Well, I thought I started this project in January but it turns out I started this in Aug of 2014. Sheesh.
I am in the middle of several projects but because of vendor issues, supply issues or just money issues, I have time to continue working on other projects to see them to completion. One of those projects is the D-Pillar Mount that I originally just wanted for myself until the local guys saw what I was working on and said, "me too!" This meant redesigning for it be produced on a larger scale.
Since I removed my 3rd row seats and removed the 3rd row seat belts, I had these holes just sitting there in the pillar and it just looked unfinished. I saw what one mudder made which was a clever little mount that holds like a small fire extinguisher and I thought that the design could really go in a different direction.
I wanted a mount that would go from the rear of the 3rd row slider window and the rear hatch in order to give myself as much usable space as I could. The then made the height from the plastic cargo panel up to the top of the slider window. Its not a huge amount of space but depending on what I wanted to install it could actually give me a lot of options. Of course it grew into a monster because there was no shortage of options I could have taken. There is lies the problem. I know what I wanted and I kind of developed in that direction. But since others *might* want it I now need to keep in mind others needs. I'm a giver like that "flipoff2:
In its current iteration the mount bolts to the top 3rd row seat belt hole and also into a smaller bolt hole found just under the plastic cargo cover. I would be 10000x happier if there was a third bolt hole to attach to but so far I've had no like in finding it. So with only two bolt holes, one being fairly small, its fairly stable but not enough to bring me the warm fuzzies. It just may be one of those things I need to just accept and move on. Others may not see an issue but I do.
The mount itself is "L" shaped with a tall, skinny side facing the rear hatch and the wider side facing into the cargo area. The idea of the tall, skinny side was to make it either a quick release vertical drawer which could hose a narrow first aid kit or it would just be a painted, reflective panel notifying the presence of a first aid kit or fire extinguisher. As I started developing I noticed that this may not work out because of the curvature of the D-Pillar panel. The is moot if the panel is removed but I just don't see many people being willing to remove the panel just to add my stupid mount.
As I started developing further I realized I could make something more useful by making a "power strip" or "camping module" that would have all the wiring necessary for USB charging ports, LED cooking light, 12v power, etc etc. So I made up a proto and played around. Then I added in a square hole to add in an extension cord for a power inverter. Why did I did that? Because mounting a power inverter inside the cargo area makes it awkward to get to the 110v plugs. Not everyone is all that thrilled to move the panel to someplace more convenient. So I made some extension cords using a square, snap-in Edison plug ans soldered it to a standard 6ft extension cord. Worked perfectly.
On the wide side of the mount I started making interchangeable panels that could be dedicated for a first aid kit or common tool kit or fire extinguisher or whatever. Then I considered, am considering, make a large APU type accessory that would snap into it that would carry all sorts of stuff. Or it could be a MOLLE plate where you could just add your own bags, or it could be a flat plate with just Velcro. No shortage of options but it started getting too unwieldy because I was concentrating too much on what I THOUGHT you folks might want instead of, well, asking and getting input.
This mount is high visibility and its intended for that.
I'm all ears. I'd love to get feedback because after 18 months of working on this I would love to see this see the light of day.
I am in the middle of several projects but because of vendor issues, supply issues or just money issues, I have time to continue working on other projects to see them to completion. One of those projects is the D-Pillar Mount that I originally just wanted for myself until the local guys saw what I was working on and said, "me too!" This meant redesigning for it be produced on a larger scale.
Since I removed my 3rd row seats and removed the 3rd row seat belts, I had these holes just sitting there in the pillar and it just looked unfinished. I saw what one mudder made which was a clever little mount that holds like a small fire extinguisher and I thought that the design could really go in a different direction.
I wanted a mount that would go from the rear of the 3rd row slider window and the rear hatch in order to give myself as much usable space as I could. The then made the height from the plastic cargo panel up to the top of the slider window. Its not a huge amount of space but depending on what I wanted to install it could actually give me a lot of options. Of course it grew into a monster because there was no shortage of options I could have taken. There is lies the problem. I know what I wanted and I kind of developed in that direction. But since others *might* want it I now need to keep in mind others needs. I'm a giver like that "flipoff2:
In its current iteration the mount bolts to the top 3rd row seat belt hole and also into a smaller bolt hole found just under the plastic cargo cover. I would be 10000x happier if there was a third bolt hole to attach to but so far I've had no like in finding it. So with only two bolt holes, one being fairly small, its fairly stable but not enough to bring me the warm fuzzies. It just may be one of those things I need to just accept and move on. Others may not see an issue but I do.
The mount itself is "L" shaped with a tall, skinny side facing the rear hatch and the wider side facing into the cargo area. The idea of the tall, skinny side was to make it either a quick release vertical drawer which could hose a narrow first aid kit or it would just be a painted, reflective panel notifying the presence of a first aid kit or fire extinguisher. As I started developing I noticed that this may not work out because of the curvature of the D-Pillar panel. The is moot if the panel is removed but I just don't see many people being willing to remove the panel just to add my stupid mount.
As I started developing further I realized I could make something more useful by making a "power strip" or "camping module" that would have all the wiring necessary for USB charging ports, LED cooking light, 12v power, etc etc. So I made up a proto and played around. Then I added in a square hole to add in an extension cord for a power inverter. Why did I did that? Because mounting a power inverter inside the cargo area makes it awkward to get to the 110v plugs. Not everyone is all that thrilled to move the panel to someplace more convenient. So I made some extension cords using a square, snap-in Edison plug ans soldered it to a standard 6ft extension cord. Worked perfectly.
On the wide side of the mount I started making interchangeable panels that could be dedicated for a first aid kit or common tool kit or fire extinguisher or whatever. Then I considered, am considering, make a large APU type accessory that would snap into it that would carry all sorts of stuff. Or it could be a MOLLE plate where you could just add your own bags, or it could be a flat plate with just Velcro. No shortage of options but it started getting too unwieldy because I was concentrating too much on what I THOUGHT you folks might want instead of, well, asking and getting input.
This mount is high visibility and its intended for that.
I'm all ears. I'd love to get feedback because after 18 months of working on this I would love to see this see the light of day.
.
