An interlock for a skid steer vehicle with a rear engine compartment and a
rear door to that compartment includes a beam that is mounted
transversely to the bottom of the door and has an upward facing surface
that, like the beam, extends across the entire rear engine compartment
opening. An interlocking second member is fixed to the chassis and
extends across the rear engine compartment opening. When the door is
impacted and forced upward, the first beam engages the second
interlocking member over its width and transfers the force from the door
(and beam) to the chassis When the door is impacted with a
forward-directed force, the first beam also contacts the second member
and transfers the forward forces through the second member to the
chassis. Injury to the door is reduced or eliminated by transferring door
impact forces to the chassis since the first beam extends substantially
the entire distance across the door and is fixed to an inner surface of
the door's frame.