. My fridge is mounted on the other side with a fold down table from the rear door. The table is the full length and shape of the door card.

Hi Jazzman,I installed a fold down table on my rear door this week - dunno why I struggled without one all these years however if i understand correctly the OP is referring to Right Rear side passenger door access and installing his fridge immediately behind the driver seat.

onebob

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 3rd September 2015, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Killer

A third link is added to the check mechanism, to allow it to open further and still fold up in the required space, IIRC.

Cheers, Mick.

**gusthedog** · 3rd September 2015, 11:16 AM

I don't think these would work due to differing bolt patterns but surely something like this wouldn't be too hard to fabricate (disclaimer: I'm not a fabricator so obviously have no idea

)

GMB 2nd Row Door Extenders

**Jazzman** · 3rd September 2015, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by onebob

Hi Jazzman,I installed a fold down table on my rear door this week - dunno why I struggled without one all these years however if i understand correctly the OP is referring to Right Rear side passenger door access and installing his fridge immediately behind the driver seat.

onebob

All true. I thought I'd offer an alternative solution if the idea of extending the door arch becomes too difficult. But was not clear in explaining my thought process, it happens to me too often.

There are some advantages to having the fridge in the passenger side:
Like not having to open the door all the way to access the fridge on a shopping centre car park for example. People seem to get frustrated when you have the disco door open taking up the road in the car park.

If you ever remove 2/3 of the rear seat the fridge sits nicely behind the 1/3 of passengers side rear seat leaving max of space available in the rear.

If you have a table on the rear door it makes it difficult to have a fridge slide on the drivers side.

Each to their own though, no right or wrong way. I hope for DR4GON sake it is an easy mod and works as intended.

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