Rear cargo conversion (inspired by Kenny)

Well, I had been daydreaming about Kenny's project all week. The wife gave the go ahead as our 9th anniversary present. I gutted all the plastic out this morning, about 1hr. I then cleaned out all the crevices and Moab dust. (I feel your pain Bart, I can't even imagine doing the whole truck, but I am getting there). I got out the angle grinder and removed the factory jack mount. I now realize how much room is wasted with all that plastic. You can see how big the gap is between the rear seats and the body. Before I could only snug my CO2 bottle in there, now there is a ton of room. So I picked up a quart of rustoleum undercoat for the sides and a quart of herculiner for the floor. The ultimate goal is for this to be lightly hoseable. The rustoleum covers amazingly well, and you get a nice buzz while in there painting, even with a fan on and windows down. It dries hard to the touch in about 30 minutes and covered the yellow completely in once coat. I will finish other side tomorrow and the floor as well. I will add some cargo tie downs to the side and floor. Next up will be the wheel well covers. I will do similar to Kenny, only leave cubby holes in the rear and front, one for CO2 bottle, one for tow straps/first aid....In the front I will drill out a few holes and put in cup holders. That should give me a ton more convenient storage. The rear seats will be staying in. Its not that bad once painted. I need to get some flex conduit, rerun all the wiring, add some side mounted lights, mount the amp, and voila, a much more useable rear cargo space. This project should cost me less than 100 bucks total. The two cans were about 40 bucks together. I figure some treated plywood or perhaps masonite for the fender covers, I will herculine that as well. I will get some LED lights for the sides. This is a pretty fun project so far. Instant gratification kind of thing. The only thing that will cost me will be some 6x9s and some boxes. I will mount those high, similar to Ldub(IIRC) did in his.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/IMGP1036.JPG

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I finally got my Monstaliner test kit from those guys. My plan is to use that stuff to cover the entire interior's bottom half, and the outside parts that are black (on my Trooper). I'll let you know how that stuff works after I test it. its supposed to be UV protected and not as bumpy as Herculiner.

Bart

Sweet, let me know. After this, I am gonna POR-15 the frame and undercarriage. Soda Blast it in the driveway. I figure that will take me 3 or 4 days.

Day two of the what my wife calls the "waste of time" project. I got the sides done and the floor rhinolined. I will move the amp and do the storage portion tomorrow and hopefully be done. Then I will do my overhead console. That should be interesting. I have touch up to do with the undercarriage coating.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/IMGP1044.JPG

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I really only have one question,

WHY!

Oh, and I got the the switches, thanks Chris

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I really only have one question,

WHY!

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I would guess because cleaning mud, grease, and grime out of the VX's carpet gets old, not to mention repairing rips or snags from moving offroad gear in and out. Form follows function, so some of our VX's are destined for car shows, and some are destined for getting beat on offroad.

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Originally Posted by Ascinder

I would guess because cleaning mud, grease, and grime out of the VX's carpet gets old, not to mention repairing rips or snags from moving offroad gear in and out. Form follows function, so some of our VX's are destined for car shows, and some are destined for getting beat on offroad.

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Agree 100%.
I would never do what Marlin is doing to his VX (overall, not just this mod) but I understand why he is doing it.
Marlin, I just hope you never change your mind and try and sell her - it sure would be rock bottom price.:bwgy::smilewink;)

PK

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Originally Posted by PK

Agree 100%.
I would never do what Marlin is doing to his VX (overall, not just this mod) but I understand why he is doing it.
Marlin, I just hope you never change your mind and try and sell her - it sure would be rock bottom price.:bwgy::smilewink;)

PK

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Hell no it wouldn't. Just have find someone who is going to wheel her...not that I plan on selling anytime soon. Here is the reason I am doing it:
#1-bored
#2-I am tired of pussyfooting around in the back worried about scratching something or another, and not having any room. Now I have plenty of room, once I get the sides up and mounted, and like Ascinder said, I don't have to worry about cleaning up so much.
#3-The only big cosmetic/visible mods I have done overall is the front bumper-which is easily returned to stock, and the rear interior, which will be far better when I am done.
#4-The VX will never be a show car, hell a similar yeared V6 4WD Amigo sells for more than our precious VX, so if you are holding your VX as a collectors item or something, your gonna have to wait another 50 or 60 yrs before its worth anything. Enjoy her while you can!!!
#5-Someone has to post up ridiculous pics on here, there are lot of people thinking of doing things to their trucks, but are scared, Kenny just beat me to this one. :upsetgray So maybe someone will see this and think, hey, maybe I can do the project I have always wanted to.
#6-I am having fun, which is the most important part. I see the few pics of lowered VXs and think "why in the hell would you do that?!" I stilldont get it, but to each their own, as long as they enjoy it:)

Think i would go for alluminium chequer plate covered MDF (or similar) for mine, but i get the reasoning behind it!

I also like the mesh some people use over here, like a 2mm guage fence all along the inside and you can company that with brackets for tools / winches and bags for kit etc. Will find a pic



This is a netting version

http://www.devon4x4.com/products_a/p...pouch-set.html

would be a quality built in but removabld box with different size bins. That plastic coating is great stukk but stuff can slide all over the place. I also get annoyed by the noise of stuff sliding around and the increased echo factor. Perhaps there is a large plastic cargo box that would fit in the space

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Originally Posted by circmand

would be a quality built in but removabld box with different size bins. That plastic coating is great stukk but stuff can slide all over the place. I also get annoyed by the noise of stuff sliding around and the increased echo factor. Perhaps there is a large plastic cargo box that would fit in the space

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Well, then nonskid I put on the floor, nothing is sliding. For the sides, I like the cargo netting idea, use caribiners to attach stuff. Stuff swinging would be a bit annoying. We shall see. I did discover that I have a loose connection on my drivers front speaker, never noticed it till it was the only speakers I have connected.

Alright!!! I spent 6 hours today working on the back. I am 95% complete. I am going to strap the 6x9s down instead of mounting them. They will sit at the front end of the boxes I made. (not shown in photos in their final location) There is no room in the back, and they are too big for an overhead mount. So, under the boxes will be the drink holders. The boxes came out even better than I thought they would. The CO2 bottle fits like a dream. I found my CO2 extinguisher in the garage, went ahead and mounted that. The Tow strap will be strapped down as well. I fit the exhaust adapter for my jack under the rear potion on the passenger side. The amp mount came out good as well. I am pleased with the results. Here are some pics:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/IMGP1047.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/IMGP1051.JPG

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If you notice, the front of the boxes make awesome arm rests. I used outdoor carpeting instead of speak box carpet. It is sturdier, has a rubber backing, so deadens noise, its more comfortable as well. I hate carpeting, it takes forever, but I give myself a B+ on the carpeting job. Maybe an A-. I have had the same carpet on my back patio for 2 yrs, no fading, no ripping. Good stuff.
All together I have about 120 bucks, not including the 6x9s. I will finish up tomorrow. I am beat, 95 degrees, 110% humidity. I hate living in a swamp sometimes.

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Originally Posted by Marlin

If you notice, the front of the boxes make awesome arm rests. I used outdoor carpeting instead of speak box carpet. It is sturdier, has a rubber backing, so deadens noise, its more comfortable as well. I hate carpeting, it takes forever, but I give myself a B+ on the carpeting job. Maybe an A-. I have had the same carpet on my back patio for 2 yrs, no fading, no ripping. Good stuff.
All together I have about 120 bucks, not including the 6x9s. I will finish up tomorrow. I am beat, 95 degrees, 110% humidity. I hate living in a swamp sometimes.

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What is the kewlest part is the way it all looks like a bunch of X's!:bwgy:

*yo's pics ain't wok'in!*

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Originally Posted by Triathlete

What is the kewlest part is the way it all looks like a bunch of X's!:bwgy:

*yo's pics ain't wok'in!*

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Thats weird, they are fine for me. Try checking my gallery, I uploaded them to the actual VX site.

:_wtf: :_huh: :_thinking Now they are working.

NICE! this is really coming together.

I just got back from Harbor Freight. That place is the devil. I got some of the nite eyes caribiners. They fit the holes in the overhead perfect. I hung up the tow strap, flashlights, air hose for the CO2 bottle. The 6x9s are in their final resting place. Now all I need to do is hit the yards and get some factory drink holders for the arm rests. Too hot to work today. Gonna play some Final Fantasy XIII. Yippee for fathers day!
I also picked up a small 3gal air compressor for 39 bucks. Good deal. They also had a 900watt generator for under 100 bucks. I did some research, only bad reviews I could find is that you have to replace the Chinese spark plug with a good one, and it is loud like a weed eater. It would be awesome for junkyarding. Then you could bring electric drill and impact wrench, sawzall...If I could find a place to mount that, then I would be zombie revolution prepared!!!!

All the work youve done looks really great. My rig will never be a show truck thats for sure.Thanks for posting all the pics. It helps to know what your getting into with a project like this or the bumper you did.

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Originally Posted by IRONVIKING

All the work youve done looks really great. My rig will never be a show truck thats for sure.Thanks for posting all the pics. It helps to know what your getting into with a project like this or the bumper you did.

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I am starting a new bumper now:) I will post up pics when everything is done, I am hanging all the tow straps and lights and whatnot from the overhead.