badmix
1/2 ton status
Welp, in the latest installment of the K5 Blazer project, I decided to focus on the interior, mainly how to utilize space a lil better. The Blazer is pretty spacious for what it is, esp. compared to modern SUVs.
I rarely tote anyone around in the backseat, I think I did it once in the 3 years Ive owned this thing. 99.9% of the trips will either be solo or jus one other passenger. Some may say, "Jus fold the rear seat forward to give more space." While this is a novel idea , one of which Ive done in the past. But here is the downfall to doing that. You do gain space behind the folded seat. But the space you lose is the foot well area behind the passenger and drivers seat. Meaning there is very limited space there and no room for such things like coolers, etc.
So, on a long trip with alot of gear, you obviously may want to put a cooler or some extra quick grab gear jus behind the pass. seat. With the rear seat folded up, that is impossible.
The other aspect is the weight. The rear seat weighs between 50-60lbs +/-. As anyone knows, weight is killer, esp. for off roading and trail riding. Why lug around extra weight if ya dont need to?
Anyways, I had an idea of using a Bed Extender Rack. I figured it could work the same way as they do for pickups. I went to local topper place and asked if they had any used ones, They did. So I picked one up for $75bux with no hardware. Which was fine, cuz I doubt I couldve used anything supplied anyways. Once I picked up the rack, I headed to HOmeDepot to pick up an assortment of brackets, etc. Things that I thought would work. Then headed home to begin the lil adventure. lol
First task was remove the rear seat, this consisted of 3 big bolts. got them out and removed rear seat.
Here is the empty space
Next was to secure the front of the bars. Im using a Galv. pipe clamp. This is not my final solution, but its one that ill live with now. Ill get something beefier in the future. Im using the existing Seat bolts and Seat holes to mount. Figured , no reason to reinvent the wheel and drill unnecessary holes
Next was to secure the back portion of the bars. There was an existing hole thru the mount and bars for the hardware that comes with the bars, I simply drilled this out bigger and went all the way thru the wheel well. So its nice an secure. This also keeps the bars from rotating if gear is pushed hard against it.
Here is other side, high up in the wheel well. I used fender washers for added support
Here is the Rack installed. Its not as high as Id like, But ive contacted the topper ppl and asked them to keep an eye out for another one. What I can do is take the 3 hole spacer and run two of the lower bars thru it and run an extra bar on top. thatll gain me about 6-8" of cargo space on top. For now it works well.
Here is some of the gear. My gear goes 3 rows deep. First row is (4) 5 gal. gas cans and recovery bag. Second row is camping and food and water (1) 5 gal. water can. Third row is all vehicle maintance gear in 2 larger motar mil. cans.
Over all view. Can see gear, spare tire, shovel/axe mount and jump box w/built in compressor.
Here is view looking from the pass. door behind the pass. seat. You can see the GI cans and the camping gear along with the Tan water can.
Here is same view only looking between the seats. I eventually wanna work on some cargo straps and secure the gear incase of roll over. Im thinking of mounting some tiedowns somewhere to be able to racket gear down.
The only thing I dont like is the curved sections of the rack, this kinda eats up room if you put something square in that space.
ive still got plenty of room on the sides and by the wheel well for more gear or to mount other stuff like, onboard air or CO2 tank, invertor, etc.
Soap that is my project. The rack can be pulled out as quick as the rear seat can. Jus 4 bolts and its out.
Soap that is the latest greatest project. Im sure there are variations I couldve tried or fabricated, but this was relatively easy to do and wasnt too expensive.
. This isnt JUST a trail rig. I live in hurricane alley, if I need to go, I dont want to be a slave to the system or risk running outa gas. This is a multi purpose rig. I want it to do it all. 
