Mountain Hatch holes not aligned

That plastic material MH uses may expand and contract due to temperature change. This would cause fitment issues. Just my two cents.

 

I can confirm it does. That is the main reason I got rid of mine.

 

I read about too many issues with the MH and went with something different as well. Very happy, it’s textured powder coating and fits great. Local to me as well so I picked it up and saved shipping costs.

https://snailarmor.com/

 

i have that concern so I’m going to add a strip of clear film there. Not a big deal but better to be safe.

 

I’d say mt hatch is well Aware of their hole alignment issues as they were of the 4 bottom holes not recessed enough to engage those factory screws. I wasn’t pleased to say the least and emailed them earlier this yr. they’ll respond with start the screws here and here to square it up but honestly that’s more than half garbage IMO. My theory is this panel was designed specifically for 2nd gen and would venture there would be more of a difference between 2nd gen and 3rd gen versus the 3rd gen tolerances between themselves. I just don’t see that when it seems literally across the board same issue (some maybe more willing to speak out or some may not care and just make it work). No screws should not have to be started at a 45 degree angle. There response to my bottom screws not threading enough and popping out was that they aren’t need. Well apparently enough people complained that they finally stopped the bs and are now providing in the orders AND free to those on previous orders.

I had another panel from another company- no logo no cup holders and was cheaper (although not by much). The holes aligned no problem on that one and all screws engaged. Mt. Hatch has a fan club and the social media crowd ran them out of the panel game… literally, screaming clone/copycat. But it’s a plastic panel for crying out loud and it didn’t have the customary mh cup/logo.

 

I agree, my son and I made ours work but the alignment is piss poor. I thought of making mines out of aluminum as my past trucks have had but the metal would get too hot in the sun to sit on so I went with MT Hatch. Still satisfied but buyer beware since it does cost $$$.

 

Just installed with the provided longer screws and didn’t have any issues with them lining up. Looks good!

 

Just got mine today same exact issue

 

Also anyone that installed the mountain hatch realize that the handle to drop the tailgate is stickier after install?

 

I did not have that problem. There shouldnt be any contact between the release mechanism and the tailgate panel

 

lets hear it

 

Pretty much, once the grooves are filled with anything...it's nearly impossible to say it's food safe, unless pressure washed with some disinfectant of sorts...flat stainless steel T304, 1808, 1806 grade would be best!...

 

I didn't have that problem with mine either.

I did notice that the tailgate drops quicker because extra weight of the Mountain Hatch and gravity and whatnot.

 

So this Mountain Hatch company sells tailgate panels for $250 that don’t line up with the mounting holes?!! And it’s $250?? Okay.

 

I didn't pay $250. And the holes lined up perfectly on my tailgate.

 

That's why I bought a cut-to-size sheet of marine ABS to turn into a DIY panel (~$65). The advice they gave me is to drill the holes a little big to allow for thermal expansion and help prevent warping. I agree that a $250 piece of flat plastic should have properly aligned holes, but maybe drilling them out a little would help with the alignment issues.

 

Not at all. Maybe you put one of the longer screws in the wrong spot.

 

longer screws go on top no?

 

I didn’t really have a problem with the alignment. It’s plastic. Easy to make a hole a little bigger if needed.