Hatch latch ideas?

[fun in dirt]

Anybody got an idea for an alternative way to latch your tops rear hatch down (pics too, if possible)? Mine never worked anyway & was missing the pieces that bolt inside on the top. So when I was repairing all the busted fiberglass, I cut the handle off because the bolts wouldn't budge & everything else was rusted together. Anyway, what can I do besides a bungi cord or duct tape

[jkade]

I wanna see also

[tdkosta]

Just brainstorming late tonight about this idea. I know it isn't anything close to being original, but what about this locking latch for the middle


And some hardware on the sides somewhat like these to keep the sides in place?


http://www.nauticexpo.com/prod/south...514-55394.html
any other ideas? Not sure how the side hardware disengages. I was looking for the kinds that you push to lock and then push again to unlock, but this one seems to have a sliding lever used to unlock the latches.

[johnnywagon]

I bought a couple of jeep style rubber hood latches with the intention of going low-tech and putting one each sideways on the lower corners but thought better of it after mocking it up.....

[arcticspade]

The guy I bought my jimmy from talked about a guy who repaired his with garage door latch parts. Said it worked better than the original.

[fun in dirt]

This is what I ended up using. It's not the cleanest option, but works great and only $5 each from Lowes. I wouldn't dare use this on a show truck, however it works great for this gravel roads/mud bucket!

[BUDDY]

I guess that will work OK. At least until the drip edge breaks off. I think you should go into a topper store or some place that sells truck camper tops. Open the hatch on one of those that has a single handle in the middle & you'll be kicking yourself for drilling holes into the exterior of you hatch. All you'd need is a plate, (to replace the hole in the end where the factory latch is at), with a hole in if to locate the rod.

Sounds harder than it is.

Later,
Buddy