Inside rear door tailgate handle

[Beastrider]

Hi - I wanted to add an inside door handle for the rear door so it was easier to use when sleeping inside. I couldn’t find any write-up about that but I have added a handle to my 1999 UK Colorado. I believe some Prados already have them from the factory including an inside locking function.

I used a normal rear passenger door handle from eBay (£15) and made some linkage parts myself to attach to the same mechanism that is operated by the outside tailgate release. I’ve added a couple of pics. If there is any interest, I could take a few more pics and post them.
It works really well and much more convenient than climbing out of the rear passenger doors.

 

[Bob]

Nice job that. I had seen one or two with a handle, but never felt the need for it., but I might just try it after that

 

[Aeroelastic]

Really neat!!! Good job. Those holes in the steel door frame all pre drilled?

 

[Beastrider]

Hi Aeroelastic
One photo shows the 5 holes that are already in the door frame from factory, the other one shows the extra holes required for a right-rear passenger door handle. I also had to do a little bit of filing to the plastic of the handle where the steel rod attaches. This was to get sufficient rotation movement of the handle. You can see that the hole for the handle-screw is very close to one of the other holes so, after this photo was taken, I attached a thick plastic disc behind that hole to give something for the screw to bite into.
Besides the handle, you also need the red plastic part to receive the end of the linkage rod. You can easily find them on eBay (search for lock rod retainer clip - I got a mixed pack of different sizes in red white blue for about £5)
The link that joins to flattened loop of the existing lock bar must be arranged so it can slide along the loop, without much play, hence the use of the nylon nut. It needs to slide so the outside handle doesn’t try to actuate the inside handle. The rod from the inside handle needs to be the right length so that the bolt and nylon nut are at the left end of the slot, as shown, when the inside handle is in the rest position.

 

[Bert]

Pretty decent conversion. I've often thought mine could do with an inside opener. Great job.

 

[goodoldboy]

nice one.proper job and a good write up

 

[Mick W]

Very handy. Been caught in the back a few times. Like the additional pockets as well