To Everyone who made Rear Storage, Question I never seen addressed.

[psraff]

Everyone...
I plan on making one soon and have a nice draw up of what I want. It will be slightly different then others but similar in many ways. I do plan on having the main access and the drawers slide out the back like everyone, but....

Has anyone ever thought of how to access the gear if for some reason you can't open the back? What if you were rear ended, or slid back into something (tree, or a bank of dirt) where you can't lift the back end. I was thinking of not only make the drawers slide out, but maybe have the top on hinges as well, just in case. It will be a sleeping platform as well so it will be heavily supported and flat on top (hinges will be positioned in a way where they won't cause issues).

Any good suggestions or options?

 

[seank]

Really good question. I don't have a design answer though. All I could come up with is build a really good rear bumper and keep a bf pry bar under the back seat.

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[A.Wilson013]

Everyone...
Any good suggestions or options?

I've seen use a piano hinge that allows you to access the stuff you need. I had an idiot spotting me through and icy creek and I was in this exact situation when my rear tire slid off a boulder. Had to borrow a tree saver, shackle, and snatch block from a friend.

All of my recovery gear was totally inaccessible.
image5 by Joe Bonogofsky, on Flickr

 

[psraff]

I've seen use a piano hinge that allows you to access the stuff you need. I had an idiot spotting me through and icy creek and I was in this exact situation when my rear tire slid off a boulder. Had to borrow a tree saver, shackle, and snatch block from a friend.

All of my recovery gear was totally inaccessible.
image5 by Joe Bonogofsky, on Flickr

Well, I'm glad this is a real issue and I'm just not over thinking a project like I usually do.

 

[0xfded]

I ended up leaving my road trouble gear (ie. what I need if I slide ass-first into a snowbank... folding shovel, hi-vis vest, flares, etc) in a separate, exposed grab bag for this very reason:

My "change a flat" kit is in the drawer, though--if I can't get to the drawer, then I sure as hell can't get to the spare tire in the factory position.

But yeah, I don't think you're overthinking it either. Worth considering!

 

[nc-grayson]

Not a huge concern for me. In an absolute worst case scenario, fold the seats down, and slide cargo box forward to access drawers.

 

[volkinator]

I was thinking of doing cutouts with covers over the rear, but I don't want to have to support it from the bottom so it sits flush. I think what I'll end up doing is duffles or bins and have them either along the sides or in the back seat. Only time this would be tough would be if I've got 4 people, which doesn't happen often.

 

[neokhz]

Just a quick drawing... What about something like this?

 

[SnowLizard]

Keep in mind the angle of the rear seat, current design with a rear seat won't let it open

If the rear end was compromised it might not open with just large doors, maybe smaller ones might be better

I like the hinge down the middle, but maybe you could do a top hinge on the side and a bottom hinge on the middle, then you could accordion the whole door... Be better not to have anything under, even a little piano hinge.

 

[Manic]

I have a full height rear box. I have "wings" over the wheel wells that are piano hinged the full length. If I need to get into the main drawer without going through the back door, I can fold down the rear seats.

 

[volkinator]

If you hinge it down the middle, make sure you're using drawer slides I'm not planning on using slides and just wood-on-wood for my drawers, so I need the top to take the weight.

Otherwise, if you plan ahead, you could still do the hinge down the middle, but only do a segment, and have that recovery gear spaced in the drawer. wouldn't be that hard to plan ahead for.

Also, make sure if you do hinges like that they can be secured shut, don't want any of your heave stuff coming out worst case scenario (rollover)

 

[psraff]

Not a huge concern for me. In an absolute worst case scenario, fold the seats down, and slide cargo box forward to access drawers.

Won't be an option for me. My main cargo will be to the back of the seats. Then the next phase will be two sections that will be installed in front of this main cargo area (able to install and remove them from the rear doors).

 

[psraff]

Just a quick drawing... What about something like this?

Close to what I was thinking.

 

[psraff]

Keep in mind the angle of the rear seat, current design with a rear seat won't let it open

If the rear end was compromised it might not open with just large doors, maybe smaller ones might be better

I like the hinge down the middle, but maybe you could do a top hinge on the side and a bottom hinge on the middle, then you could accordion the whole door... Be better not to have anything under, even a little piano hinge.

Angle... Done
Smaller Doors.... Done
Still Thinking on the other stuff...

 

[psraff]

Last night, and this morning I was playing.... Any CAD guys, don't flame me! I've tried to use CAD several times and I can't wrap my head around some of the basics... I use to be able to pick up software and just play with it and get quite comfortable with using it. When it comes to CAD or JAVA Script (or programming in general..), just can't wrap my brain around it.

Details:
Left side - Two Shallow Drawers, and panel (Air Compressor Switch, Gauge, and a quick connect on the left. Inverter and Outlets on the right).

Right Side - One deep Drawer

All Drawers will have Dividers in them to help organize.

Top - Two hinged doors folding to the sides (I think for easier access and if both open, they will stay open without being secured)

Front - Angled for the back of the seats. Front compartment is for Air Tank with access through either one or two top, hinged doors.

Drawbacks:
With the top hinged, more interior supports will be made to handle weight on top of the unit.
No Idea where to mount the Inverter yet, or the Air Compressor. Maybe the Inverter can be mounted on the underside of one of the top access doors. Though that will take room away from the draw.

Also, where the front hinges meet up with the front of the main access doors... Not sure how that really mesh together, yet.

 

[volkinator]

Details:
Left side - Two Shallow Drawers, and panel (Air Compressor Switch, Gauge, and a quick connect on the left. Inverter and Outlets on the right).

Right Side - One deep Drawer

All Drawers will have Dividers in them to help organize.

Top - Two hinged doors folding to the sides (I think for easier access and if both open, they will stay open without being secured)

Front - Angled for the back of the seats. Front compartment is for Air Tank with access through either one or two top, hinged doors.

Drawbacks:
With the top hinged, more interior supports will be made to handle weight on top of the unit.
No Idea where to mount the Inverter yet, or the Air Compressor. Maybe the Inverter can be mounted on the underside of one of the top access doors. Though that will take room away from the draw.

Also, where the front hinges meet up with the front of the main access doors... Not sure how that really mesh together, yet.

Another drawback would be the 'wasted' space behind the panel... What if you were to put all the controls on the left side. You could do an additional shallow drawer, or make both drawers bigger, etc, and have better use of space. you could put the pressure gauge off to the side as well.

Otherwise you're on the right track I think. I like it!

 

[psraff]

Another drawback would be the 'wasted' space behind the panel... What if you were to put all the controls on the left side. You could do an additional shallow drawer, or make both drawers bigger, etc, and have better use of space. you could put the pressure gauge off to the side as well.

Otherwise you're on the right track I think. I like it!

My plan is it wouldn't be wasted as in i would have to have room for the air lines and electrical wiring. All that would be in that space. I could move all the air stuff to the left so it wouldn't get damaged, but taking into account the depth of the gauge it may get into the way of the drawer if i end up lowering / make them bigger.

Same idea with the electrical outlets. A cut in box is around 3" deep. If i moved that to the side, that would get in the way of the drawer....

Please don't think I'm shooting your ideas down... I'm just trying to let everyone get into my head and see how i came up with this idea and some of the faults I already see as I drew this up.

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[hounddogman]

Mine is a bit different then most as I have no desire for a sleeping platform . But I did want to be able to access my recovery gear if I could not open the back hatch . All my recovery gear is in the side box .The drawer is sized for a colman stove and the open space for a fridge .

 

[psraff]

So I went to Home Depot to start looking for the hardware I would need, and for the drawers, the only rollers they had were only up to 24" long. Are people ordering theirs on-line somewhere to get longer \ heavy duty ones? I don't have my measurements in front of me, but I seem to remember I was somewhere around 48" drawers, so the sliders \ rollers should be a lot longer then only 24".

Thanks!

 

[Tyler628]

Here's mine, I didn't like the drawer idea so mine are all lids that open from the top. They can all be opened from the inside although it's not easy when the sleeping pad is in there lol. Doesn't seem like what you are going for because I have no drawers at all but it might give you ideas.