Replace rear side window with solid cargo access hatch (gullwing)

[TroySmith80]

I wonder if there are any DIY methods or examples for replacing a cargo area window with an access hatch that opens. I'd like to replace the rear driver-side window in my Yukon, but of course there are not kits sold to do this, and frankly I don't have the budget to consider something like a Front Runner kit even if one was available for my vehicle.

I've done some googling around and haven't found a lot. It seems like I could stick some hinges and latches to the stock glass side window (using VHB or some super strong adhesive) and then break the existing seal between the body and the glass and replace it with a bulb-seal or some kind of weather stripping. It might be a lot more work than the result would be worth, i'm not sure, but i love the idea of having access like this, and building a cabinet into that space which is often not well utilized. Similar process might work for any other vehicle.

I've checked and the glass there is not flat, it definitely is curved, so popping it out and replacing it with sheet metal would not be real easy. Maybe something could be made up with fiberglass, but that's again getting into a pretty big project. I thought that painting the inside of the existing glass, so it's no longer transparent, and then using it as the hatch, could be a good idea.

 

[TroySmith80]

This is a pretty cool mod, I don't think I could do it the same way with the compound curvature of my (and most other SUV) glass though.

 

[Wilbah]

Very cool video. I get why he has it screwed through the track but if you just wanted access into the rear cargo are I dont see why something similar couldn't be done but use the same rubberstrips that the glass is mounted with? (You would probably need to add to the edges to have the same thickness of the glass piece for the fit to be right). I think that would be pretty slick.