Rear Cargo Barrier Build

[xxfullsailxx]

hey there-

just wanted to share for the group, a simple way to build a cargo barrier. i didn't want a chincy "pet barrier" i was looking for something to protect the kids from the tool box, dog, tote, etc... and i couldn't find anything in my price range that looked substantial so...

i bought an Eastwood welder with spool gun for some other aluminum i was working on and it's served me pretty well. i am a total novice welder, learning as i go, but aluminum has actually been pretty easy to work with. that being said, this could also easily be made out of steel in the same manner.

i used 1/4" X 3/4" for the outside frame and then 1/4" X 1/2" for the interior grate. the bends were made with a rudimentary home made bender seen below...

 

[xxfullsailxx]

the aluminum is pretty easy to bend and weld. requires straight Argon gas and clean stainless steel brushes. it really needs to be clean to get a good weld. like i said, i'm a novice, so don't judge my work too harshly... this is function over aesthetics.

 

[xxfullsailxx]

i used the same 1/4" X 3/4" aluminum bar to tie into the rear seat latch mounts... and the same for the upper mounts that attach to the rear shoulder seat belt anchors.

 

[xxfullsailxx]

the finished product... it also gave me an excuse to purchase the rear seat belts from SOR... which was the only way i could figure out how to find the correct bolt for the seatbelt nuts...

 

[red66toy]

Awesome job!

 

[RodrigzCrzr]

Nice job!
That really looks good!
How much for one?


Sent from my iPhone

 

[odingski]

What can I say, you just gave me another project.

 

[Corbet]

Nice work

 

[txnight]

Really nice work! Looks like a great place to hang some small bags or interior lights too.

 

[xxfullsailxx]

Nice job!
That really looks good!
How much for one?


Sent from my iPhone

thanks... i did ask a neighbor friend of mine, who is a fabricator that works in aluminum quite a bit, if he'd be interested in professionally reproducing my template. he has too many projects going right now. i too have too many projects going, otherwise i'd be looking at building a jig and making a half dozen to sell. maybe next winter unless Speski Offroad beats me to it! (in which case i reserve the right to undercut his price!

 

[Corbet]

That shares my plan for the lower mount. I have a different idea for the top. But I like how you set it up. I still plan to figure this out but as always time is killing me just keeping up with what I offer now. If you beat me to it, so be it

 

[doug720]

Nice work!

It's similar to mine, great minds...

Aussie Rear Windows and Pet Cage..

Post #7

 

[xxfullsailxx]

Really nice work! Looks like a great place to hang some small bags or interior lights too.

Awesome job!

thanks for all the feedback... yeah, will be mounting a few things back there, fire extinguisher & maybe a pouch of some sort. if it was steel, i might think about mounting my hi-lift on it, but not sure the aluminum would hold up well bouncing down the road with that much weight.

 

[DFXR]

very cool... I don't think you're a novice welder anymore

 

[xxfullsailxx]

Nice work!

It's similar to mine, great minds...

Aussie Rear Windows and Pet Cage..

Post #7

thanks! yeah i looked through all the threads before coming up with a plan, including yours! i was wondering, are the rear seat latch mounts the same on the 60 vs. 62? i am guessing yes, but realize there may be some discrepancies between years...

very cool... I don't think you're a novice welder anymore

yeah, i am working on a camper that offered me the opportunity to work on aluminum more... but trust me, i spent a bit of time filing down welds to clean it up!

and on that note: if you're thinking about making the investment in a welder, i definitely recommend buying one with at least the capacity to run a spool gun and gas. aside from the obvious initial investment (made cheaper these days by china and Eastwood) aluminum can be cut and ground with standard wood working power tools... and aluminum isn't much more expensive than steel, at least around these parts.