LX570 DIY platform / dog bed (1 Viewer)

[jlm43]

Finally getting around to build the platform for the LX I picked up a few months ago. I made one for my 100 back in 2018 and I wanted to make a couple of changes for this one. Having the platform with storage underneath has been worth its weight in gold for me, and for the dog I suppose. She gets the top, all my crap goes underneath.

1) be wider so stuff (mostly dog bed) doesn’t fall between the platform and the sidewall.

2) aft portion to be modular so I can fit taller items when needed.

3) be a bit stiffer so it doesn’t eventually sag.

It looks like 1 and 2 are covered, 3 will be seen in a couple of years. Want 2 actually allowed me to solve for want 1. The one for my 100 was cut just wide enough to fit in through the back hatch opening. With the aft portion being two pieces on this one, I can install the frame then install the two pieces separately. Since the front section is too wide to fit through the back hatch, it needs to go through the side door. 4 thumb screws hold each aft half in place while the front section is held in place with two.

For a later date, I still need to cover the OSB. My 100 platform was covered with cheap 1/2” camp mattress foam then wrapped with marine carpet. That little bit of foam is quite nice so I’ll be doing the same for this one.

2 - 5/8 Advantech subfloor
5 - 36” 8020 extrusion size 2525
6 - 10” size 2525 vertical pieces
1 - 36” 2575 for top center
1 - 48” 2550 for top forward side to side piece
3 - T connectors for 8020
34 - Corner brackets for 8020
10 - 1/4-20 x 1.5” thumb screw
10 - 1/4-20 T-nuts
4 - turnbuckles
4 - chain link connectors

Total so far is roughly $500.

Still to purchase
1 - roll of marine carpet
28 - square feet of 1/2” foam

Aft section is two pieces at 27” x 40” each
Forward section is 54” x 34”
Full size is 54” x 74”.

 

[jlm43]

 

[jlm43]

 

[doru]

How is the front extension over the 2nd row seats, connecting to the rear?

 

[jlm43]

How is the front extension over the 2nd row seats, connecting to the rear?

Two thumb screws that screw up from the bottom. Same as the two aft panels. The 2550 size extrusion gives the forward section an edge to sit on.

 

[Gazziza]

OSB though? That platform is too nice for OSB. Plus I'd be worried about rough edges and splinters. Use some 3/4 Baltic Birch plywood, a few coats of polyurethane and it would look like a premium product.

 

[jlm43]

OSB though? That platform is too nice for OSB. Plus I'd be worried about rough edges and splinters. Use some 3/4 Baltic Birch plywood, a few coats of polyurethane and it would look like a premium product.

I completely agree. Two reasons kept me from going that route. First, I had a hard time sourcing some Baltic birch locally at a reasonable cost. Second, I plan on covering it on the top side with a layer of 1/2” foam then wrapped on both sides with marine carpet. It didn’t make financial sense to me to spend the extra money on birch when it’s just going to be covered up. I put the ADGU setup in my wife’s GX. While it’s a top quality product, I’m not a fan of the birch top. It looks amazing but it’s hard on the knees and everything slides around, including the dog.

This is how the end product will look once time allows. Until then, I’ll have to deal with the blanket on top of OSB.

 

[HokieCruiser]

looks like doggo approves!

 

[jlm43]

Wrapped up the platform today. Installed the cheap sleeping pad foam on the OSB and wrapped it all with marine carpet from Home Depot.

Two small tweaks left, I need longer thumb screws and I need to enlarge the holes in the 8020 that’s for the thumb screws. The carpet takes up a bit more space than I thought so it takes more effort than I like to get the holes lined up.

I removed the two aft factory tie downs and drilled them out so the 3rd row seat attach hardware would fit through them. I then installed the D rings in one of the 3rd row seat attachment holes. The aft turnbuckles pull at a better angle now making the structure more secure.

 

[jlm43]

 

[Patrick82570]

this is really nice did you just buy this from 80/20? Do they cut to size?

 

[jlm43]

this is really nice did you just buy this from 80/20? Do they cut to size?

Thanks. I bought the aluminum extrusion from McMaster Carr. The brackets and supports for the extrusion came from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVR793KB?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYC551CQ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

 

[jlm43]

I had a few times when I needed to take two passengers and the dog had to sit in the cargo area. No dog should have to suffer that much so I used up the leftover material to make new front section. This will cover the 60 of the 60/40 seats. Holes were located so I can use it on either side. Driver side is preferred as I can now fold the right side seat up if needed.

New section is 34” x 34”.