The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Barn doors or clam shell??

Another thread got me thinking. What is your preference?

I'm barn door.

Barn doors or clam shell??

Suburban Carryall (3106 vs 3116)

My preference is to call them Panel Doors (or Rear Doors) vs End-Gate (or Tail and Lift Gate), as GM did.

Is that what you are asking?

I think the End Gate looks much more interesting but the Panel Doors are a little more functional/practical.

I had a salesman talk me into doors on back on a new suburban because they didn't have a tailgate. All new ones after were with doors. Much better for putting stuff in the back.

On a classic? I have doors on a '66 but probably prefer clamshells for coolness.

Mark, I prefer barn doors because I think the double windows are cooler looking than the single oblong clam shell one. V/R, Nick

Barn

I like clamshell, but agree that it is more inconvenient to use.

Clamshell's are like a tailgate. Always reaching over them. I prefer barn doors.

.......now why would I say BARN

I had a '75 that had an End Gate. I bought enough stuff to do Panel Doors, but never got around to it. Would have been a tough job. On that Suburban, I definitely found the End Gate inconvenient.

Functionality would go to the panel doors, but , to me, the cool factor goes to the clamshell, the folding tailight is what seals the deal

I agree, the swing down light is a classic design.

Barn doors work better for me, easier to reach in. Tail gates would work good when hauling long stuff like 16' 2x4s, which I do haul to the jobsite.

Clam Shell, Chevrolet pointed out in their advertisements that you could stack all the 7 passengers luggage on the tailgate when you took them from the Rail Station to the local hotel.

That's the best practical reason for the end-gate that I have seen.

Do you have a link to the GM advertisement (or, can you take a photo and mail it to me - I'll host it)?

Thanks,

I have mixed feelings about the clamshell doors on my 58 Burb. I have always loved the look of the clamshell and it was an important factor in my decision to buy the one I did.

As has been stated, they are much cooler than the barn doors.

That being said, two significant drawbacks I have noticed are visibility and ease of access. Being tall (6'4") I have a hard time seeing out the back window. With the crown of the roof and the window being set about 4-6 inches from the top of the lift gate, I can't see directly out the back. Using the rear view mirror I can only see about 100-150 feet behind me. It's safe enough to drive but you can't see the cops approaching from a long way off. :-) I'm seriously considering buying a dash mounted rear view mirror like in the old corvettes. I think that would help alot.

The other issue is ease of access. It is true that you can open just the lift gate and put stuff in the back behind the rear seat. That is ok for groceries and other light stuff. If you need to get something big/heavy into/out of the back you have to drop the tailgate. Since the lower half is about half again as tall as a standard truck tailgate, you either have to bend way over from the side or back or you have to climb up on the tailgate to get into the back of the truck. With the hard steel tailgate, that is not a comfortable process. Barn doors alow the convenience of being able to step right up to the bumber and put something right in the bed.

Bottom line is I'm not going to change the doors since I already sold off the barn doors that came originally and I think the clamshell is cool. That being said I often wish for the convenience of the barn doors.

There has been talk and I believe someone may have posted about combining the two. Using the upper lift gate and cut down lower doors or a split tailgate. You'd have to install an extra set of hinges on the lower half but it could be done.

It's always nice to update an old question and this has been asked before. I think for looks the clamshell wins, for utilitarian purposes the barn door wins. For my suburban, I have struggled for the right answer for me. There have been many conversions that I have posted in the past, but THIS ONE is the one I am leaning towards doing on my suburban. It's the best of both worlds......g

How about this version?? http://www.bunchobikes.com/burbreardoor.jpg

MNSmith;

That is the version I was thinking of. It looks pretty cool and functional. It will be a a bit more challenging on the TF models because the tailgate holds the lift gate closed. The AD models are the opposite (lift gate has the latch that holds the tailgate closed). You'll have to sort out how to move the latch to one side or the other on the bottom two doors.

Clamshell all the way! There is no space back there anyway when all tree seats are installed. If your gonna pull your seats to lug things around might as well get a panel truck.

[quote=Jon_S]I had a salesman talk me into doors on back on a new suburban because they didn't have a tailgate.quote] That's a good one, musta been quite a saleman- lol..