That would be me. I had it propped open with a length of PVC pipe and when I pulled off one ram the damn thing collapsed the PVC pipe and tried to kill me.
Later I used a 6 foot step ladder to hold it open.
I had no idea it was that heavy.

 

Imagine how heavy it would be if it was made of steel. It would have to have a couple layers to provide the same rigidity.

I have a pair of crutches that I've used very effectively for changing out strong arms.

 

do you mean changing those two "elevator shocks" that help the hatch go up? that is not a job for one person, it takes two people, I tried alone one time, never again, almost got hurt.

coming back to the speaker business, what about speakers at the roof?

the Louisville/Aeromax has a nice setup of speakers mounted to the roof. I've never seen one, just this drawing.

 

The Aeromax is a much bigger truck, and has lots more space in the roof for speakers. But that's only at the front cab. The idea of installing speakers in the rear hatch is you would like some sound coming from back there.

 

i got out a magnet and the hatch isn't steel.i installed a 1.5 din pioneer radio i had in mine with satelite radio.i just had to trim the trim piece a bit.i hooked it to the six factory speakers running new wires to the front and middle speakers.

 

How did you put a 1.5 din radio in a single din radio location also how could you install door speakers in and get all working

 

the holes in the pioneer radio brackets actually lined up with the holes in the dash.i just slid it in there.theres nothing in the way.its resting on the support for the ford radio.theres a gap of about an inch between the pioneer brackets and the dash brackets caused by the way the pioneer brackets bolt on,but that spaced it out almost perfect for the trim.i used a jigsaw to trim maybe a sixteenth of an inch from the bottom and sides and may a half inch on top cutting just a little bit at a time and checking the fit.i didn't install door speakers.my factory speakers sound good so i ran new wires to them.the middle and rear speakers are already tied together so i just needed to get a wire to the middle ones.

 

Just press 3 and 5 at the same time on your head unit and the rear controlls ar bypassed and cannot be used unless you repete the above steps

 

An easy way to upgrade your sound system, is to use a bluetooth portable speaker and your phone. iPod, iPad or any Mp3 player. There are several large, loud and rechargeable bluetooth speakers sold that pair with any wifi music player, phone or iPod. No wiring or mounting needed. I have a Marshall Tufton Portable Bluetooth Speaker that hangs from my rear cargo door and I used an old iPad for a music source, pairs with the speaker and sounds great, gets as load as I want it. I need to recharge the speaker about 2 or 3 times a month, depending on usage.

 

Can you repurpose the old speaker wires to run power to the BT speakers, and just keep a charger on them? Connect them to a switched source so they're charging whenever the car is on.