Issue with rear door design.

[tigggers Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tigggers]

Has anyone else had this problem .
I did send this email today to Toyota Tech lets just see who long it takes to get back to me.
Hello Tech Team ,My Prado GXL is just over 12 months old and it has been a pain in the Leg, Hip, Butt, as the large door is impossible to control .Wind, and a slope in the camber of the road is all it needs, to fly back, before I have time to shift that locking thing, so it locates on that little lug hole. Add life to the situation .School bags small children and its dangerous. Dam If that Tailgate hits me in the hip one more time. I am going to cut the bloody door off with an axe. I am not alone with this it’s all over the web how people are getting injured by the killer Prado tailgates .Nice to see the new model has a strut but this has been a ongoing problem with Prado for years .This should have a retro fit answer .What is it going to take to get Toyota to act, some Child to lose an arm .Do It now get that design team on it .

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

I have never found it an issue.

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

I have never found it an issue.

hmmm same here.

I am not alone with this it’s all over the web how people are getting injured by the killer Prado tailgates

Can't say I've seen this either.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

Has anyone else had this problem .

.....No, Push it with my foot as it opens to lock it. Can't say it has ever bothered me.

[WBY 1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close WBY 1]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

i'll admit with a steel wheel and LT tyre opening it uphill, the door is friggin heavy but have never found it a problem of flying back and hitting me.

Wind, and a slope in the camber of the road is all it needs, to fly back, before I have time to shift that locking thing, so it locates on that little lug hole.

i dont understand this bit. wouldnt you open the door and then lock it all in one motion so it doesn't fly shut on you?

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

Never this problem the only issues I have read on the rear door is it to big to extend fully with a trailer attached to tow bar

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

It's a minor issue for me if I forget but I do the foot thing once I open the door if I put 2 and 2 together and realise that parking on a slight incline is going to cause some pain.

I do understand from the OP's point of view that he/she may have 1 kid in the 3rd row and they let themselves in/out during the schoolrun. During a school dropoff, the kid will open the door from inside, swing the door open, hops out, turns around to collect his bag and wham!

The opposite happens duing pickup. Kid opens door, puts bag in, then gets whammed on the backside as he clambers in.

A family at our school has a 4WD merc with auto rear door. Push a button, door opens slightly, child lifts door all the way up. Child gets in, pushes a button and door lowers gently.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

Push a button, door opens slightly, child lifts door all the way up. Child gets in, pushes a button and door lowers gently.

For heavens sake! This is a 4wd, not some nanny limo. Imagine how well that would go with some dust and gravel in it.

We are breeding a nation of wimps. :mrgreen:

Michael

[karrathaprado2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close karrathaprado2]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

Not a problem on my end...gas strut would be better.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

Imagine how well that would go with some dust and gravel in it.

It would be outrageous to see a Merc 4wd with dust on it.

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Not a good day for my Prado

it’s all over the web how people are getting injured by the killer Prado tailgates

Really? I guess given this is the biggest Aussie based Prado website, I've been pretty ignorant of everyone's injuries. :?

As for the supposed problem, yep, it's heavy with ATZ on steely, on a steep slope, if you have both hands full, and both legs full..and..
it's a 4WD, the Pajero has exactly the same setup (are there just as many "Killer Pajero doors"?), I think it works reasonably well.
I'm sure if you want an automated, anti-swing door, it's quite possible. Visit your nearest custom shop.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Issue with rear door design.

A)
Please follow the rules that you agreed too (and general forum etiquette) and keep a new thread title relevant to the discussion you are starting. (You’ll note I've edited your BS one)

B)

I am not alone with this it’s all over the web how people are getting injured by the killer Prado tailgates

Did you make this up????

C)
I thought the solution was pretty simple, and I think most sensible owners have worked this out too (considering out of the 5000 members on PP we don't have too many reports of deaths or broken legs). Here's the rule in our house; The rear door is either closed or fully open and locked in place, anywhere in between and you have to be holding it.

If you’re carrying something... put it down. If kids are exiting; either get out for 30 seconds and hold the door for them or train the ones in the second row to flip the seat forward so the third row can exit via the side door.... is it really all that hard? Even our Labrador has worked out not to jump in or out until he hears the latch click home.

Whilst the design is not ideal, it just takes a little common sense to work around any short comings of the design, and while it’s an annoyance at times and received some discussion on PP, out of the thousands of DIY modifications on here, no one has been annoyed enough to warrant the time to do gas strut modification.

Mick

[AlanH Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AlanH]

Re: Issue with rear door design.

It sounds more like a child problem than door design. Tell the kids either not to use the rear door or wait until you're there to supervise them getting in and out. I got a hard smack on the head from a Disco door once but never a problem with the Prado.
Alan.

[dereki Member Find all posts View Profile Close dereki]

Re: Issue with rear door design.

I haven't had an issue with the door. But it is heavy and long, so does not behave
as a normal car door. I use the "open and lock with foot technique" when its appropriate.
Other times if the car is leaning so the door wants to shut, and I am doing something
quick, I open the door and lean it against me, when I remove myself the door closes
behind me. I hope these techniques help.

More controversial...

From Toyotas web site... Kluger "Ultimate Family SUV". Prado "Rugged 4wd"
Different design criteria... different rear door designs.
Toyota in Aus opted for the swing door with the spare on the back, so they could
put long range tanks in. Their target market seems to be the touring/towing market.
The car for around town in a similar size is the Kluger. It has a swing up door.

D

[switched Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close switched]

Re: Issue with rear door design.

Call me naive, but what is this "foot technique" people are mentioning?? I can only think it would be to lock the door open via the 'door stay', but why use the foot?