Behold! A secure external tailgate window switch
 

Hey guys, first post here on the forum. I'd like to show you an external tailgate switch I've come up with that controls the rear window.



I've added a micro switch to the drivers door that makes contact with the lock linkage. Attached to that is a wire that goes to an external marine/waterproof switch that controls the tailgate window. In the locked position the switch does not function, and in the unlocked position the circuit is complete and powers the switch.



Here's the micro switch I used. I cut the arm down a little bit on mine. There are ones with shorter arms but I'd rather get the longest one I could find if I needed the length



https://www.ebay.com/itm/182751118435



And this is the rocker switch I used. You don't have to use this one, there's all sorts of styles out there, including ones that light up when you press it or a simple traditional looking post toggle switch. You just wanna make sure it's a momentary 3 positon on-off-on switch



https://www.ebay.com/itm/293160909825



Here is a video of it on my Instagram. My profile is public so you should be able to view it without needing an account.

decent addition. you could almost get away without tying it in to the door lock, since it isn't visible at all under the plate holder.

i added a "live" switch inside mine, within the rear seat cubby pocket on the driver side. useful for opening the window when sleeping in the back, because the console switch doesn't work unless the key is in the ignition and switched to acc or on.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...73546f3354.jpg

another of my mods is visible: the subaru rear shoulder belt add-on.

but it would be handy to have that switch available outside, instead of fumbling for the key. to be fair, my rear key switches work just fine.

Ah yes I too have another rocker switch inside the bed area for camping as well.
And speaking of camping, one thing I recently added was this little pull strap to the tailgate for pulling it shut from the inside, it really helps out a lot! I have a sleeping platform in mine so sitting higher up on that, and having to reach out and grab the tailgate from the outside (which is also sound deadened so there's extra weight) was a little annoying.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...72a7c9b789.jpg

By the way, is it possible to embed the video on this forum?

when camping, i climb over the closed tailgate, rather than opening it every time, precisely because it is heavy and awkward to close from inside. strap is a good idea for dealing with that.

i'm curious if your key-switch still works with the modification you've added?

Man that is awesome. Ive been wanting to add a rocker switch to mine. I was trying to figure out the best way to disable it tho.

Good idea!. That tailgate is so heavy and I recently had to deal with that a couple times for 11 nights we were in Utah. I really wish I had the time to convert to flip-up window.

It is easier to embed youtube video than Instagram.

Thanks for sharing this info. Looking forward to doing this install on my 95.