DIY Storage Box for the access cab

So here is a thread on how my box was built. I want to start off by thanking Allen for taking time out of his busy schedule and giving me such a big hand with this project. When I purchased my 2011 access cab I knew I wasn’t going to be hauling too many people and I really saw my truck as a single cab pick up with some more room. I even thought about getting a single cab but being 6’4 this wasn’t going to happen comfortably so I opted for the access cab. So glad I did. Anyways I wanted somewhere for my dog to sit/sleep if I had a passenger in the car and when I saw what Allen had done with his truck I knew that was the route for me.

So first thing is first. I started by stripping out the back seat of my truck. It wasn’t difficult and it didn’t take too long. I removed the seat belts and cut the carpeting away where necessary. I did not remove the side air bags as I didn’t want to fuck with that. I have heard horror stories.




I cut the carpet in front of the built in shelf looking thing. I wanted to remove that but it is welded in so many places it would have been a pain in the ass so I opted to leave it.





Here are some pictures of the removed items. If any one wants to purchase any of these lemme know. Here is a link to the for sale thread. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...348552-access-can-back-seat-compartments.html








Once the interior is stripped you can start to plan out the dimensions of the box. I don’t remember what numbers we ended up going with but I wanted the box to come up about midway to the back of my seats but I needed it to be roomy enough that I could slide my seat all the way back. As far as materials used I went with 1-1/4” angle steel for the frame, 3/4” plywood for the top and front of the box, and some thin plywood for the side doors. I also used latch buckles for the doors. Everything you’ll need can be purchased at home depot. You will also need self taping screws.


After getting the measurements and dimensions we wanted, we measured the angle steel and cut it to length. We angled the front legs of the box so the bottom was farther from the back of the cab than the top was. This was so we could maximize the space we had. We used a piece of cardboard to make a template for the bend and used an angle grinder to cut a notch of the one side of the angle steel and it bent easily into place, then just weld it up and its good as new.





Once the frame is set then its time for a test fit.



Bitchin

We welded tabs onto the feet and drilled holes to bolt it through the floor of the cab.






we used self tapping screws to mount the frame the back of the cab along the rail provided.




Once the frame was bolted down and everything was solid in place then came time to start cutting the wood. The top and front were easy but the sides were a little trickier. I highly recommend using cardboard to make templates for your wood pieces. If you have any experience in building something like this (I didn’t but Allen did) then you will know what I am talking about.







Things were starting to shape into place and it was awesome. Next came the doors. It took a couple of tries to get it to fit nicely but wasn’t too bad at all.

I wanted to make the doors removable so I used buckles to keep them in place and it worked out really well. In order to do this we made the shape of the side of the box and cut it to fit.



this picture ^^^^^^ shows the box with the open side of the frame. See how the steel frame provides a lip?
this pictureVVVVVVV shows the side doors in one piece.


I cut the side doors more to attach the top and side to the top and side of the frame so that the removable portion of the door would sit flush against the lip of the frame like in the pictures below VVVVV






Then I attached part of the buckle to the removable portion of the door and the other part to the permanently attached portion of the side.






Because I wanted this to be a good platform for my puppy I added two layers of padding below the carpet on top. This provided good cushion for her plus if you put anything heavy on top of the box and it stays in place pretty well. Then just add some carpet and viola.....



Let me know if you have any questions and I hope this helps any one with storage issues.

 

I like it

 

thanks man

 

I mean like, I would do it myself if it wasnt for my pup......really nice

 

Everytime I see something like this, I regret my regular cab more.

Great idea and execution!

 

I made it so that my pup can chill on top she likes it

 

indeed hahaha

 

thanks man

 

lab here...........kind of a tall jump

 

pretty sweet man, there's always room for more storage

 

ahhhh my dog is a bit smaller than a lab, but she usually jumps into the driver seat then climbs into the back. she likes to lay with her ass on the box and front paws on the center console.

 

oh big time.... wait till I finish the sleeping platform and storage in the bed

 

Great work!

 

great modification.

Q: how did youse finish the 6" or 8" (152 - 202 mm- I love doing that!) between the shelf top & bottom of the rear window?

thanks

 

I did something a little different but for the same reasons so here it is for anyone looking into doing the same thing.

 

I love pure and simple.

Good job.

 

@Austin1243 Im looking to do the same set up for my access cab. Any chance you have the dimensions of yours?

 

Don’t know if you still want dimensions but I can get those for you if you would like them