Tacoma rear-seat platform mod

[allanb]

Thanks for reminding me. We are in the market for foldable/ inflatable kayaks. Don't want to pack our hard shell sea kayaks all over the west. But do want dimensions before I build out the rear seat. We Better get shopping.


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[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Thanks for reminding me. We are in the market for foldable/ inflatable kayaks. Don't want to pack our hard shell sea kayaks all over the west. But do want dimensions before I build out the rear seat. We Better get shopping.


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I have an Advanced Element" kayak. It's the size of a "hard" two person one.
Folds up into a bag 36"x21"x11" and weighs about 56#. REI carries them or go to "Air Kayak.com".
This kayak has a rigid frame front and rear. Very solid construction.
Frank

 

[allanb]

Thanks Frank. Pulled up the website and will have a look .


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[hoyden]

If you remember, a couple of months ago, I took out the rear seats of my Tacoma double-cab and made a platform. (write-up here: http://wp.me/pfR3J-QB )

I was nervous about potentially being decapitated by flying folding chairs or kayak paddles if in an accident, so I started looking for some kind of drawer or large container for the loose chairs and rolled-up table and kayak paddles and levelers and all that stuff.

Last week at work, someone left a rolly cart in our department.

I measured it and it was a perfect fit for my truck needs! Checked with my boss and took it home the next day. It had big casters, an odd metal hook-like piece hanging on the bottom,

and about 12" tall metal side jutting up. I'd need to cut those off before it'd fit on the platform.

When I got home that night, I took the casters off, borrowed a friend's angle grinder and got to work.

Cut the bottom piece off first.

Very dirty work!

Then I cut the top piece off.

With a little convincing, those two pieces pulled out of inserts. I cleaned it up and rolled it back into the garage.

The next day, I bought 6' of 1 1/4" square tubing. I need to measure how tall this cabinet is, which will determine how high I can make the platform. The tubing is just the right size to slide over the existing legs of the platform. I'll want to tack weld them in place probably.

I still need to get some self-tapping metal screws to affix the wood top to the metal base of the platform. And I'll need to mark and drill the wood to attach the box to the platform (can use the existing bolts from the casters, maybe just affix two per since there are 16 total - 4 per caster)

I still want to find some way to secure the platform to the truck itself, but if this cart is secure to the platform, it'll be a pretty solid set-up.

to be continued....

 

[GroovyDad]

That's great! I'm all about re-purposing old things I have or things I find.

 

[hoyden]

That's great! I'm all about re-purposing old things I have or things I find.

Considering getting a drawer system built for the truck would cost over $300... I'm pretty darn pleased with this find. Even if it's not perfect - I'll probably have to take the cabinet door off. The drawers only pull out with the door hyper-extended (open alllll the way) and, obviously, in the truck that won't happen. I'm thinking I'll take the door off and put a bungee net there. Although, I dislike bungee nets - almost took my left eye out once! So, still thinking of a door solution.

 

[GroovyDad]

I didn't know it had drawers inside. Maybe you could rig something like this to secure the drawers:



I don't know if you'd have enough room overhead though to pull a long rod up.

Hmmmm...

 

[hoyden]

It's more slide-outs than drawers, with that front door as /the/ door.
oh, yeah, there won't be enough room for a pulling rod up
I'll take a pic when I go home for lunch!

 

[hoyden]

But wait! There's more!

I bought 6' of square tubing with the intention to slide it over the existing legs to make longer legs.
A friend of mine has a machine shop, so I took the tubing over there and he cut it to my measurements.
It's a good thing I didn't go into architecture cuz it was too tall and slightly not level

At lunchtime today, I went back over to his shop and we cut the legs down to a more reasonable height. I wanted to be able to open the built-in cubbies on the floor, so it had to be at least that tall. We got the legs measured, leveled, and cut.

After work, I went by True Value and picked up some self-tapping screws so I could attach the slide-over legs to the original legs. (I'd originally considered tack welding them, but I don't have a welder, so I figured this way would work just fine)

My neighbor has a drill press and let me use it to drill through the thicker stock.

Eyeballed the holes -pretty darn good!

I slid the slightly larger legs over

and got them all screwed in

Looks GREAT!

Since I can store a lot of stuff under the platform, I think that instead of using the quite heavy metal cabinet, but instead get a plastic foot-locker (on sale at True Value) for the random things.

 

[allanb]

looks great Hoyden. Simple and inexpensive. Nice to have long storage underneath [like the paddles], and more storage on top. Or a sleeping platform on top for the dogs and or you

 

[hoyden]

looks great Hoyden. Simple and inexpensive. Nice to have long storage underneath [like the paddles], and more storage on top. Or a sleeping platform on top for the dogs and or you

Thanks!
Yeah, I think it's so far cost me maaaaaybe $30.
The foot locker is going to be $20
and if I get the gun rack (see next paragraph), that'll add another $15
Totalish: $65

I'm either going to get some eye-bolts and screw them under the platform and hang the paddles underneath, or buy a gun rack for the rear window of the Tacoma and put the paddles there.

Argos has his area on the platform - enough for him to lie down!

 

[allanb]

Huumm. A rack for the rear window. Ill have to think about that. Good idea. I was thinking of sewing a version of this, to maximize storage. I guess my "first floor platform" is only 10" or so off the floor, thinking of only storing long items, paddles, table, fishing poles etc underneath it on the floor

 

[allanb]

oops. My picture didn't post, not sure how to do that. Supposed to be a pic of a mud river rear window organizer. A bunch of pockets, would probably store light stuff, clothes and such

 

[hoyden]

Huumm. A rack for the rear window. Ill have to think about that. Good idea. I was thinking of sewing a version of this, to maximize storage. I guess my "first floor platform" is only 10" or so off the floor, thinking of only storing long items, paddles, table, fishing poles etc underneath it on the floor

That's kinda why I was thinking of eye-bolts attched to the underside of the platform - can velcro-tie long-items up, so that other stuff, like the rolled up chairs, can be on the floor.

did you check out the link embedded in my post for the rack?

I also need a map holder - probably one hanging on the seat back. But it's looking like I'll hafta make it because I'm not finding anything simple that'll be big enough for my giant Rand McNally and Benchmarks/DeLormes

 

[allanb]

eye bolts would work, or holes drilled in legs to rope items too, at different heights.
I did check out the link, should work just fine for paddles.
Where to put all the maps? I always have a stack of them, and pick up more on the road as I go. My van had nice big pockets behind the seats, this truck not so much, heck there isn't even room for shoes under the seats, what with all the new fangled electronics.
They could go between the cushion and platform? Or I'll have to make room for them in the "cooler, snack drawer, miscellaneous box " that is taking the place of the center consul

 

[GroovyDad]

I also need a map holder - probably one hanging on the seat back. But it's looking like I'll hafta make it because I'm not finding anything simple that'll be big enough for my giant Rand McNally and Benchmarks/DeLormes

I was thinking about the same thing. I plan to hit a couple of thrift shops and find a little day pack (I've always seen them there in the past) and hang it from the back seat. I think I could hang it off of the head rest. A day pack would also give me another pocket or two for pens, paper, etc.

 

[hoyden]

I was thinking about the same thing. I plan to hit a couple of thrift shops and find a little day pack (I've always seen them there in the past) and hang it from the back seat. I think I could hang it off of the head rest. A day pack would also give me another pocket or two for pens, paper, etc.

That's a good idea. I'd put some kind of stiff backing in it to give some form so as to make easier to get the maps in and out.