Rear Storage
My primary goal for my build was to make short overland trips (3-5 days) more convenient. I wanted a flexible storage solution that would allow me to store my camping and fishing gear, but be able to easily take gear over to a campsite that might not be right next to my vehicle. I opted to build my own solution based on removable bins rather than drawers. Here is what I came up with including a brief on the build.
I started out with 4 purchasing 4 Frontrunner Wolf Pack bins and 2 Rtic 52 coolers. The rest of the build is based off the dimensions of these items. I started with configuring the base plate to attach to the third row seat anchors. I found the perfect fit with a bracket from Grainger that I could just swap out the top plat for a larger aluminum plate to hold the base down. I cut holes in the base and routers a small recess to accept my larger aluminum plate.
With the base attachment done, I constructed a very simple box with 3/4" plywood, spacing the vertical supports to be snug against the Wolf Pack bins. I cut a couple of access ports in the front vertical support to allow for access to the mounting hardware for simpler install and removal.
I mounted a few ledger boards that grab the edges of the bin lids just tight enough that they slide in, but are tight enough to prevent movement or rattling. Three coats of Shalac on the inside. The hardware in the front is to eventually attach a second row seat platform to sleep on.
I used a router to add some slots and recesses to allow a strip of 1" heavy duty webbing to be woven through the top on both sides, proving a bunch of tie-down points that lie below the surface of the deck. The cross shaped recess is for the cooler tie-down brackets for the Rtic coolers. I added 2 t-track rails in the middle for additional tie down points on in the interior. I custom cut the side wings to fit the vehicle contours and recessed some neodymium magnets to hold them down to some basic steel L-brackets mounted to the sides of the box.
The top was finished with 1 coat of pure-bond primer, 3 coats of enamel in grey, then 3 coats of matte polyurethane.
The finished product
The skinny slot in the middle was designed to hold a Patagonia black hole flyrod case.
