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"Storage" for back seat passengers?

dyeager535

dyeager535

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Looking at the back seat are of the K5, it appears there is plenty of room between the arm rest and the vinyl/cardboard side panel.

Thinking one could use studs instead of bolts for two of the topper side rails, and using some fabricated brackets, hang a rectangular box off of them, giving the rear passenger(s) some storage. Attach a cupholder to the end, whatever. With studs, could be removed pretty easily when/if they get in the way.

Anyone done anything like this? Not interested in cutting the truck up (although the side panels will most likely be replaced at some point since they fall apart) but welding some brackets to a box isn't a problem.

Any sources for fairly thin sheet metal boxes? Ammo cans are about the right dimensions, but they are pretty heavy. About that size though, maybe a bit longer, and thinner metal. Even a pretty thick plastic would work I suspect, like battery boxes. I just can't justify the expense of something like that.
 
I searched for Metal Office Wall pockets, and got a lot of stuff that you could use as a starting point.

Have you looked through the crappy cupholders and stuff at walmart? May be worth modifying something from there.

Definitely like the idea of cupholders!
 
Yeah, it's not often I carry passengers, but when hunting, and someone is in the back seat, if stuff isn't secured, it eventually bounces its way to the floor. Coffee cup, binoculars, radio, phones etc. Plus having them out of the way just frees up space for other stuff.

Those wall pockets look good, thanks for the tip. I'll have to check out the local WM to see if they have any in stock. Thinking to keep things in decent shape, might need to line it with neoprene or similar.
 
dyeager535 said:
Yeah, it's not often I carry passengers, but when hunting, and someone is in the back seat, if stuff isn't secured, it eventually bounces its way to the floor. Coffee cup, binoculars, radio, phones etc. Plus having them out of the way just frees up space for other stuff.

Those wall pockets look good, thanks for the tip. I'll have to check out the local WM to see if they have any in stock. Thinking to keep things in decent shape, might need to line it with neoprene or similar.
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Really, i'd hit up Walmart. There are all sorts of goofy contraptions to keep kids toys/food/drinks etc on the back of mini-van seats, for example. I bet it would be easy to tailor something to work in your application.

http://www.walmart.com/browse/inter...e&catNavId=<c:out+value='1074769'/>&ss=false&
 
That being said, this thread makes me want to build something so it on the wheel wells next to the back seat in my burb. Couple of cupholders is all that is really needed.

Hell, even this tray, secured properly, would be sweet.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/88-94-CHEVY...Parts_Accessories&hash=item25852628ca&vxp=mtr

That being said, i searched GM cupholder thinking i'd find the insert i was looking for.

How about something like this?

Throw some angle clips on it, and you're good to go:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-05-CHEVY...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d15532e94&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-05-CHEVY...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d15532e94&vxp=mtr
 
On my '72 my dad made some boxes out of 1/2" plywood, not easily removable though. They went from the quarter panel to the seat (armrests were removed since these acted like armrests anyways) and from just behind B-pilar to the back of the seat. There aren't any side panels so these actually held a lot. There is then a lid that is fully removable. Outside of the box is carpeted. Wish I could snap some pics but it's 250 miles away.
If you have any fiberglass skills I would imagine you could make some fairly easily.
 
Some real good suggestions guys, thanks!

Problem with a lot of the plastic stuff out there that isn't an OEM application, is that it tends to be brittle. Securing it to something via screws or rivets I can see cracks from bouncing around. But possible, especially if the right material.

Now if someone came up with replacements for the side panels, I'd be all ears. There is so much wasted space behind those, you could easily have cup holders, pockets, etc. But that is complex and would be pricey.

These look pretty darn promising: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-Seat-Back-Organizer/16792384 http://www.walmart.com/ip/High-Road-Cargo-Pack-in-Black/15644935 I suspect they aren't real tough, but this is normally a once a year one week deal, so would probably last for years. Instead of studs, could just use wire clamps held down by the bed rail bolts, and loop those through them. Not sure if there is enough space between the front edge of the bed rail and the wheelwell for that to fit ok. The one is 46" long, I'm sure that is too much. But it's fabric, easily modified, folded, whatever.

I don't like most factory cupholders, they are too small for some of the larger mugs and/or things like gatorade bottles, coffee thermos, etc. I made one out of sheetmetal that will fit a thermos for the fron that bolted to the tuffy console, I could make another for the rear if I had to, if that was the only real fabrication needed.

Edit: someone is wrong about this one http://www.bellautomotive.com/Seat-Back-Organizer-p/22-1-33812-8.htm The manufacturer says it's 32" long, everyone else says it's about half that.
 
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If sheetmetal is your thing, then by all means, make some sweet cupholder ones. YOu can always size a rectangular hole to drop in some sort of plastic tray too.
 
"Sweet" and my finished product normally would not be mentioned in the same sentence lol.

I am quite curious to measure the truck though, see what all options might be viable. If it would stop being so cold I might get motivated to go out and do so. :)

That one seat back organizer really seems like it might work. This: http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad329/c-code71/86%20K5%20Blazer/IMG_1456.jpg would seem to indicate to me that if just the right height, even if longer than is likely to be used by whoever is in the back seat, it would hang fine. Looks like more clearance than 10" from bed rail to wheelwell.
 
I removed the arm rests from my back seat because they just unbolt. Then I put in the 1990-style foam armrests that velcro to the wheelwell carpet because they are so easy to get out of your way. I say that to suggest making your storage kind of like oversized armrests, that bolt to the seat. You could get an extra set of armrests to cut up for a starting point, since they have the right mounting features. You would probably need to rework the tubes to fit almost flush to the wheelwells, to make more room for the storage. Then when you pull the backseat out, no useless side storage - it all comes out together.

Some smaller cars had center console armrests with flip-up storage and a cupholder. If you could find a pair like that and put one on each side it would be cool and could almost look like a factory option.
 
Those aren't bad ideas at all. Replacing/using part of the armrest should be pretty sturdy, and right where you'd want it.

Realistically, if the right size, I would think that option could be left attached at all times, even with the seat folded they would fit. Hmm...
 
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