So I have been bating around a way to make my storage system work for me in the cruiser for a while now: Build my own drawers, get a net, buy drawers, etc. I think I have a solution in my head that I think would solve some of my pressing needs, be cheap and light...and I need your input.
So I’ll try walk you through the image. This is a top view of the back of the cruiser with the seats out front (top) to back. The wheel wells and door steps are the cut-ins you see. There are 4 places to bolt to the floor currently:
4 d-ring loops in the back with 2 small diameter bolts each.
4 large diameter bolts for the middle row seat mounts
Instead of drawers I was thinking that I would just put a platform down with lots of L-track and separate it into 3 sections so that it can be modular as I am not a solo or double traveler exclusively, often having a full load of 5 on some trips.
So my plan is to lay out 1/4" Marine Ply for the entire floor, the point of this is to form the floor area and give something for the L-track to bite into, probably using some t-nuts. I would place L-track width wise 3 in back full width, then 2 more width wise cut into sections so that I can remove the middle sections if I need 1 or 2 seats. These sections also overhang the footwell to make for sleeping in the back possible.
To that end (sleeping) I will need to recess the L-track to make it as flush as possible which means getting 1/2 marine ply cut into sections to so that the L-track is effectively flush (1/2" marine ply is .46 and the L-Track is .5 so there will be a little bump...still trying to figure that one out...I may route out the 1/4 just a hair where the track is).
I would glue and screw the 2 sheets together and then bolt through both sheets to the holes where the 4 rear hooks go and in the middle where the seats go, making sure to recess my screws/bolts.
What I end up with is a 3 piece modular floor with 5 full rows of L-track that can be used with the middle row in or out.
Pros:
- Cheap, this whole thing should cost about $200 in parts.
- Modular, it would allow me to do 2 seat, 3 seat or 5 seat while still having a really solid mounting location for gear.
- Light, all in I am estimating about 80-90 lbs total (50 lbs per sheet 1/2 Marine ply, 25 lbs 1/4 inch, 15 or so lbs of aluminum/bolts.
- Solid, ready to roll sleeping platform that doesn’t eat up all my headroom...which I’ve really come to appreciate.
- Super easy to add a fridge slide if and when I come into fridge slide money.
Cons:
- Not a drawer system, it doesn’t really do anything other than replace the floor with a harder, non-padded floor.
- Not free, I mean its still an small investment, especially the L-track and attachments.
- 90 lbs to just add tie downs
- 3/4 inches less cargo room and an increased cargo load height.
- No real increase in sleeping area - still constrained by the wheel well width which makes it tight for 2, even for just me and my 5 year old.
The main problem I have when I load up is that there are no good tie down points and what is there isn’t in a good place to load gear.
I think I’ve settled on a loadout that works well for me and doesn’t require too much work to load/unload.
Its basically 2 plano cases, my tool bag, my compressor bag, water, bedding/seating and fridge. I mean I could do more to make it more organized but I think without buying any more gear (sceptre water can, fro example) Im about where I want to be.
I think with this setup I will be able to unload and load in less time and have an easier place to sleep in the truck, which I prefer.
Plus it lets me tie down work gear, which can get pretty unwieldy on its own, yet still let me feel safe carrying kiddos with the gear in there.
So here is the final problem I face - How do I tie everything down? What I need is REALLY short ratchet straps with a decent safe working load, any ideas on that front?
Anyway, what do you think? Good/bad idea? Improvements? Suggestions?