Modified suburban center console or build one?

[Vombrown]

OK so here's a thing I'm working on now. Installing Suburban seats into the K-20 and got to thinking about the center console. I have a great center console in my parts burb but I need to modify it. I'd like to get some light controls,a CB radio,an inverter, better cup holder and still have the large storage area. So has anyone beefed up a stocker? Or should I just go ahead and build one for the truck to get all my crap in there?
I've built some in the past. MDF, covered in fiberglass resin and carpeted seems to hold up pretty well. I have also looked at some of the off-road "Heep" consoles out there and while I'm sure they would work, none were exactly what I was looking for. Gimme some input here.

 

[Abusfullofnuns]

I'd say build it. I keep drawing up versions for myself. Since I'm rocking a barge, I'm going to do a front and a rear. Cup holders, my inverter, USB hub,etc. Storage in the front one, bass in the back.

 

[Vombrown]

I'd say build it. I keep drawing up versions for myself. Since I'm rocking a barge, I'm going to do a front and a rear. Cup holders, my inverter, USB hub,etc. Storage in the front one, bass in the back.

One thing I am noticing is that the little stock sub console is going to look sort of out of place in the truck cab I think. I'm sure the distance between the seats is the same in the pickup and suburban but man it looks like a cavernous hole between the seats. A larger center console might be just the ticket. Just need to find some tan carpet or another style of covering for it. To match the tan interior.

 

[Vombrown]

Wondering now if I need to put a subwoofer in the bottom of the console. Since it looks like I will be building one.

 

[shady]

Single cab pickup I'd put it facing the rear. Keeps more usable space up front where your arm will actually reach. Everything behind about your hip is hard to reach sitting, so let the sub stand up back there. And don't be affraid of the slim line subs.. preferably JL tw3's. They've come a LONG ways with slim lines

 

[Vombrown]

Single cab pickup I'd put it facing the rear. Keeps more usable space up front where your arm will actually reach. Everything behind about your hip is hard to reach sitting, so let the sub stand up back there. And don't be affraid of the slim line subs.. preferably JL tw3's. They've come a LONG ways with slim lines

I have a couple of JL audio 10's in a band pass box in the shop. I was going to put them in my Suburban but I never did. Smaller JL amp too...

 

[shady]

Just use one of them then cheaper that way lol

 

[eodcoduto]

Here is my opinion, 2015 Dodge Ram jump seat console. It has 3 big ass cup holders, a jump seat with a compartment under it, large storage under the lid and a USB and Aux port if someone hasn't robbed them. I have it in my K20 Suburban and it fits perfect . I've used it for a year, one day I will bolt it down.

 

[Vombrown]

Here is my opinion, 2015 Dodge Ram jump seat console. It has 3 big ass cup holders, a jump seat with a compartment under it, large storage under the lid and a USB and Aux port if someone hasn't robbed them. I have it in my K20 Suburban and it fits perfect . I've used it for a year, one day I will bolt it down.

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What kind of bed liner do you have on your floor board?

 

[eodcoduto]

It is the vinyl floor mat from ACC. It fits decent and was about $250, but you can see on the corners where I had to slit it to conform. Not bad but definitely not a factory fit.

 

[Shawn]

I'm doing the F150 console but also installing both shifters in it.

 

[diesel4me]

A console is nice,but I find them too small in most cases,even the larger ones...the K5's I had with them I put a CB in there,external speaker on the rear of it,and I filled the rest of whatever space left in it up quickly with the usual assortment of clutter..and they are flimsy,offer little protection against theft of whatever you leave in there...

I had a large home made console box made of plywood in my '77 GMC ,I put two bucket seats on a angle iron frame onto the stock bench seats tracks,the seats were from a Mercury Topaz and it had a 2x2 foot area between the seats..the "box" was crude ,but functional,and I could put just about everything I carried in the truck in it,you could sit on it too if you had to carry 3 passengers...

I'd like to make a bench seat for my pickup that has a flip up bottom cushion and a storage compartment under the entire seat bottom cushion..like ones you see in RV's and conversion vans in the rear..

It's been years since I've seen the passenger side floor and seat area in my truck,I carry so much "stuff"..

I filled the tool box in the bed full too,and stuffed behind the seat full of stuff,like chains hanging on the back wall of the cab for my crane hoist,a 1500 lb winch in case my plow lift fails,or I get stuck,I also put a "truck cab organizer" on the back wall and have the pockets full on it of various things like spare fuel line hose,belts,tools,rope,a tarp,etc..

I have another plastic tool box for a full sized truck bed--if that could fit in place of the front seat and it had a back rest on it,that would be a good seat and a place to stash a lot of the stuff cluttering up the rest of the cab.. ..problem is the thing is too tall,and with the stock bench seat height,there wont be much room under the bottom cushion if you tried making that area into a storage area..