$15.00 temporary 8' bed conversion (who needs a pickup?)

[LimaBravo]

So, I've been doing some home remodeling and didn't want to have to borrow a pickup again just to pick up some drywall and studs. Both our Hundys have the factory roof rack which hits it's weight rating pretty quick.

So I built a platform to match the height of the second row of seats. I went with 40" x 40" x 10.5" which is small enough to fit in the cargo area with the tailgate closed but can easily support a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood. (It also means I can use it as part of an out feed station for my portable table saw).

With the rear open, this easily handled the drywall as well as 12' studs. 16' studs would have worked as well.

With it closed, there's just enough room to get a 6' sheet of plywood in there and a mattress.

2 x 4 cut list:
6 40" pieces
2 54" pieces, with 45 miter cut on each end.

Also:
One 6' or 8' sheet of plywood
4" deck screws

 

[bucfl]

Great idea.

 

[TeCKis300]

Great idea! Though get yourself a moving blanket so the seatbacks don't take such a beating

 

[gil12]

I like it! Thanks for sharing!

 

[nmatcek]

Pretty cool. Thanks for the idea.

 

[uHu]

Great idea. Me copy.
Do you just pull the whole frame back for supporting 8' sheets, so that the frame does not even reach forward to the middle of the sheets?

BTW:
Did you read the Owners Manual: "Do not put any weight on the seat backs when folded down" ? Not that I think they can't handle it.

 

[LimaBravo]

Great idea.
Do you just pull the whole frame back for supporting 8' sheets, so that the frame does not even reach forward to the middle of the sheet?

Affirmative. Once the tailgate is open, I just pull it out so the back of the frame is resting on the tailgate.

If you want to keep the weight off the seat backs, you could find them forward and make a longer/second frame or you could put a stand in the second row to keep the weight of the plywood off the seat backs.

I think the weight concern is if it's unevenly distributed though. An even weight distribution should be fine (but I'm not an engineer).

 

[CharlieS]

The second row comes out fairly easily too, if you need a bit more room and don't want to damage them.

 

[Sandroad]

Nifty idea! Beats digging the utility trailer out of the weeds and hooking up just for a short haul. I would note, however, that this arrangement is not legal in Michigan because the license plate is not visible (we have no front license plate here). No worries probably for short trips, but getting on the highway like this would be an invitation to be pulled over.