Nash:
My thought on a good location would be to locate the switch inside/bottom of the door grab pocket on the top of the door card. Your pups would have to use their tongues to get down in there.

 

Dogs and opening while driving... it seems that this is closing the circuit for the exterior button at the back of the handle so behavior should be the same. You're just bringing that button inside.

If the vehicle doors are unlocked while driving, the button should activate the release. Locking the vehicle while driving should prevent accidental release. The only question would be, is that circuit deactivated while in motion? Jump on my tire and find out.

If not, a safety switch could prevent a shifting load, a dog, or a bound-up hostage from easily activating while unlocked.

https://a.co/d/4u0fe1s

 

The switch would be a great addition for those expressing the need for one while car camping, or for any situation where there was a need to exit from the cargo area. Just be mindful that some of the posters mentioned the need for a manual release in case of a dead battery or a failed actuator. This will not accomplish that since it needs power to work. A dead battery or failed actuator will still leave the door unable to open.

 

Right. You would have to somehow grab the mechanical actuator release cable instead of triggering the motor that does it for you.

 

I could have used one 2 years ago as I found out the hard way that the rear door didn't have a release. I was installing the half cargo divider and had climbed in to tighten down the bolts. it was a cold and windy day so I shut the door. When I finished, I realized there was no release button. Luckily, I had laid down the seats to help with installation and crawl out. I would have been super embarrassed if I had to call the wife and tell her that I locked myself in the trunk.

 

On the commercial/hard top versions of the new Defender they have a factory fitted switch in the cluster where your tow bar/suspension up/suspension down buttons are next to the rear door

 

We have done it ...

 

I got the notification yesterday that the new harness is available and ordered it straight away. And I like the location of the switch, as i suggested above. Thanks for the working out the details with another great video!
Question: where did the switch and connector come from? As those available from Powerful UK?

Andy

 

It looks like the Wago type connector comes with the kit (at least I hope it does as I've ordered one) but it does seem to be a strange decision not to include an actual switch. I've just ordered a momentary round push button switch from Ebay

 

Yes the wago comes with the kit - we have just launched the kit with the switch and the wire but the switches are in short supply and people may want a different switch hence the decision to offer the basic loom and wago connector