gator tailgate latch

/ gator tailgate latch #1  

lostcause

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2010
Messages
1,044
Location
Maine
i'm picking up a used gator hpx tomorrow, and i'm thinking that it's time to build a better mousetrap, so to speak. i've been around gators for years, and i find that many people have those wire latches get sprung, fall off, or damaged in some other way. has anyone upgraded the latch to something a little more fitting a machine that costs that much money? i've recently looked at the kubota rtv500, and the latches on that were much better, and i assume the rtv900 has a better one too.
 
/ gator tailgate latch #2  
I figured I'd give your post a "bump." Actually, after 2 years of consistent use, I don't see a problem with the funny latches on the HPX, other than occasionally snagging my shirt on one while opening/closing or maybe walking too close.

I, too, am curious about what others may have done, although I can't see myself troubling to come up with an alternative to a non-problematic design.
 
/ gator tailgate latch
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I figured I'd give your post a "bump." Actually, after 2 years of consistent use, I don't see a problem with the funny latches on the HPX, other than occasionally snagging my shirt on one while opening/closing or maybe walking too close.

I, too, am curious about what others may have done, although I can't see myself troubling to come up with an alternative to a non-problematic design.

yeah, i've got no major issues with it, but to me, on something that expensive, it's just out of place. i'd really like a self-latching solution. you have to admit that if you are at all unfamiliar with them, you can bind them a little. if you close the gate, the rods will usually catch a little. you have to sort of bring the latches up along with the gate to have it all flow smoothly. it's like hand crank windows on a caddy.
 

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