[poker]

Hello Folks ;D

Tubig shared his completed FJC cabinet drawers recently (Tubig's FJC Drawershttp://socalfjcruiserforums.com/forums/index.php?topic=173.0). After reading it, I discovered many of us have been sitting on this project for sometime now. I think it would be a good idea to use this thread to share some of the planning, purchasing, and labor of making our own rear storage. No need to reveal your ultra unique idea but we can talk about everything else.

I think it would also be nice to share our completed projects over lunch or dinner a couple months from now. Let's meet up on May 3rd and show off our creations.

So just to get the wheels turning here are some project planning topics to think about.

Design - Why are you building a storage unit for your rig? What are you storing? What materials will suit the project. What are the dimensions?

Resources - Do you have the tool to build it? When will you have time to build it? Can you get the material locally or do you have to order it? How much is this thing going to cost versus just buying it?

So if you want to join me in this quest....chime in. If you have already built one yourself, we would appreciate the help.

Thanks ;D

 

[poker]

Re: FJC Rear Storage Open Discussion -- What am I building it for?

What do I have now?

The trunk of my FJ usually has a 20 year old igloo on the left with sealed food and drinks from the last outing. On the right, I have a plastic toolbox with misc. tools and recovery gear. Both of these are secured with a bungee cord. I forgot to mention that my CostCo tire inflator bagged in the trunk as well. My bottle jack compartment includes a tow strap that I have already upgraded. My right side compartment is currently empty. I have nothing on the rear door.


Now what am I trying to organize back there?

1. We are a big family, and we have big parties with lots of food. Picnics are huge as well. Eating is a just a big deal for us.

2. I do a video or photo shoot at least once a month. It would be nice to organize my gear in the trunk, keep it out of sight, and locked down.

3. Camping and offroading. I would like to organize the typical camping gear and recovery gear BUT unlike other expeditionist, I don't want to keep it in there 24/7.

The last issue is about my wife. She shops a lot and having a permanent storage unit in the back might pose a problem. The rig is lifted and a storage unit might raise the rear deck an extra foot or more. The box might actually decrease the volume or trunk space for her shopping bags. My wife is the type of shopper that will shop in the day, put the purchases in the car, and keep shopping.

Hmmmmm.....things to think about.

 

[jeshua]

I already built mine so I will chime in a little to your ?'s.

Design:
to keep me organized and to have a place for some of my tool and other odds and ends so there not flying around the FJ when I am going crazy off road. ;D
I didn't want it to be very tall so mine is only ~4.5" tall drawers are ~4" deep. and it was bolted down to the 4 bolts hole used for the stock D-rings (D-rings were relocated to the top of my drawers and stock floor mat fits perfect.. On the driver side I used a piano hinge so that I could still access the bottle jack and storage compartment doing this I ended up having an area I can lock if I have anything I want to keep a little safer. The inside of the drawers were then painted with dip-grip making them a little more water resistant.

My drawers will probably be redesign in the future (hopefully before Ouray but comes down to $$$). The passenger side will hold a 2U rack mount for my carpc and the the driver side will get a little narrower to accommodate the width of the rack mount. Then repaint everything in the dip-grip.

Resources:
I have a table saw, jig saw and circular saw and other wood working tools. All the parts I got locally at Home Depot and Ace Hardware. If my memory serves me right I spent about $150 everything and half a sheet of 3/4 birch plywood left. I would say I have about 3 hours in it maybe 4. It was a fun project not to hard as long as you have the right tools. Quick note the sliders can hold over a 100 lbs.

 

[jeshua]

Re: FJC Rear Storage Open Discussion -- What am I building it for?

...The last issue is about my wife. She shops a lot and having a permanent storage unit in the back might pose a problem. The rig is lifted and a storage unit might raise the rear deck an extra foot or more. The box might actually decrease the volume or trunk space for her shopping bags. My wife is the type of shopper that will shop in the day, put the purchases in the car, and keep shopping.

Hmmmmm.....things to think about.

That is why I went with a shallow set up the ones that go up the top of the fender well look good but it kills your storage space and anything tall (ice chest...) becomes an issue. with mine I can allmost fit my tires (285/75/16) in the back standing up, off about an inch or two.

 

[poker]

Re: FJC Rear Storage Open Discussion -- What am I building it for?

That is why I went with a shallow set up the ones that go up the top of the fender well look good but it kills your storage space and anything tall (ice chest...) becomes an issue. with mine I can allmost fit my tires (285/75/16) in the back standing up, off about an inch or two.

Thanks for sharing Josh. I've been thinking about building a big one that can be taken out easily but the efficiency in a shallow design is apparent in your write up.

I also realize that we go to Vegas like every 3 months. I can't lose trunk space with a big setup due to our typical luggage needs. So it's going to have to be big and removeable or shallow.

 

[poker]

Bump...

I know I'm not the only one planning on a storage unit.

It would be cool if we completed our project by the next M&G so Tony can check out our drawers? ;D

 

[zoshyii]

I'm building one this saturday 3/22. I'll let you know how it all turns out. Finals are over and I have the itch to build.

It's gonna be a sleeper. Pics to come saturday!

 

[mattmainster]

Looking forward to seeing some boxes! (I need ideas for mine).

 

[poker]

I'm building one this saturday 3/22. I'll let you know how it all turns out. Finals are over and I have the itch to build.

It's gonna be a sleeper. Pics to come saturday!

Saweeeeet......can't wait to see it.

I'll be measuring the interior this weekend.....yeah I'm slow.

I have ideas

 

[zoshyii]

i'm working in google sketch up, so the plans will be made available after i validate that it can be built!

 

[DominicG]

well.. im still lazy and i still have not gotten around to it.. lol


sooon.

 

[jeshua]

well.. im still lazy and i still have not gotten around to it.. lol


sooon.

Dom just go to home depot and get some plywood and screws then start cutting it up when you get home. Its easy stuff.

I'll take some measurements of mine tonight for you all so you have something to go off of.

 

[skersfan]

I went a totally different way.

I have to carry batteries to off road job sights so I needed the extra height. I can carry 8 120 amp deep cylce batteries in the lower compartment.

I placed the plywood on the top of the fenders. Went to Lowes and bought three of their small plastic tool boxes, put drawer handles on the end of them. They slide in under the top and I can carry three with no obstruction to the inside compartment and the inverter. I have room for a cooler on the top shelf and a full sized tool box and Dewault 4 electrical tool box. Plenty of room for my Power Tank also I have about 150 in mine also. Will not allow anything to fly around. I placed 6 trap door eyelets in the top which allows me to rachet all top equipment down. I felt the tool boxes were a better idea than drawers as you normally need to drag the tools to someone else, not just your vehicle so I can take what I need and have it all at the sight with out constant trips back to the truck.

The truck is voodoo blue and all the boxes match. It turned out pretty good except for when I load the truck into my trailer, getting my fat butt in and out of the back door is not a fun thing to see, but it can be done.

 

[jeshua]

All right guys here is a quick drawing of the base of my box. I figured this is all that you would really need since the drawers and top will be different for every one. My box is bolted down to the 4 existing bolts holes in the floor (d-ring locations) the D-rings were relocated to the top of my box in the stock location so the floor mat could be reused. Double check all dimensions for your self before starting especially the hole locations or just make them bigger then needed so you have so room to play with. Also another thing to take note of is that if you mount the box this way there will be a rake to it. Front (at back seat) will sit a little higher then the rear (by door). I hope this helps if you want any more info let me know and I will do what I can.


***edit***
I forgot what the bolt size was so I just put 1/4" so you might want to double check that.;D I think it is actually a M10 but don't take my word on it its been a while.

 

[FJVP]

The bolt size is a 10....

 

[FJ-Piper]

I have already startted mine and hope to have it completed by the meet and greet. here is what I'm doing:

Two level storage desinged to hold rubbermaid bins but thinking of custom made 5 0r 9 ply baltic birch crates to utilize maximum space, lower level will contain two or three crates comprising of tools, recovery gear and camping utility stuff. The removable shelf that will separate the two levels will double as a portable camp table approximately 2x4 ft. The upper level will contain items like Ice Chest, and two bins or crates for food and clothes, games, etc. I have to make sure everything secures down firmly in case of rollover and I don't want it to be too difficult to get to anything. I figure sleeping bags and other soft stuff can either go in a roof bag or above the ice chests, etc... Tent and chairs will prolly go on the roof. the right side of the camp table/shelf snugs under the subwoofer and the left side secures down under a custom home brew steel ham radio mounting rack Made of 3/16 plate, 3/4 x 3/4 tube and 1/2 x 1/2 tube steel.

Materials I plan on using for construction are: 5ply and 9 ply baltic birch, 3/4 inch maple, and maybe some galvanized angle sheet metal to reinforce the custom crates (still designing the crates so I don't know for sure)

I wanted to make crates instread of drawers as I thought they would be more versatile, ie: wood gathering or to carry tools into a jobsite, etc...

I'd like to hear your input

 

[jeshua]

I just remembered you will need to cut two slots in the bottom piece by the two bolt holes in the front/by back seat if you use my drawing. When you do your test fit you will see what I am talking about its an easy one.


I hope all of your boxes are coming along well.