[BUDDY]

I guess that will work OK. At least until the drip edge breaks off. I think you should go into a topper store or some place that sells truck camper tops. Open the hatch on one of those that has a single handle in the middle & you'll be kicking yourself for drilling holes into the exterior of you hatch. All you'd need is a plate, (to replace the hole in the end where the factory latch is at), with a hole in if to locate the rod.

Sounds harder than it is.

Later,
Buddy