IndyRubicon
Globetrotter
I've seen a lot of rear storage solutions for JKU's. My previous JKUR had a Tuffy drawer in the rear, and while I was happy with it at the time, it's not something that would suit my current needs. I especially like the refrigerator sliding shelf contraption, but not the price tag for said fridge, or for the storage compartment that holds it. So, I'm left to coming up with my own solution.
Here's a shot of the rear of my JKUR with my Yeti 65.
If I move the cooler towards the tailgate, I'd loose the use of the hidden compartment underneath that spot, which is why it's in the position it's in. The height of the cooler is lower than the distance from the floor to the hardtop connection points on the body. So, my thought is to get a piece of wood, 62" x 16". I'll then just trim it up to make it fit real nice and it will connect right where the hardtop connects to the body (two points on each side). Of course, I would need four screws that are longer than the stock ones they'll be replacing. The self will not stick out past the front of the cooler.
Doing that will allow me way to put things on top of the shelf rather than on top of the cooler, which means I won't have to move things off the cooler to get something out...something that bothered me this past summer.
A downside is I'll have to move whatever is stored between the cooler and the tailgate so I can pull the cooler out to access it. I don't really see a fix for that. However, if nothing is on the shelf covering the cooler, then I can put whatever is in front of the cooler on top of the shelf and then slide the cooler towards me.
Another downside is the cooler is quite heavy once it's loaded with ice, drinks, and food, so sliding it forward isn't going to be done with ease. So, I'm thinking of putting it on some rails (one on each side). Given the width of the cooler, the rails can extend from the rear of the cooler to the tailgate opening without interfering with access to the hidden compartment.
I'm probably the last person on Earth who would ever be called a "fab" guy, as in fabricate. If it's a part that comes with instructions, I can generally put it on my Jeep. If it's something needing fabrication, no matter how simple it may seem to others, I'm lost. So, I could use a little help from those of you with more talent than I have.
What would you all recommend I build this out of? Would simple 1/2" plywood suffice, or would that severely limit the amount of weight I could put on the self without it cracking?
I'd rather not leave the shelf bare, so I was thinking of lining it with my Jeep carpet that I pulled out when I had the interior shot with Line-X. Or, perhaps I could line it with the same stuff I line my toolbox drawers with (sort of rubbery material with a grip to it). Would that make more sense? Am thinking using that stuff would keep whatever I put on the shelf less likely to slide around (although I'll still put some sort of loops on there to use with tie-down straps). It would also allow me to sell the Jeep carpet rather than cutting it up. Is that even a thing? Are Jeep carpets in demand enough to be sold?
Also, anyone have a link to the rails I should? And, how would I attach the rails to the tub? Do I just drill through it and use a screw and washer and nut combination on the underside of the tub?
Considering my lack of experience in this sort of thing, I'm probably leaving something out, so feel free to chime in and point out anything I've overlooked.
Here's a shot of the rear of my JKUR with my Yeti 65.
If I move the cooler towards the tailgate, I'd loose the use of the hidden compartment underneath that spot, which is why it's in the position it's in. The height of the cooler is lower than the distance from the floor to the hardtop connection points on the body. So, my thought is to get a piece of wood, 62" x 16". I'll then just trim it up to make it fit real nice and it will connect right where the hardtop connects to the body (two points on each side). Of course, I would need four screws that are longer than the stock ones they'll be replacing. The self will not stick out past the front of the cooler.
Doing that will allow me way to put things on top of the shelf rather than on top of the cooler, which means I won't have to move things off the cooler to get something out...something that bothered me this past summer.
A downside is I'll have to move whatever is stored between the cooler and the tailgate so I can pull the cooler out to access it. I don't really see a fix for that. However, if nothing is on the shelf covering the cooler, then I can put whatever is in front of the cooler on top of the shelf and then slide the cooler towards me.
Another downside is the cooler is quite heavy once it's loaded with ice, drinks, and food, so sliding it forward isn't going to be done with ease. So, I'm thinking of putting it on some rails (one on each side). Given the width of the cooler, the rails can extend from the rear of the cooler to the tailgate opening without interfering with access to the hidden compartment.
I'm probably the last person on Earth who would ever be called a "fab" guy, as in fabricate. If it's a part that comes with instructions, I can generally put it on my Jeep. If it's something needing fabrication, no matter how simple it may seem to others, I'm lost. So, I could use a little help from those of you with more talent than I have.
What would you all recommend I build this out of? Would simple 1/2" plywood suffice, or would that severely limit the amount of weight I could put on the self without it cracking?
I'd rather not leave the shelf bare, so I was thinking of lining it with my Jeep carpet that I pulled out when I had the interior shot with Line-X. Or, perhaps I could line it with the same stuff I line my toolbox drawers with (sort of rubbery material with a grip to it). Would that make more sense? Am thinking using that stuff would keep whatever I put on the shelf less likely to slide around (although I'll still put some sort of loops on there to use with tie-down straps). It would also allow me to sell the Jeep carpet rather than cutting it up. Is that even a thing? Are Jeep carpets in demand enough to be sold?
Also, anyone have a link to the rails I should? And, how would I attach the rails to the tub? Do I just drill through it and use a screw and washer and nut combination on the underside of the tub?
Considering my lack of experience in this sort of thing, I'm probably leaving something out, so feel free to chime in and point out anything I've overlooked.
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