I was a little upset to see after getting my '07 S'crew that the rear seat back no longer folds down. With the already limited bed length I wasn't about to put a bed toolbox back there, but I need a place to store tie-downs, rope, ice scrapers, tools, flashlights.....typical truck things.

I was pretty disgusted by the prices of the bolt-in ready made plastic units out there. $170+ for the DuHa one, and $100 for the Ford Accessories one, which only goes 1/2-way across the seat. I was thinking of just getting a low-style plastic container box and bungee cording it in place under there or something, but I wanted a more finished look to it.

I hit Home Depot this morning and grabbed an 8 ft X 10 in plank of 3/4" MDF. It cost a whopping $6.40.

It took a lot of measuring and some minor adjustments here and there while assembling it, but all told it probably took me a little over an hour.

The driver's side seat bracket already has 2 holes along the forward-facing edge. I drilled 2 similar holes in the passenger's side. Right where the side pieces meet against the bracket faces, the side pieces are 6.5" tall. At their forward edge where they meet the main board that goes across the seat, they are 6.75 inches tall. I used (2) 1.25" drywall screws to secure the side pieces to the brackets, through the holes, from behind the forward facing edge of the bracket.

Once they were secured and square I measured across from outside edge to outside edge of the side pieces. I then cut the main board that goes across the seat to that length, and ripped it lengthwise to be 6.75" tall, the same height of the side pieces where they join them.

I trimmed a piece of cardboard repeatedly to match the contour of the floor as it humps up in the middle. I then used the cardboard as a template to trace out on and cut the center of the main board. This was the most time consuming part, as I had to keep taking a little bit more off the hump cut-out to get the board to sit down properly.

Then I used (3) 1.25 drywall screws at each end to screw through the front of the main board into the side pieces. I then made one more diagonal cut to cut the corners down at the front/top corner of each side. Knowing I would be doing this, I made sure to make the top screw a bit low so the saw wouldn't hit it.

(Let me just add that being MDF, it's pretty important to pre-drill all holes before screwing)






Now I just have to pick up some (hopefully) matching carpet and pull it back out to cover it. I wasn't too precise or fussy about it because the carpet will be covering it. I figure after getting the carpet my total investment will still be under $20.
I also may add a gusset or two in each corner for strength, and if things are ending up too far back they will prevent the seat from raising all the way so I may have to add another board across the rear, but we'll see.

 

I think you did a good job. It looks cool. The prices for some of the store bought versions are really absurd. Glad you saved some cash.

 

Thanks! I'll get more pics after I carpet it and it's in place for good.

 

Looks really nice, especially when you carpet it! You might be on to something, marketing wise, for underseat storage.

 

Fantastic!
I was wanting to do the same for mine after seeing the Du-Ha prices and being what appeared dual-wall thin plastic.

I know you can find some matching auto carpet and most likely go over the sides and do the stapling at the bottom so it is done inside and out. I also bet with some 'L' brakets you could make some decent dividers or at least tack some carpet on the bottom to forgive any greasy tools, cables or what not.

Excellent work!

I guess I will be breaking out my drill, saw and jig next open day I have.

 

That looks pretty good! nice clean job

 

Great idea - nice job. I need to check the space I would have. My drivers side has the sub and I guess an amp underneath. But if I have room for SOME storage it would be a mod to do...

 

looks nice, and as mentioned, with carpet it will look even better!


with a lock on the seat, you have a decently secure place for hunting gear there

 

I have the same problem, there's NO room , not even worth doing ..sucks

BTW looks good!

 

Well, it still may be worth it because there's at least a little more room around the jack than you'd think, and some stuff will fit in the center "hump" section too. Not a LOT, but even just being able to keep a couple of tie-downs or bungees under there is a help.

 

Excellent job!!! I'm inspired to do the same. Thanks for sharing.

 

Cool, I'm glad it may have helped some others out. One other thing I forgot to mention is that you have to loosen the velcro straps that hold the lugwrench stuff to the the jack bracket, and slide it inward just a bit (the jack does not need to move). There's enough velcro material that you can re-fasten them.

 

Thank you.

 

wow, that's a great idea, and it' funny i came across this today because just yesterday was looking over my shoulder on the floor. I noticed all my stuff had slid out from under the seat. ie: jumpercables, ratchet straps...misc stuff.....that's going to look real nice. think i might have to put some money together and pick up some wood!!

 

That will look great once you wrap it with carpet to match.