Rear ¼ panel for the cargo area..

[kevinmrowland]

Custom cut by DIY....
I researched having the panels manufactured, but after CAD design, cutting and material cost, the price would have been more then most mudders would want to pay.

britklr is right on the money here, and the plastic is really easy to work with. Normal wood working tools cut it just fine. If you want the best fit and finish it's best to use a router and a template, but the nice thing is that you can get some cheap masonite and cut and hack that to fit, then clean and true the edges real nice to use a bearing bit against. Masonite will work fine for one time use templates.


As a note, I'm not here to advertise, I just like storage stuff; but I do have this style side panel for those who don't want to go through the effort:
FixedPanels

The good hardware I use makes them still pretty expensive, but they are a sturdy cost effective option as compared to the crazy expensive cargo side panels.

No no no...my bad, I was just asking about the marine hatch.

The hatch that britklr has on his side panel looks almost exactly the same size as the one I have between my front seats, made by Bomar, they are still going to run around $50. Mine is from Hamilton marine.

The wagongear panelsre too expensive for the benefit I would gain from them.... but I don't think they are overpriced for the quality and workmanship that went into them.

Thanks!
My standard sales pitch is; "way too much money to spend on a bit more storage space"

For those doors you bought, you are just leaving it open behind the access? Even on the passenger side?

It's best to keep in mind that anything in the side panels will get dirty, it will stand the chance of getting condensation on it and it will end up being hard to get to.
There is a ton more space to utilize if you do not try to block portions off, be creative with your packing and keep the above points in mind and it will work out quite well.
I tend to keep bulky items that I will rarely need in the side panels. Things like gallon jugs of oil, coolant, quarts of ATF, Brake fluid. I have some emergency spares stuffed in there, but they are multi bagged in plastic and put inside protective coverings.
The side panels are not, and are not supposed to be, sealed off from the outside, they need to breath and as such dust and moisture will get in there, be sure to take that into account.

Thanks a lot you just cost me sum money. Do you know if the abs could be bought in gray?

Black will be the cheapest and most commonly available.
In most cases the colors available for the ABS or HDPE are marine in nature, the grays tend to be very muted and light in color.
Stick with black, it matches everything.

 

[tperry616]

hey kevinmrowland, I don't have anything to add to this conversation but I just wanted to say that it's pretty damned impressive that you're here adding to a conversation about how to build cheaper versions of your own product.

I haven't run into too many vendors for ANY product that'll do that, and if I have the money when I start doing my interior storage I'll be headed your direction.

 

[kevinmrowland]

Dude, I just like cruisers.
And I come to Mud 'cause I like the community and I like to see creativity in how folks approach problems, plenty of that here and if I can be a bit of help that is great.

I made my first panels for me and posted them here for other people to get ideas, nothing has changed.

Now if WagonGear products actually made any money I might treat it differently........

 

[MANUCHAO]

Got my panels and started my install

I had check the ones home depot sell and found them too be too thin and flimsy..
I was hoping the ones I ordered where better.....

They are !!!!

These are 10"x10" opening and the lip is 1.5" wide making them 12"x12".
They feel a bit heavy but I doubt they will rattle at all....


Here are some pics...

 

[MANUCHAO]

My quarter panels with wood instead of cardboard


Backed with sound deadening
BTW I did cut the Xmembers for the panels to fit..



Cut hole to size and fitted...
They will be painted black..
Its close to the speaker as the fill up tube was on the way..
It will have to bolts at the top and the tabs that are used to screw to a wall stud will be bent against the wood panel...

 

[MANUCHAO]

I cut the sides to bend them alter once the final install happens.



Up high as I will be getting some drawers later on...



I will install them witht opening down.. will see how that works..

 

[MANUCHAO]

coat of rattle can paint and will put them in tomorrow..



Here is the driver side..
This one I was able to put it further back as there is no obstruction here...

The back side of of the door panel will be lined with deadening to keep it from doing any rattling....but I doubt it will do that at all...

Man they look fugly on white.....



I'll post mo' pics tomorrow....

 

[vipergrhd]

great deal

That looks awesome Manu,nice job.

John

 

[dbleon]

Very NIIICE my friend!!!

 

[xxfullsailxx]

yeah, ya'll are awesome for sharing...i feel the love.

nice work manu!

 

[MANUCHAO]

All tabs are bent and deadening on



Pass side...



Driver side..

 

[MANUCHAO]

Last two...
They do not rattle at all.....

 

[snye]

Very nice work. Looks a lot easier than what I was planning!

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Too cool! I need to do something similar.

TK

 

[Eporter]

Looks nice. Does the ~1" flange on the inside make it hard to reach all the way in there? I've been thinking of making something similar for awhile, but the price is right on those.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

How about coaxing the lip flat, like long tabs?

 

[MANUCHAO]

Flange does not get on the way of things....
You could bent the lip flat except for the corners that's where they are spot welded together...

I already stuffed one side with all the spare parts I might need incase of a brake down...
even have a cheap Army surplus shovel in there...

The other side will be for fluids...

 

[JLH911]

Nice job Frank. I like it....

 

[MANUCHAO]

I ordered the pin hinge panels.... (the cheapest).
If I was to do it all over again I would order these..
Acudor UF5000 - Universal Access Door / Access Panel

They have a full length concealed hinge and flange is all one piece for a cleaner look...

 

[ranbar02]

I wonder what it would look like with two mounted in the tailgate. Wouldn't mind seeing them mounted there. They look good.