Rear Seat Delete Decks

Nice job, well done!

 

I have a whole rear panel from the group buys that occurred, but if I were you, I'd take a look at the Pelican case MOLLE panels.

Pelican 1610 Case and 1620 Case Molle Panel

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GNZF5H1

That one in particular, around the same size, stand-offs for quick removal if you want, the smaller ones are solid - I have a pair over the windows on my suicide doors from the 1535 size.

But where did you source your rear panel HDPE board, if you don't mind me asking.

 

Sweet, I’m going to check out some of these Pelicans.

Both the bottom deck and the rear wall are actually 3/4” 5-ply birch coated with roll on Raptor liner. I was pretty pleased (and surprised) with the quality of the Raptor Liner.

 

I did some tinkering over the weekend and built a 60/40 deck for my Access Cab out of 3/4" plywood:


I'm very far from a woodworker, so excuse some of the chicken scratch. I had to use some wood filler in a few spots but I think it looks clean now! I'm going to start working on my hatch that's going to be over the center of the factory storage boxes + extend to the footwell to house a second battery project. Anyone have a recommendation for the amount of relief I should account for when making this hatch? I was thinking 1/4" all around as I'm going to carpet and add a hidden hinge + a push button latch. I've got a 60 lb puppy right now that's on track to be around 90 lbs when he's done growing, so the hatch will be framed-in by stainless steel hatch trim. Any advice is helpful; I've built hatches before on a few boats but that was about 10 years ago.

 

Awesome! And it doesn't look like chicken scratch. You did a very nice job! Did you put the passenger seat all the way back for your measurement? And are you thinking you'll frame around the seatbelt latches?
I want to do the same kind of thing for my dog, but out of starboard. I think. It might wind up being steel.

 

That looks great! I used a bunch of wood filler in mine as well. I opted to go the simple route with the hatches - I wasn't confident enough in my craftsmanship to try much. I just used some slotted steel flat bars bolted under the opening so it was about .5" lip for the lid to sit on. Went back and filled in the counterbored bolt hold and sealed over it so it's not visible in the final product.

 

Thanks a lot! Yes I put the passenger seat all the way back so I know it reclines nicely. I think the depth at the deepest part (touching the back wall) is about 23” front to back if you need that measurement. I put a small piece of plywood along the back where the seatbelt latches are just to level it out, but I won’t frame it all. I left part of it exposed so the passenger can grab the seatbelt latch from underneath the platform and click in. You can kind of see the open spot here:


I completely removed the other seatbelt latch.

1/2” overhang sounds good. How much relief did you use on your hatch? Like did you cut your hatch door about 1/4” smaller than the actual hole? I’m waiting on carpet but still contemplating how much I want to cut off of there.

 

I actually just sanded the sides of the hole and the door a good bit after making the initial cut. I spray painted the sides of the hole and door black rather than Raptor lining them so the clearance wouldn't be an issue. Ideally I would have used a router to make a larger gap (I think?) but I didn't have the tools or know-how so again opted for the simple option.

 

Gotcha. Yeah I think(?) the proper tool would be a router with a known width to make a single cut with relief in it. Since I only have a jigsaw I’ll have to cut the pattern for the hatch and then cut a smaller version of it for the door on a separate sheet of plywood to create relief the hard way

 

Yep I only had a jigsaw as well (and little to no woodworking experience + doing the entire build from the bed of my truck in my condo parking garage). I think you'd be totally fine just doing a smaller version of the door with the jigsaw, especially if you are using carpet - that should help cover up any imperfect cuts. Super interested to see how you do the latches!

 

Hello from another member of the jigsaw gang. I'm currently working on a full seat delete, and while I don't have some of the fancy tools some of you guys have, I always have my trusty jigsaw. I'll hopefully post some pictures this weekend, but progress has been slow and I'm still waiting on some stuff to come in so it may be another week still yet. I appreciate all the inspiration I've gotten from you guys along the way to make this possible!

 

Anyone have suggestions on what to finish the platform with? I picked up some Herculiner but I'm reading mixed things about using it for this application. I can't decide on what I wanna go with.

 

It will off gas for a LONG TIME, so keep that in mind. But you could always just put a vinyl wrap on it, with the appropriate adhesive applied.

$15 VViViD Black Indestructible Paint Wrap Truck Vinyl roll (1ft x 5ft)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084P5XJ8D

 

I used a latex primer to seal the wood and some leftover POR - 15 spray on bed liner from my sliders. Let it cure for a few days before you put it in.

 

I used roll on Raptor Liner and was super impressed with how it turned out. Would highly recommend it.

 

I used that on my bumper. Good stuff.

 

Did a quick and dirty today.

Had some 1/2" sheathing lying around. Wanted to make something that can easily go in for the dogs to lay on but easily revert back to seats.

Nothing fancy but it was free and I can pull it out have someone sitting in the back seat in five minutes.

 

I did not know there was a bucket style rear seat option, that's cool!

 

These seats are no different than any other leather seats.

 

Figured something out today, I think. So mock up your hatch:


Then use a circular saw to plunge cut as straight of a line as possible. This will help avoid the nasty crap you get when using a jigsaw for straight lines.


Flip it over so the finish side is facing down and just end the cut with a jigsaw.


Muuuuch more square than I’d ever get with just a jigsaw. Now onto bracing and carpet!