LR4 Roof Rack Flooring and EO2 Case mount project.

[iowalr4]

I posted this in a few threads, but I was told that I should add it here so other LR4 owners can find it...

With all of the camping, boating, travel that my family has been and will be doing this summer, I had a lot of things to get organized and pack for various trips. I needed to be able to pack out 4 people with all the gear to tent camp at a primitive site (no power/water, etc).

So, I wanted to come up with more flooring area for my roof rack (Voyager Off-Road low profile rack). I also wanted a lot of storage space for sleeping bags, self-inflating air pads, pillows, bulky light stuff that takes up space in the vehicle. I wanted lots of space, but at a minimal height. I bought some Pelican 1730 Transport cases which is 37.5" x 27.13" x 14.37".... that 14" height is perfect... not too high.

I bought a 1630 Pelican for use as a camp kitchen/supply box. It is pretty heavy by itself (more so than the larger cases) but its going to mostly stay in the back anyway.

The flooring is just PolyMax chicken coop flooring... from Farmtek

The key to this project is the EO2 mounting system. You can use it in various configurations. You use a bottom mount and a snaptop rail. They snap together easily and require a specific motion, pull from one side, from the outside end, to pop it off. These snaptop rails have locks for a more secure lock. They are very sturdy and well made. I added feet to the cases to keep them from rocking, but I have no doubt that the EO2 could handle a lot more dynamic load than what im using this for.


I plan on having some great shots at camp sites this summer, in Iowa, Colorado,etc. but for now, some install and poser driveway stuff..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqnKOH1JpoI

 

[iowalr4]

I need to take some shots with the cases on the rack in its final form.. but here is roughly what they look like. This is before the mounts, so they are sitting 3/4" lower here.

I know that the Expedition Portal LR4 had EO2 on it at one point, but I never saw it discussed or featured much. I am curious what they thought of it.

 

[Mako1114]

Which rock sliders are you using?

Cheers

 

[iowalr4]

Voyager Sliders with step, Voyager Ladder, Voyager Low profile rack.

 

[iowalr4]

I also took the middle seat out of the second row today. That opens up a lot of space. I may put a cooler or fridge there.

Also, here is a picture of the 1630 case. it fits under the cargo cover with plenty of space behind it. Only uses a little over half width. Its heavy with the entire camp kitchen and most of the misc supplies in it, but it is easy to roll out and access. (It has the two burner camp stove, 2 propane bottles, full pots, cups, pans, silverware, extra bowls, tongs, spatulas, scraper, fire starting stuff, tent brush for cleanup, chem lights for the kids, knives for cooking, cutting board, full size griddle in bag, bug spray, two o2 cool fans, 16 extra D cell batts, 4 light coleman LED lantern, garbage bags, picnic table cloth, rain jackets, Tent stake hammer, etc etc.)

 

[Ray_G]

I like the setup, very clean looking and secure too.
The middle seat removal is perfect for a 40l fridge, and having one is probably the best mod I have done for camping/wheeling/etc.

edit:
Makes for good separation between those in the back seat too:

 

[iowalr4]

That is awesome. I love those labeled bags. I make use of the hidden space under the front of the third row seats for my Viar 450p compressor bag with shackles, wrenches, etc, and the other side for a tow strap, extra tie down gear, etc. I can access that hidden space with the cargo barrier in place if the middle seat is out. For this summer I am going to make due with a standard cooler there, but I have a Traxide Dual battery kit waiting to go in, and then I will put a fridge there. I also carry some gear in the rear side compartments, in the lower one I have a large fire extinguisher, top bins have paper towels, bungees, tape, more tools. It all fits pretty tight.

My kids are young (4 and 6) so we can get into camping gradually. (We already are way overkill on gear, but its fun). This summer we will stay at some standard camp grounds and gradually do more interesting trips as we get good at this.

Packing up for camping this weekend, still need the camp chairs, duffles for clothes/toiletries. The black case on the left is the kitchen case from above, the cheapo case on the right is misc items, food, buddy heater, pie iron. The water jerry fits fine behind the 1630 case. Also have a 6'x10' plastic-like carpet/matt for the door/vestibule area of our Kodiak 10'x10' 6 person canvas tent. (pictures to follow later today at camp).

I managed to fit 4x Alps mountaineering comfort series self inflating air pads (2 XL, 2 XXL) 4 sleeping bags, 4 fullsize pillows and the kids blankets in those top pelican cases!

The huge canvas bag is the tent. The little black one next to the tarp is the stakes and vestibule. The tent pole bag wont fit into the vehicle, it is 50"+ and will go on the rack next to the cases. (Kodiak tents have very strong steel galvanized tent poles. The pole bag is probably 40+ lbs)

Looks like we will be camping in the rain again also. (Every time we camp, it rains.. and we have just adapted to it.)

 

[Ray_G]

Nothing wrong with overkill with gear, I think that is true about many of us. I like your setup, very clean and modular-that organization has to help when setting up/tearing down, especially while the little runs are running around.

I too keep some stuff in the 3rd row footwell but have found access to large items difficult with the fridge in place. Most of the time I have to pop up the bottom seat of the 3rd row to get enough access to remove bags and the like-for awhile I kept my compressor there but when I discovered that I moved it to the underhood space that most use for the 2nd battery location. Not sold on that either, it may move yet again.

Lets see some pictures from the campsite!
r-
Ray

 

[Antichrist]

Interesting concept. How easy are the mounts to remove? I use my rack for a lot more than just camping and I find even the zip ties to be annoying at times sliding stuff on.
The other thing, for me, is I configure which cases I take differently depending on the length of the trip. So the flexibility of ratchet straps works well.
But if they are easy to remove and install, I might look in to them.

 

[iowalr4]

Interesting concept. How easy are the mounts to remove? I use my rack for a lot more than just camping and I find even the zip ties to be annoying at times sliding stuff on.
The other thing, for me, is I configure which cases I take differently depending on the length of the trip. So the flexibility of ratchet straps works well.
But if they are easy to remove and install, I might look in to them.

I plan on leaving the mounts there. The raised parts of the mounts stick up about half an inch, but otherwise its entirely flat floor. I should be able to work around them. To remove my EO2 mounts, I would have to take up the flooring (held on with zip ties) and undo 4 bolts for each mount. Not too hard, but more work than a ratchet strap. Putting the cases on and off is so much faster than ratchet straps and more secure. They also have locks, which will be nice for cities and leaving the rig while I am not around it.

I would imagine you could come up with a way to quickly mount and unmount the bottom rail to your rack, then it would be easy-on easy-off for everything.

Edit: I should also mention, you can get different sized snaptop mounts for different cases. You could have mounts on various cases and just snap them onto the longer bottom rails. I have 22" bottom rails and 16" snaptops, but you can have different sizes as long as the bottom rail is longer.

 

[iowalr4]

Living out of the back of the LR4 is so fantastic. The two bins just slide out onto the edge of the tailgate and we leave them there. I left the cases up on the roof because It was so easy to just unload them from the roof. We didn't get much of any rain. If it had rained more, I might have taken one or both cases off and put the in the vestibule to use as tables.

 

[Ray_G]

Very nice! Am a bit jealous and looking forward to some campsite time myself here in the near term.

 

[MontyMog]

When I did my chicken Koopa mats I attached them using hose clamps along with zip ties. Adds that little extra peace of mind just in case you do mount something to the flooring

 

[iowalr4]

When I did my chicken Koopa mats I attached them using hose clamps along with zip ties. Adds that little extra peace of mind just in case you do mount something to the flooring

I have some of those also, but honestly I don't think I need them. The floor panels interlock. The flooring is custom cut to be snug against the side rails. I use massive zip ties. Also, typically why I secure heavy loads to the rack, I incorporate the rack itself. If I am using ratchet straps, I use the side rails.

 

[dsm02c]

Great thread, trying to figure everything out now that we have a 6 mo old and large dog. Have you noticed any issues with the shark fin antenna and satellite radio since installing flooring?