With a 2013 MDX, is there a way to tie down the rear hatch? I mean I don't see anywhere to loop cargo lashings on the hatch door or rear bumper area. I need to load and move a 220 pound arcade cabinet which is just slightly longer than the cargo area.

 

Do you have roof rails? You can run a strap out and up to the roof rack to cinch it down.

 

Or actually, from below the bumper up to the roof rack might be a better idea.

 

No roof rails.

 

Lock the latch with a screw driver and then use a bungee cord to hook onto the latch and striker.

 

trying to picture this. What exactly do you mean? What's a striker? Sorry...

 

Striker is the D ring that the latch grabs onto when the gate is closed. Just hook the bungee cord or route a cord through the D ring and the latch to tie down the hatch.

As an alternative you can just pop the bottom of the hatch support struts off and let the hatch rest on whatever you're transporting or use duck tape and tape the hatch to the side of the car to hold the hatch down. Be sure to lay down masking tape first on any painted areas before putting on the duct tape (for strength) to lessen the chance of pulling any paint off.

 

Ok thanks. What is meant by "lock the latch with a screwdriver" do I need to do that? How?

 

I was able to force the latch to lock with a driver. I assume that's what you meant.

 

So this is a latch that is unlocked. Just use a Philips screw driver to set the latch to lock by drawing the screw driver down the middle of the slot. The angle of the screw driver should be perpendicular to the latch when locking the latch. The screw driver won't get locked in because it's not a loop.

To unlock just pull on the release handle if it doesn't release then the latch is not spring loaded so you will need to assist with the screw driver but in reverse direction.

Note, the lock should has two stages. An initial and secondary. The initial is when the door is latched but not fully close and secondary is when it's fully closed. You will know when the lock is fully closed when you can "lock" the door and the door handle cannot unlock the latch. Draw the screw driver all the way in to fully lock the latch.