GU Barn Door - If you have a dog disconnect the Inside Lock

Submitted: Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 09:36

ThreadID: 65586 Views:3100 Replies:8 FollowUps:10

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Moggs

Hi All,

Thought I'd pass on a small drama we had with our 5 mth old Boxer and the GU barn door on a recent trip to Frys Hut.

Our GU has a set of side by side drawers in the back along with a fridge slide on one side, a centre divider and a cargo barrier. Our dog travels on one side which happens to be the side with the inside door handle and lock.

We arrived at Frys Hut in 40 degree heat only to find that the dog had lent against the inside handle which engaged the lock. Unlike the passenger doors the rear inside lock does not engage / disengage with the central locking however the barn door does lock and unlock with the central locking when the inside latch is open. Result, one hot puppy that had locked himself in the back!. After much angst we finally managed to get a pole through the cargo barrier to flick the lock open.

We have since removed the rear skin and disabled the internal lock switch so it cannot happen again. If you have barriers / centre dividers like us and carry anything in the back that can move and engage the lock I would recommend disabling the lock.

Hopefully this post may prevent the angst we went through for some other GU owner!

BTW, if you are ever passing through Bonnie Doon and like a good hamburger, go to the Roadhouse - they make the best hamburgers we have ever had anywhere in Aus. The Serenity burger is amazing! They also do rib eye steak sandwiches which are just awesome!

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Reply By: Time - Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 09:42

Reply By: Member - AJB (VIC) - Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 10:00

Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Thoughtfully- Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 11:14

Reply By: Willem - Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 11:39

Reply By: Member - Michael O (NSW) - Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 13:59

Reply By: Member - John & Sally W (NSW) - Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 14:23

Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 15:41

Reply By: Trevor R (QLD) - Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 16:11

Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 16:11

G'day Moggs,

Thanks for the heads up. I just went and checked both my 2000 and 2001 GU's and they both can be locked from the inside and the key will not open from the outside in the rear door. One big difference between my two and yours though, the central locking button on the drivers door when pressed to lock then unlock will unlock the rear door. Sounds like yours would not do this, is this right? Did you try to lock and unlock all doors by putting the key in the drivers door and locking then unlocking this way?

My two have a multitude of ways to unlock the rear door but just not with a key in the back door.

Cheers, Trevor.

AnswerID: 347084

Follow Up By: Moggs - Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 22:06

Sunday, Feb 01, 2009 at 22:06

Hi Trevor, central locking or the key in any door definitely didn't work for our rear door. The button on the armrest didn't do it either. I reckon the aftermarket central locking with the alarm has somehow by-passed the rear internal lock.

FollowupID: 615309

Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 08:17

Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 08:17

"I reckon the aftermarket central locking with the alarm has somehow by-passed the rear internal lock"

I reckon you might be right Moggs. Do you still have the factory remote central locking device? try this is you do, just for curiosity.

Good luck with it and I am glad it worked out OK for your furry friend's sake.
Trevor.

FollowupID: 615336

Follow Up By: Member - David K (VIC) - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 09:19

Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 09:19

I haven't had that problem with my Cruiser but did have our dogs bleep ter the side quarter window. They wanted to say hello to a friendly looking Jack Russell, who was standing there with his owner looking at the dogs when we left the car unattended. We were aware this could happen and on Wednesday we will have a rear cargo cage installed. This fits inside of the tail gate allowing us to open the rear of the vehicle with the dogs secured until we open the hinged door in the barrier. To prevent damage to the windows and yes they are expensive. There will be a cage joining the original rear barrier and the newly installed rear cargo cage preventing them banging on the windows. I mention this as a rear cargo cage would keep your dog from accessing the handle. The work was carried out by Colin at www.puppybars.com he is in Ferntree gully. Plenty of photos on his website. Hope this helps.

Dave

FollowupID: 615339

Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 09:26

Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 09:26

Dave, for Moggs I was thinking of an easy fix to prevent the same thing happening but did not say it until now as it is along the same lines as your thoughts.

Moggs, you have the centre divider seperating your dog and your beer fridge don't you? If so, dump the dog in the drivers side of the car and the fridge in the passenger's side. The dog cannot then "accidentally" lock the rear door as it is on the wrong side of the car to do so. Correct me if I am wrong.

Cheers guys,
Trevor.

FollowupID: 615341

Follow Up By: Moggs - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 18:37

Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 18:37

Nah, cannot put the dog on the other side of the divider as the space is made for the fridge and has the slide incorporated into the drawer top. There wouldn't be enough room for him there. Doesn't matter now though, have disabled the inside locking mechanism so it cannot happen again.

Dave, Colin at CJ4WD made and installed the centre divider. He does great work at a good price. Have thought about a full cage - maybe something for down the track.

FollowupID: 615439