"Double Decker" for My TE

[jgedmond]

I just finished building a rear shelf to replace the double decker cargo shelf no longer offered on the 5th Gen 4Runner. I really liked the versatility when on vacations with my 4th Gen. I built a frame using 2 x 2s and brackets made for hurricane strapping of home framing. Sized it to fit just inside the wheel wells side to side and just inside the tie down D-rings front to back. I used 16" shelving for the top deck. It is fairly light so that it can be easily lifted in and out by one person. I plan to use a bungy net and the D-rings for luggage retention on the double decker with the slider for off-road supplies, tools, etc.

The 2nd row seating can reclined, but not all the way. No big deal because my primary use is with 2nd row seating down for 3 week vacations.

I will post some pics tomorrow when I take the decking off to spray paint the frame. Plan is to carpet the deck, but I need to find some black indoor-outdoor carpet, hopefully, tomorrow.

 

[jgedmond]

OK, here are the pictorial construction details. The frame ...


with decking ...


In place with 2nd row seats up ...


and down ...


I sized to maximize deck area, so 2nd row seats cannot recline much. Approximately 71/2" of vertical clearance for slide out tray items, which allows my off-road boxes on bottom, luggage on top, and reasonable rear visibility. I think that it will work out fine for our needs. Any suggestions on how to improve are certainly welcome.

 

[fins]

Nice work!

 

[simplemind]

Am I the only one who hates the pull out shelf?

I discovered today that all TE's get the pull out shelf! :dammit:

I like the the double decker, but this *^%# thing eats real estate and is useless to me. I didn't intend to carry groceries in a TE. :AK47:

Any way to remove this and have it look correct?

 

[jgedmond]

I discovered today that all TE's get the pull out shelf! :dammit:

I like the the double decker, but this *^%# thing eats real estate and is useless to me. I didn't intend to carry groceries in a TE. :AK47:

Any way to remove this and have it look correct?

do a search on "removed rear slider" or something similar, "7harper" gave an excellent description with lots of pics

 

[bigrednuffsaid]

I love it, great work!!

I had a homebuilt system in my old '93 toyota truck bed with a camper shell. I may build one of these up for my new (to me) 2004 runner...thanks for the inspiration.

 

[1traildriver]

Inspired by jgedmond, I spent my Saturday constructing a shelf for my truck as well. Thanks to a neighbor with all kinds of good tools and saws....it came out much better than expected. The black felt covering blends nice with the interior of the truck. Perfect for all my work related gear, and the cargo cover keeps everything private in the back.

 

[sandcrawler]

well done! :bravo:

 

[4rbcool]

Nice work. You always get the satisfaction of doing the work yourself.

 

[SeattleMike]

I like it, but what is holding it down? Or is it just sitting on the floor?

 

[1traildriver]

Ah good question....it is just sitting in there but it prob weighs about 40lbs, so it is pretty sturdy sitting in there alone. Additionally, the way the front of the shelf fits in (at the rear seat), and with the slight rear angle of the seat-back, it is slightly wedged in at the front. I always have something on the second deck, so that always keeps it held down nice. I guess you could run a bungie cord over the shelf and hook it to the 2 anchor points at the rear of the cargo area. I also attached 2 rings on either side of the shelf, so I could use short bungies and run them from that point to the floor cargo tie down rings if I didn't want one long bungie over the shelf.

 

[SeattleMike]

Good to know. We just got a puppy and I have a short window of time to build something. But it has to be secure so the dog doesn't go bouncing around the back when we hit potholes on the trails.