LJ Cargo Area Drawer Build

[tweenerlj]

So, I picked up a tool set on Black Friday to expand the tools that I carry in the Jeep. The set that I had been carrying just has 1/4 and 3/8 drive sockets, where I need to get into the 1/2 drive to get the larger sizes on the Jeep. Here is the set that I picked up for $99.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_338518-22328-85183_4294707909__?productId=3364134&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_avg_rating|1&facetInfo=

I initially thought that the case it came in would work well in the back of the LJ, but it is just not a good size for the constraints that I have. First off, 98% of the time, the outings in the Jeep are day trips. I carry a CO2 tank standing near the tailgate on the drivers-side of the cargo area. I also carry a ~12x20x16 cooler and a basket for dry food. I will also note that I have re-located the back seat reward 3" to gain more room needed for 4 passengers. Plan A was to make a platform that would accept the drawers from the tool box that came with the tool set, but the size of the drawers would not work with the space that I have.

Here is the plan that I am moving forward with. I found some fiberglass pans that are the right size to make some drawers from McMaster-Carr.

I ordered two of the Heavy Duty Fiberglass Pan Stackable, 23-3/8" Length X 12" Width X 3-1/8" Height as they are the perfect size to fill the floor next to the CO2 bottle. I am a little nervous ordering these essentially sight unseen as the generic picture above does not tell much. So, here is what I hope the platform will look like:

My plan is to fabricate it out of 1/2" thick plywood and either herculine it or use the truck bed coating that is available in a spray can. The small strip under the pans will attach to the two bolts in the Jeep tub currently securing the car seat "latch" tabs. I may line the underside of the platform with some Teflon sheet if needed for the pans to slide well. The platform will cover the entire cargo area with the exception of the cutout for the CO2 bottle. By locking the tailgate, even with the top off, my tools should be secure enough for keeping the honest people honest. I will make updates as I bring this together.

 

[Caoboy]

Subbing. This would easily be adaptable to a YJ/TJ as well..

 

[irish1371]

i currently work for diamondback truck covers.i'm in the process of building my own linex cover for the rear of my lj. once that is done DB makes a ton of sized hd alum boxes to fit to carry stuff. I will be outfitting mine with some of these. I would look over some of their offerings. It may inspire you to some new ideas. After making some of this stuff I came up with alot of ideas myself.

I find looking thru some other stuff can lend itself to improving upon their stuff to come up with what is perfect for your own set up

 

[Power Wagon Family]

My set up. I wanted a big drawer that could hold all my stuf. Its on heavy duty drawer slides and slides all the way out not 3/4s of the way like a lot of cabinet slides used in homes. I have a JKUR but same idea. I used the bed liner in the spray can worked great. The deck area on top of the drawer looks like a bad paint job but its judt the light in the pic.

 

[tweenerlj]

Thanks for the input guys. My fiberglass pans should arrive by the end of the week. I'm hoping that they will work like I want. I'll get some pics when they arrive.

 

[tweenerlj]

The pans should arrive today. Will post pictures when I get them. I'll have to wait till the weekend to get pictures of them in the jeep since the brown Santa comes after dark.

 

[tweenerlj]

Surprise! UPS came before dark so here are some pics:

These should work out great! they are very sturdy and the lip on the ends have a nice recess for your hand which will make sliding them out easy.

The manufacturer of the trays is MFG Tray and they are made in USA Looking forward to getting started on this project after Christmas!

 

[tweenerlj]

So, you can see in this picture that the car seat "latch" on the drivers side is outside the drawer area (see where the bungee cord is hooked)

Therefore, I have made an iteration to my platform design:

Now the platform extends the entire width of the tub with a hole to accept the CO2 bottle. The Quickfist clamp that I am using to secure the bottle has a base that will allow for the thickness of the plywood on the side of the tub.
I have room for the strip along the bottom because in 2004, the carpet had a very thick mat in effort to make the interior more quiet. I believe that this was unique to 2004 and it was dropped for the more traditional thin carpet in later model years. The carpet mat should keep the drawers fitting snug in the openings of the platform.

To secure the other end of the platform, I will look at tying into the footman loops that are in the cargo floor. However, there might be interference with the drawer on the passenger side. We'll see when fabrication starts.

 

[tweenerlj]

I got the materials cut and set them in the back of the Jeep to see how things are going to fit:

I plan to do some assembly work today.

 

[locrwln]

Nice work. Looking forward to the finished product.

Jack

 

[tweenerlj]

The construction is all done and I am happy that the tool kit in my original post along with a few extras that I already had (torx bits, etc) all fit nicely in one bin. The other bin houses all of my recovery gear. I am ready to paint it now, but it has been too cold in the garage to do so. I might have to borrow a propane heater to get it done. Hope to post some more pictures soon.

 

[Dan Grec]

I made this before driving Alaska->Argentina with a soft top.



Click the image to see more pics and details.

It worked perfectly.

-Dan

 

[tweenerlj]

More pictures:

And here is the front side showing the turnbuckles that tie into the footman loops on the tub floor.

The back seat will cover all of this. It is not ultimate security, but it would take someone a while to get anything out of here. The main objective was out-of-the-way organization for tools and recovery equipment.

It is supposed to warm up out of the 30's this weekend, so maybe I can apply some paint. I'll post up when this is accomplished.

 

[PGT]

nice work! might need to open up that circle hole a bit for the tank as the paint might make it a little harder to get the cylinder in. that assumes the strap has little play in it of course.

 

[tweenerlj]

nice work! might need to open up that circle hole a bit for the tank as the paint might make it a little harder to get the cylinder in. that assumes the strap has little play in it of course.

Yeah...it is a little tight, but not as tight as the picture makes it seem. I'm not worried about it. I wanted it to be a snug fit to help the single quick fist strap restrain the tank. Also, this is a bigger tank than I would like to have. This is a 20 Lb. tank, the smallest that the welding supply store had the last time that I went in for an exchange. I prefer to have a 10-15 Lb. tank, which are smaller in diameter. I guess that is one drawback to exchanging tanks, but I do not have to worry about getting them periodically re-certified. Hopefully next time I can exchange for a smaller tank.