Question about trail edition sliding rear cargo tray

[chmura]

I might be in a market for a new 5th gen TE. I think all the TE's come with the sliding rear cargo tray.

Is this tray easily removed so someone can sleep comfortably back there? I sometimes go on a camping trip for a one or two days and rather sleep in the back then pitching a tent. Longer then two days I usually setup a tent and things.

Once you remove the tray is it flat surface? How difficult is it to remove?

I know you can remove the bottom rear seat cushion fairly easily for an extra 5 or so inches of room.

This is kind of important for me when deciding on my next off road rig.

Thanks for the input!

 

[GrantK]

It's even with the tray (except for the fold forward rear seat section), if you remove the tray it becomes uneven. The tray is not something you can easily take out and reinstall in a couple of minutes.

 

[BigredTEX]

With the tray in place the cargo area is flat with the 2nd row seats folded down. There are a couple of threads on this forum detailing the removal of the tray, but the floor is no longer flat once the tray is removed. You would have to build some type of platform to bring the floor up to the level of the rest of the cargo floor.

Just my $.02, but I don't find the sliding tray that useful. One of my big peeves is that all of the cargo tie-downs are on the sides of the tray on the permanent portion of the cargo floor. If you have gear tied down you can't slide the tray out without removing your tie downs.

 

[GrantK]

Just my $.02, but I don't find the sliding tray that useful. One of my big peeves is that all of the cargo tie-downs are on the sides of the tray on the permanent portion of the cargo floor. If you have gear tied down you can't slide the tray out without removing your tie downs.

I find the sliding tray useless and even somewhat of a hindrance to using the cargo area. If I get enough round TOITs I would like to do something like Antman's storage mod.

 

[chmura]

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad the area with the tray is flat when the rear seats are folded.

Does anyone have a picture of their TE rear seats folded?

I will try to find a dealer near me that has a TE on the lot this weekend and see for myself also.