- Thread starter
- #1
Endeavoring to find a way to have the whole back of my 4runner be level with the seats folded down I decided to try and build a platform. I love the way my wife's highlander folds completely flat when the seats are down. It facilitates hauling crap around so much better than the way my 4runner does. I wanted to simply build a frame and then lay plywood across it and the over the seats up to the back of the front seats. Being an expereinced DYIer with loads of wood working experience my first thought was to build it out of plywood. The issue with this is the weight and bulkiness of framing it out. I want to be able to pull it out and stash it without a lot of effort.
A couple years ago when I rebuilt our deck the railing was all made out of aluminum and I loved how it turned out. I was able to cut it with my Milwaukee miter saw using a blade suitable for aluminum. It was easy to work with and it was absolutely square and lightweight. At the local makers space they use a lot of 2020 extruded aluminum to build frames for the robotics club. It looked pretty straight forward and it is relatively affordable so I decided that would be a ticket. The guys down there were helpful and gave me the amazon links they use to get the material and the little hardware kits. Apparently it can support up to 2300 lbs or something so it's tough stuff.
Now, I am a complete noob when it comes to working with metal and I have definitely learned a few lessons on this project. You can't think like a wood worker when you're using this stuff it's like building legos. If I had take that into consideration it would have been far less of a learning curve. The hardware required is diverse and you really have to puzzle it all out as you go. That being said I would definitely do it differently had I known what I know now. I wouldn't use the 2020 that they use at the makers space it works but it isn't ideal. I would use 8020 which I learned is more industrial and people build their camper vans out of it. By the time I waded into this I had gone too far down the path to change my material. So I am stuck with the 2020 unless I scrap it all and start over and that is not happening.
I also evolved this project from just being a platform to being more modular. I want to be able to stick my ICECO fridge back there and also have a locking drawer to keep my work tools and camera gear out of sight and more secure. I took some measurements and jumped on my drafting program and came up with this design. I measured everything to account for the 3/16" the 3 way corner brackets require to fit and create the joints. On the top view that is the thicker black lines in the corners. Turns out there are square 3 way connectors that make this way easier that I didn't find out about unit I was already collating crap together.
This also sits higher up against the back seats so that when the 3/4" plywood is connected it rests on the seats and is level with the plywood that is part of the drawer system. I've also had to double up the frame on the bottom so that the drawer can clear the rear bottom trim.
UPDATE WITH FINAL PAINTED FORM:
I also have everything painted and mounted ready to go. Just have to tie down the fridge and chase rattles which.
A couple years ago when I rebuilt our deck the railing was all made out of aluminum and I loved how it turned out. I was able to cut it with my Milwaukee miter saw using a blade suitable for aluminum. It was easy to work with and it was absolutely square and lightweight. At the local makers space they use a lot of 2020 extruded aluminum to build frames for the robotics club. It looked pretty straight forward and it is relatively affordable so I decided that would be a ticket. The guys down there were helpful and gave me the amazon links they use to get the material and the little hardware kits. Apparently it can support up to 2300 lbs or something so it's tough stuff.
Now, I am a complete noob when it comes to working with metal and I have definitely learned a few lessons on this project. You can't think like a wood worker when you're using this stuff it's like building legos. If I had take that into consideration it would have been far less of a learning curve. The hardware required is diverse and you really have to puzzle it all out as you go. That being said I would definitely do it differently had I known what I know now. I wouldn't use the 2020 that they use at the makers space it works but it isn't ideal. I would use 8020 which I learned is more industrial and people build their camper vans out of it. By the time I waded into this I had gone too far down the path to change my material. So I am stuck with the 2020 unless I scrap it all and start over and that is not happening.
I also evolved this project from just being a platform to being more modular. I want to be able to stick my ICECO fridge back there and also have a locking drawer to keep my work tools and camera gear out of sight and more secure. I took some measurements and jumped on my drafting program and came up with this design. I measured everything to account for the 3/16" the 3 way corner brackets require to fit and create the joints. On the top view that is the thicker black lines in the corners. Turns out there are square 3 way connectors that make this way easier that I didn't find out about unit I was already collating crap together.
This also sits higher up against the back seats so that when the 3/4" plywood is connected it rests on the seats and is level with the plywood that is part of the drawer system. I've also had to double up the frame on the bottom so that the drawer can clear the rear bottom trim.
UPDATE WITH FINAL PAINTED FORM:
I also have everything painted and mounted ready to go. Just have to tie down the fridge and chase rattles which.
Sponsored
