Thread: Ball-screw type trunk openers.

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Has anyone had experience with the aftermarket electric trunk openers?---not the latch mechanism, but the ball-screw type opener with the electric motor on it. I am seriously thinking of putting a tonneau cover on the roadster pickup this winter, and will most likely use a peice of 3/4" marine plywood, upholstered in the same fabric as is on my convertible top. I will support it on and hinge it from an aluminum flat-bar perimeter frame that attaches to the inside of my pickup bed with 2 stainless bolts thru each side of the box. Now, since my gas-tank is in there, I have to access it fairly often, and I think one of those electric trunk openers would work great. I did this years ago on an old Datsun pickup that I had tricked out (yes, I had a mini-truck phase too). I used a pair of hydraulic top rams and powerpack from an old convertible. It worked great, but was very slow.

linear Actuators? I'v heard they work great. you could use a small 12v hydraulic lift system, like what carnival trailers use to raise the window's up. they use rams, about the size of a screen door closer.

Well, it was a good idea while it lasted. I just got off the phone with my Hotrod parts supplier (Horton Enterprises, in Ontario), and the Autoloc electric linear actuators cost between $400 and $500 each.--Maybe now I'll check out the boat places.

Originally Posted by brianrupnow

Well, it was a good idea while it lasted. I just got off the phone with my Hotrod parts supplier (Horton Enterprises, in Ontario), and the Autoloc electric linear actuators cost between $400 and $500 each.--Maybe now I'll check out the boat places.

yep, linear actuators are expensive. Speedway has 1 for $399 and that's the cheapest I'v seen. a cheap thing you could do, is use an autoloc trunk opener, and 2 regular gas filled tonnau cover props, that open automaticly.

Matt---I assume you mean an autoloc trunk latch. That would work with 2 of the gas filled shocks, but it wouldn't be as trick---(and I like trick, but it costs.)

Hey Brian- Downs has an opener for a heavy trunk car for @ 300, at least it was last year.

Brian
How about two presure shocks or a torcion spring to raise the top.and a cable real small gear driven shaft with cable on each back corner of bed. reversing a 12vdc mtr is nothing. Like an overhead door only the cables would come from the bottom up, not the top down. You could even put it all under the truck and just have the cables come thru the floor and attach to the top. I better stop before I confuse the issue. Your the engineer so ENGINEER

Originally Posted by brianrupnow

Matt---I assume you mean an autoloc trunk latch. That would work with 2 of the gas filled shocks, but it wouldn't be as trick---(and I like trick, but it costs.)

some of those gas filled shock openers have check valves that get overcome when you go to close the trunk/ whatever down. if you could use a servo or solonoid of some kind to pull the check valve out, would go down automaticly.

surplus center lists a linear acutator
450#push
780 #static load
12v
$59.99
old catalog
113/4" retracted
6" stroke
weighs 6 pounds

800-488-3407

or see ebay

Damn i must come to the rescue of everyone.....lol. Here is a site i use for all of my automation needs, damn good prices to. I will try and get a video of my tailight actuator i have.

Here is a listing of 150-200lbs actuators, which i would think would be more that enough for your application. I think they sell controllers too, i just make my own.
http://www.firgelliauto.com/default.php?cPath=90

here is a picture of it, it is on the driver's side of the bed....i dont have any other up close shots of it. the second pic is what it accomplishes.

thanks, one of many custom touches the truck has....with more in my head.

ok, here is a better pic of the actuator, and a video of how it works for me.