Spectre6000's Crazy Idea Thread #4: Under Seat Storage

[spectre6000]

There's a handy little spot under the rear passenger seat that comes with a bottle jack, spare drop handle, and a tire iron. All pretty much useless once you do just about anything to the truck. In my mind, these are Craigslist fodder at best. That space could very easily be usable IF it weren't so weirdly and specifically shaped. I got down there the other night and started poking around. Under the driver's side you have the gas tank, and a bit lower is the frame. Probably not a lot of use. On the passenger side though, is just the exhaust (and only for a portion of it). Additionally, the exhaust seems to have quite a bit of available space that it could be moved around if one were clever with a welder or already installing an aftermarket setup.

So here's the thought for the day: get a shorter muffler and/or move the exhaust fore or aft (whichever makes the most sense), then cut out the area under the seat and make yourself a nice little treasure chest for tools/parts that you generally don't need access to; heavier things to help lower the CG AND make more space for camping gear and generally living in the truck. Alternatively, a deep cycle dual battery setup would probably fill the space quite nicely.

Discuss.

 

[TheOtherGuy]

I like it! Pull out the torches and the welding machine and show us the results.

 

[theizzardking]

There's a handy little spot under the rear passenger seat that comes with a bottle jack, spare drop handle, and a tire iron. these are Craigslist fodder at best.

false, the bottle jack is a toyota specialty tool that is used for installing and removing lift coils in the front, how else are you meant to force the upper arm assy down? :bluejump:

haha, seriously though, i'm struggling to find a place to mount my dual battery relay and control box for my winch...been looking everywhere, i may just have to start drilling holes in my bumper and the rest.
:roadkill:

 

[Mellow77]

I like the dual battery idea...been looking for a good spot to locate those. :hungry:

 

[98OzarksRunner]

Interesting idea. I had thought about doing something like that under the cargo area in the back. If you put the tire on a swing-out bumper carrier, you have quite a bit of room under the cargo area for a battery box or hidden storage.

 

[spectre6000]

I like it! Pull out the torches and the welding machine and show us the results.

Like I stated in my Crazy Idea Thread #1: Paneling, I'm a bit short on workspace/facilities at the moment. My house is located on the side of a mountain, and the only flat space is occupied by the house (and it had to be carved out of the granite). I have to park my truck a good 50 feet or so down in the closest-to-a-flat-spot-I-could-make on the side of this mountain and I don't have an extension cord that long (nor would I feel comfortable powering a welder over an extension cord that long). This particular project is one that could be hammered out in a day (the storage space portion anyway, I haven't given much thought to the auxiliary battery idea beyond it's general feasibility); weekend at the most. Given my current circumstances, it might be a while before I'm able to act on some of my "Crazy Ideas".

If anyone in the Boulder/Denver area has some space to work and wants to make a day of it (I've got the tools/equipment), two would take about the same amount of time as one! I figure something on the order of $50 worth of materials... Maybe a little more depending on choice of hinges/latch mechanisms.

 

[spectre6000]

Interesting idea. I had thought about doing something like that under the cargo area in the back. If you put the tire on a swing-out bumper carrier, you have quite a bit of room under the cargo area for a battery box or hidden storage.

I have a much better idea for that space! (Coming soon)

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I saw where someone took a newer Tundra and cut the flooboard behind the front seats to make a recessed box for subs. Not the same exact idea, but in effect did the same thing you're talking about. Check it out.



Subs in the FLOOR!!! - TundraTalk.net - Toyota Tundra Discussion Forum

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/JCOOPER/Tundra/IMAG0179.jpg

 

[hugo2go]

^^ Now thats a great use of space

 

[Codyhenry]

Just a flanged box

Not to wake this thread or anything but i feel like it died early. I mapped my under seat storage out and it looks to be that if you were to create a box that has a slopped bottom and a flanged top you could pretty much cut out entire storage area under seats and set the box in and weld the flange. Then of course layer with carpet or anything of ypur liking. Im looking at tackling this next when life lets go of me a little bit.