Rear Storage Drawer/3rd Seat Question

[VFRMAN]

So I've got a plywood drawer system I made for rear storage, but with the kids I'm always taking it out to make room for the 3rd row seats.

Knowing the height wouldn't work for adults, would it work to fab some mounts for the 3rd row seats on top of the storage box? Seat belts be too low on the kids? Would they lock down safely enough? Enough height?

Really just thinking out loud because I'd sure like to have the ability to use both without pulling everything out. The height might be too low even for them I guess.

Maybe bolt/fab some car seat mounts right to the box? Use the tether cords that come on the carseats to hook into the recessed anchor points? Instead of the older kids in the way back, put the car seat monkeys in back?

All right. This probably makes no sense but I typed all this so maybe it will get me some good ideas for better storage with the kids along.

Sorry, not my pic, but one I'm sure I shamelessy pilfered ideas from.

 

[gabepari]

Do you need both rear seats? If you can live with just one, then make the drawers so you can stack them both on one side and the seat goes on the other.

Here is a pic of my rear drawers, they are not done yet (still need to install the fridge, water tank and a few other goodies).

Gabe

 

[VFRMAN]

Yeah, I usually need both. My drawers are just a trial run for now using slide in totes on wheels. I have the material/drawer guides, etc for a 2 pc modular set I plan to make when time permits, but was trying to find a way to keep the options open and get everything.

The more I think about it, the more I'm probably just really bored and pissed that I'm stuck at home on Labor Day and it's 85 degrees outside and I'm not at the lake. No sense cleaning house or doing something more productive than MUD. Maybe I'll solve a nagging issue at the same time.

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[tblume]

that first picture there gives me an idea: could you use the rail latch points like on aircraft and the newer toyota and nissan mini trucks to secure carseats by themselves? would gain a bunch of headroom.

looking for pictures now but maybe you know what I mean?

on the other hand; are kids carseats strong enough on their own or do they rely on the vehicle seats to absorb the majority of accident energy? treading on thin ice here, I'd have to really over-engineer a cage or frame to secure my kids carseats on top of a cargo drawer system, and it would have to be over-engineered itself as an anchor for said carseats.

food for thought.

 

[VFRMAN]

The whole thing just seems too much of a risk with the kids. Like you said, over build it and overkill and maybe. Just not sure if I want the risk. Was basically curious of anyone else travels with 4 kids and a lot of crap all the time?

Trailer project is coming too, but no time to do it right yet. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[tblume]

I usually run with two kids in carseats in the 2nd row, and TON of stuff; got a yakima rack with their longest, skinniest top box so I can pack the back with stuff, the top with duffles, and still throw surfboards/snowboards/skis/bikes/whatever on top. now four kids, that complicates things a bit. ever look at the top box solution for stuff storage? try packasport for their full width and low-pro boxes.
I'll bet your trailer has it's own complications and advantages, I wish I had a tenttrailer still, the rack system could go on it and our living quarters would be better when we made camp, plus the drag of the roof mounted stuff would be back in the "slipstream" of the toyota brick wall.

 

[VFRMAN]

Holy Crap! $1000 for a packasport? Yikes!! Love the idea, but your Yakima would be my choice for top boxes. I've always liked them, but never bought one.

I've got a rear carrier I plan to use with a big cargo box in the factory trailer hitch, and my bike mount can go in the bumper hitch. I just really want to have my storage drawers in place with the stuff I rarely use, but always want with. Jumpers/tow ropes/first aid/flashlight, etc. And still have the kids parked on top of it all ideally. The duffels/suitcases/bulky stuff can go in the cargo carrier.

Maybe I'll just sell a couple of the kids and open up my options?

 

[tblume]

wow! I knew they were spendy, but really? I scored my box at the Joe's going out of business sale for a quarter of that price.

 

[VFRMAN]

I just googled packasport and looked at some of the carriers. Nice but I'd take a Yakima like yours hands down.

Took some pics of a seat mock up with my drawer set-up.

Initial thoughts:

1. To use the factory seat mounts they would have to come up about 7" to tie in as factory.

2. In doing #1, there wouldn't be room to still use them in the "up" position as the seats would hit the ceiling/sliding glass. They'd have to come out if you wanted to have a little more space when the kids weren't with. Yet in this case you'd probably take them all the way out anyway.

3. Foot room. In the first pics the box is slid in all the way like it should be. Fits fine with the seat on top, but doesn't give much leg room for the monkey boys. 4th pic shows where I slid the box back about 9" to give leg room. Would have to shorten box by 9". Not a big issue if the rest worked out. I would sacrifice 9" in storage depth for better legroom for the kids.

4. Visibility to the rear of the truck is pretty limited with the seat up. Not an issue to me either since all the crap I pile in there blocks my view anyway. When no kids/daily driving, fold seats down like the pic shows for more visibility.

5. How to tie into the factory hold downs for the middle(?) of the seats? Certainly have to reinforce/redesign the box to incorporate some serious connections to the factory points below. Not a major issue I'd say with a little thought and some steel. Maybe make a framework like someone just posted on their storage system recently. (Sorry, can't remember the poster but it was originally from his TJ(?), anyway). His box isn't going anywhere, and I think would would be safe enough to mount the seats to while still utilizing the factory points on the outsides of the seats? Maybe not.

6. Seat belt height across their shoulders? hhmmm.....?

Comes back to maybe mounting the carseats in the way back directly to the floor points through the box.

Still thinking out loud so any ideas would be nice. I sure like the idea of the box staying put and the 3rd row seats still fitting.

 

[VFRMAN]

Could lower the height of the boxes too if that made the difference where it would all work out.

Just realized the mounts are actually still folded up under the seat. Would have to account for a few extra inches of height there too. Or recess them into the box?

 

[80t0ylc]

So I've got a plywood drawer system I made for rear storage, but with the kids I'm always taking it out to make room for the 3rd row seats.

I know your delemma and feel your pain. I waited 10 years to build my storage system. Before that, when back seat seating was needed (I have 4 kids, 3 living at home) for trips, I put 1 side in as gabepari suggested, which left the other side for tools, necessities, some luggage and the rest went in the roof rack.

Knowing the height wouldn't work for adults, would it work to fab some mounts for the 3rd row seats on top of the storage box? Seat belts be too low on the kids? Would they lock down safely enough? Enough height?

Really just thinking out loud because I'd sure like to have the ability to use both without pulling everything out. The height might be too low even for them I guess.

Maybe bolt/fab some car seat mounts right to the box? Use the tether cords that come on the carseats to hook into the recessed anchor points? Instead of the older kids in the way back, put the car seat monkeys in back?

All right. This probably makes no sense but I typed all this so maybe it will get me some good ideas for better storage with the kids along.

Sorry, not my pic, but one I'm sure I shamelessy pilfered ideas from.

I would strongly recommend that you don't do this. Several reasons come to mind, mainly saftey for your kids. First off, your storage system, like mine is built out of plywood. Even if you securily mount it to your floor, it still doesn't have the strength needed to properly mount auto seats. Also you are raising the seats up and even if you solve the fitment problems, the kids are less protected by body sheet metal and more exposed to flying glass or other objects in an accident. I know what you're trying to accomplish, but for your kids sake, keep saftey first. If the one seat option doesn't fly for you (3 kids middle & 1 rear), try making a bin that fits behind installed third row on floor to hold your tools and other essentials. Access would be on the rear side. That way you would still have a small storage area on top that wouldn't have to be unloaded to get to tools & such. Just open tailgate to access. Put the balance in a roof rack. I know that seriously limits the tool & essential storage, but at least the kids are safer.

 

[mot]

x2 on what 80t0ylc said!

I'd consider getting a storage drawer/compartments made for what little area that is behind the 3rd-row seats.

Perhaps to compensate for the lack of space(depth) I would do a 2 or 3 tier/level units that might go up to the top of the seatback (where the headrests attach). If you absolutely have to maximize I would make the front side of the storage vertical, but the backside of it sloped/angled to hug the line of the seatback, or just extend it to the height matching the top of the headrests (You shouldn't go higher for the sake of visibility).

I imagine you would get around 70%-ish of the capacity of the full-size storage drawers that way. (Just guesstimating though!)

The only concern, which is about the same with the low-profile drawer system is how to secure it in case of an accident...

Good luck and please keep us posted!!

Mot

 

[zombified]

why not use something like this?

Wise Low Back Seat Assembly | Seats | Northern Tool + Equipment

And just make your own mounting points?

 

[VFRMAN]

Back to just taking the drawers out when I need the seats for now.

I have access to a fab shop that I could play around in and make a storage system out of steel and incorporate the whole thing into some seat mounts, but the problem with that is the same as the original problem I posted.

4 kids! When the Hell do I have time to spend playing around with a welder?

Thanks for the thoughts. Status quo for now.

 

[VFRMAN]

Ok, so I was still thinking about this. And obviously not skilled in Autocad or even "Paint" for that matter, but the pic should give some idea of what I was trying to do.

Why couldn't I do something similar to the pic attached? Build it beefy enough to support the weight in a crash, anchored to the floor points in the middle as the seats are from the factory.

Make the drawers 3 units instead of 2 bigger ones like everyone does. Separate from the steel framework of the skeleton that will secure eveything. Roughly 14-15"wide each.

Still have the "certified" anchor point issue not knowing how they would react in a crash, but if way overbuilt? possible?

 

[tblume]

why did I just now think of this?

80Lids

I bet you could have him make you a set of side boxes also if you asked real nice.

Something like this would do you wonders too!

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/167864-more-cargo-room-2.html

jump ahead to post 32, and figure out a way to keep the factory seat mounting points integral to the lid without losing the strength and POW! I'm thinking hinged on the outsides so that the lid halves would fold up after the seats, with a mega frame around the lip for the box lids to attach to in the center thereby keeping it's strength?

 

[firetruck41]

Not something I would attempt, definitely not with a wood box. Even with some metal framework, the load on those floor mounting points are going to be way different with a lot of leverage on them in an accident. With 4 kids, I would just go with storage on one side, and use a roofrack/roof box/hitch carrier for trips. This is not a place to compromise safety, IMHO. Not to say I haven't modified anything to make the kids fit better. I have put metal links (look like a chain link) on the base of all the mid row seatbelts, so I can use the "LATCH" straps on the car seats.

 

[gotmud]

Same dilema here. Four kids, two still in car seats. In the rare event my teenager daughter doesn't bring her friends with us, I remove one seat from either the middle or 3rd row. I have learned to pack lighter and to utilize smaller spaces (ie, under seats, rear storage comparments, floor space below child seats and rear swing arms)

Trailer build project pending...

 

[citadel]

do not mount that seat on the storage boxes..... the risk is not worth the reward...

 

[MDarius]

I have 4 kids and an 80 pound dog. I'm learning to pack lighter and my wife is getting better at backing a trailer. We have a car top carrier and use the rack a lot. If you want an 80 and not a Yukon XL, this is what we have to deal with. Safety is a huge deal. I'd rather have my kids...most of the time...than an extra set of jumper cables and tow strap.

I have researched vehicles with more people space. Every time my growing kids complain about not having enough leg room I threaten them with a minivan and they stop complaining. My wife doesn't want to drive anything else. I'm considering buying a 2nd 80 so that when #1 is being worked on #2 is available. We even tried newer vehicles. Nope. She likes nothing as much as the 80. So, we deal with it.