Removing jump seats and storage compartments

I love my 09 Tacoma access cab, but the one thing that I wish it had was more storage space behind the seats. We don't have kids and will never use the jump seats behind the cab, so I was wondering if it's possible to remove the seats and flatten the space in the Access Cab extension by removing the plastic boxes (that hold the spare tire stuff, etc). I'm a good woodworker and would like to build a shallow, carpeted, and lockable storage box for the access cab section. This would enable me to store valuables out of site as well as give us a wider storage space without the jumpseats getting in the way. Has anyone done anything like this?

 

So far as I can tell, you can't remove the storage boxes and gain space, you just get a hole in the cab. The 05 tacoma used to have seats that folded flat, and that was awesome, but the newer versions have the jumpseats.

Here is a pic of what I did. The seats come out easy, just three bolts each. I just made some boxes to sit on the floor and level it out. I need to engineer something to cover the center console. For the moment I have it stuffed with blankets and the dogs don't seem to care too much.

 

Beautiful! Thanks MB. I've been lurking and searching on TW the past hour since posting the original question and I've seen a lot of solutions to this common problem (stupid crummy 2009 rear seat design grumble grumble). It's good to know that the rear seats, headrests, and center console are removable because those suckers are outta there. My goal is for a nearly-stock looking system that has lockable lids and maybe a lockable drawer that slides out of each side. Like I said, I'm a pretty decent woodworker, though car mods are new territory for me.

 

I hear you. I rigged up a dog bench as my first mod, and since revamped it.
I might consider gutting the jumpseats myself...
I found great ideas for storage (and soo-o-o-o much more!) here
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forums/91-Storage-Solutions
or
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/64521-Tacoma-rear-seat-platform
or this guy, his set-up rivals bajataco for function and design
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/47516-LATEST-PROJECT-Truck-Drawers-Sleeping-Platform
If you got the skills, giddyup!
Cheers!

 

That guy that made the bed in his bed has some damn skill!