LJ interior cargo

[longcreative]

I've looked but couldn't find a tread like this....so I apologize if this has been discussed.

Anyone built a cargo shelf in the back of an LJ using the hardtop bolt holes?

Looking for ideas. I'm guessing it would be possible to bolt some rails across and place a platform of top. Was thinking of putting my heavy items below and then cargo netting stuff on the platform. It would mostly be for organization...and would probably remove it when not traveling

Anybody have experience with something like this? Pics?

 

[computeruser]

I had a similar concern a while back, as I wanted to be able to put the dogs (3) up top and cargo beneath for daytrips and weekends where we weren't carrying much gear. A 3'x4' piece of OSB for a deck, two side pieces from an old bedframe to span the wheelwells, and a handful of machine screws and thread inserts to keep it all bolted together, and for about $8 I had this:

You'll notice the leashes for the 3 dogs tied to the vehicle in the picture. Total build time was minimal, and the only challenge was figuring out where to cut/bend/reweld to clear the rear lock enclosure thingee.

I haven't attached it to the rollbar bolts (rear) and seat bracket (front, with a drop bracket that I'd fabricate and weld to the front cross piece) as I had intended, but with the Bestop SaddleBags full of recovery gear and whatnot, it has never evidenced any desire to move about on the pavement and mild off-pavement stuff I drive on. It also provides for a nice work surface, too.

EDIT: I just went outside and snapped a couple pictures of it, minus the old blanket/dog bed on top:

The deck surface, with the thread inserts visible roughly 6" back from the front edge of the deck:

From beneath, the only intrusion into the cargo space below is the angle iron of the bedframe:

I don't know of an affordable commercial product that does this any better than a home-made version would. I had planned to do a square tube steel with aluminum skin design, but after seeing how well the quick-and-cheap version I put together has worked out, I really don't see the point in spending $100+ on good metal to do an artful job of it.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Funny this thread was just created. Spent about 5 hours today bolting together a rear shelf out of aluminum.

its still in the prototype phase, but i finished enough for it to take a full load of bulk groceries home from costco.

two 12" sheets of thin aluminum held up by angled aluminum on the front and rear. cutout for the door latch was an after-thought and not quite done yet. I see no problem though, using the bracket i have mounted (painted black)

this is even with the top of the wheelwells and may get more bracing before i'm finished, as its "strong", but not "cooler full of ice and beer strong".

oh, and the new place i moved into had all the metal stock just lying around ready for me to use! what a blessing cuz my jeep budget is $0.00 other than gas. lol:jump:


edit: see if this picture is clearer:

 

[longcreative]

Nice. I was thinking of using these bolts...

how are you connecting yours to the tub?

 

[longcreative]

A 3'x4' piece of OSB for a deck, two side pieces from an old bedframe to span the wheelwells, and a handful of machine screws and thread inserts to keep it all bolted together, and for about $8 I had this:

Cool. Looks close to what I'm interested in doing....is it attached...or does it just sit on the wheel wells?

 

[BIGdaddy]

Nice. I was thinking of using these bolts...

how are you connecting yours to the tub?

right now its just sitting on the wheelwells, wedged under the belt retractor housings in the middle, below the top tub lip in the rear and against the back seat.

very sturdy, and not going ANYWHERE during regular driving, but I'm not quite sure how i'll attach to resist movement in a rollover..i might run a few
pieces of c-channel under the tub rail and down to the ends of the l-channel front and rear supports,

OR

i might add strengthening down bars which i'll mount to the tub floor via the stock tie down points. Thats where my existing down bar at the latch cutout is bolted. that would stop any "flyaway movement" give me my "full cooler" strength.

 

[computeruser]

Cool. Looks close to what I'm interested in doing....is it attached...or does it just sit on the wheel wells?

Right now, it just sits there. The rear crossmembers extend far enough to utilize the rear sport bar as a stop for unwanted forward movement, and the rear gate acts as a stop on unwanted rearward movement. The front seats (this is a TJ after all...no room for anything if the rear seat was till present) touch (gently) the leading edge of the deck, and the reclined angle of the seat serves to restrict any unwanted upward movement at the front of the surface.

This design is sturdy enough for dogs (1 golden, 2 pugs = 100 lbs) and for groceries, plants, a few bags of topsoil, etc. It is NOT sturdy enough for my 230lbs to climb around on it - it flexed a bit more than I was comfortable with when I tried crawling on it. But for a whopping $8 and a small piece of an after-work evening, what can you expect?

Now that having been said, I've got to say that this thread has me seriously thinking about redoing my shelf out of metal, making permanent enclosures where my soft-side saddle bag things are, and making a spot to hardmount my inverter, compressor, and maybe a fountain drink machine. And I haven't even finished my off-road trailer yet! This site is...a bad influence.

 

[grahamfitter]

I've looked but couldn't find a tread like this....so I apologize if this has been discussed.

Anyone built a cargo shelf in the back of an LJ using the hardtop bolt holes?

Looking for ideas. I'm guessing it would be possible to bolt some rails across and place a platform of top. Was thinking of putting my heavy items below and then cargo netting stuff on the platform. It would mostly be for organization...and would probably remove it when not traveling

Anybody have experience with something like this? Pics?

I built one for a TJ using 3/4" plywood that goes across almost the entire tub and its worked fine for a couple of years. I have cutouts for the rear seatbelt squares so I don't have to remove the seatbelts if I only need the shelf for a couple of days.

The height is just right for sliding a Coleman Extreme cooler underneath and all the rest of the heavy bulky camping gear. It won't fit a jerry can upright though.

The only other problem is the roll cage gets in the way and the only way to install the shelf is through the side. The length of the shelf can't be more than you can squeeze diagonally through the side of the roll cage.

You can leave the soft top on - just unzip the side windows and unbolt the stay that's on the roll cage behind the front seats to make space.

There's more faffing with the hard top because you have to take the hard top off, put the shelf in from the side, put the hard top back on, juggle everything around, etc. (And in my case, remove the RTT and congo cage rack!)

Sorry no photos - they're at home and I'm not.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[longcreative]

The only other problem is the roll cage gets in the way and the only way to install the shelf is through the side.

Good call....didn't really think about that.

Did yours connect to the Hardtop bolt holes? Or did it just lay over the wheel wells.

I was thinking if you could run some metal bars across the bolt holes...you could attach smaller pieces of board...and you would be able to customize the shelf for the needs. Just not sure if that hardtop lip is strong enough to support something like that.....

 

[grahamfitter]

Good call....didn't really think about that.

Did yours connect to the Hardtop bolt holes? Or did it just lay over the wheel wells.

I was thinking if you could run some metal bars across the bolt holes...you could attach smaller pieces of board...and you would be able to customize the shelf for the needs. Just not sure if that hardtop lip is strong enough to support something like that.....

I use the hardtop bolt holes - with longer bolts - and with rock climbing bolt anchors under some of them for tie down points.

Cheers,
Graham