Calling overlanders: let's discuss shelving

[hear]

For starters, I'm not an overlander, nor do I have much interest in overlanding. Or what most people just call camping. Whatever you call it, I love driving my jeep but I want to sleep in a bed at night. Now be that as it may, my crew is doing one of these longer trails in Arkansas that will involve some camping. Obviously this requires a bunch of supplies and I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to increase my storage capacity without spending much money (or time).

The bed area is about 35x35, so I was thinking about something like 2x4's or 2x6's along the wheel wells and then maybe 1/2" plywood across them as a shelf. That will give me tons of storage underneath, but also not super high once my cooler etc. goes on the shelf. What I don't have any idea on is how to secure it so that it doesn't bounce around back there. I figured the weight of the wood + cooler would've been enough, but my full-send Oklahoma friend believes it needs to be secured. If he says that, I should probably listen.

So I guess I have two asks:
1). what are some ideas on how to secure this sort of thing to the jeep floor
2). what are some other easy DIY ideas in this regard?

 

[lBasket]

If you want it to be temporary you might be able to just fish ratchet straps through it and hook into the tie downs already in the bottom of the tub.

 

[SRCustom]

...Obviously this requires a bunch of supplies and I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to increase my storage capacity without spending much money (or time)...

No, it doesn't require a bunch of supplies. And that's the philosophy behind having a Jeep in the first place--you really don't need much more than a knife, a blanket, and a cooler for the beer. Some of us old guys might go crazy and take a tent and an air mattress too, but there's plenty of room for that.

On the other hand, if you're compelled to take stuff like refrigerators, laptops, and generators, maybe one of those 4-door Station Wranglers would be a better fit.

 

[glowell222]

You could use the boltholes for the seatbelt anchors on the sides and bottom of the tub, make or adapt brackets to bolt in. If you have a later TJ, you can remove the seat brackets and use those boltholes as well, or adapt the seat brackets to be used-that would give you some quick disconnect options.

 

[mrblaine]

No, it doesn't require a bunch of supplies. And that's the philosophy behind having a Jeep in the first place--you really don't need much more than a knife, a blanket, and a cooler for the beer. Some of us old guys might go crazy and take a tent and an air mattress too, but there's plenty of room for that.

On the other hand, if you're compelled to take stuff like refrigerators, laptops, and generators, maybe one of those 4-door Station Wranglers would be a better fit.

First time Cliff D. and crew camped with us in JV, when it got close to bed time, they kicked all the rocks out of the way, dug a shallow hip hole and rolled out the heavy duty sleeping bags. That was the sum total of their camping set up for sleeping. No tents and nothing but a nice comfy bag on the ground.

 

[hear]

I don’t need a TON of stuff, but I am bringing a kid with me, and it’s going to be raining. So I need tent, sleeping bags, cooler, camp chairs, cooler, some tools, etc. im not talking about packing to the gills or anything.

You could use the boltholes for the seatbelt anchors on the sides and bottom of the tub, make or adapt brackets to bolt in. If you have a later TJ, you can remove the seat brackets and use those boltholes as well, or adapt the seat brackets to be used-that would give you some quick disconnect options.

I have a 97 so the only bolt hole is in the middle for the seatbelt short ends.

 

[SRCustom]

First time Cliff D. and crew camped with us in JV, when it got close to bed time, they kicked all the rocks out of the way, dug a shallow hip hole and rolled out the heavy duty sleeping bags. That was the sum total of their camping set up for sleeping. No tents and nothing but a nice comfy bag on the ground.

 

[mrblaine]

I have a 97 so the only bolt hole is in the middle for the seatbelt short ends.

You have the same bolt holes on the sides all the rest do, you just have seat brackets bolted to them.

 

[hear]

Yeah, no me gusta on that.

 

[SRCustom]

You have the same bolt holes on the sides all the rest do, you just have seat brackets bolted to them.

...and he's got those strap loops all over the bed.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

Here's the platform I built to haul these guys around:

I refer to it as a platform because they can't resist forcing their mesage to anyone that can hear them.

I wanted it removable and didn't want to add holes to the tub but I also didn't want it to be bouncing around while off road. This is one of the six "mounts" that hold it in place. It's been working fine for 5 years so far.

This is how it is installed or removed and re-installed and re-removed, etc, etc.

The extra long plywood on the long side of the hinge hits the short side of the hinge and keeps the whole thing from folding down beyond flat.

View with driver seat pulled forward and foam excercise mat installed. I had been planning on closing the front but it's kinda handy to access some stuff from the front. The center nub is there to keep the dogs from falling down between the seats and behind the console or intentionally going down on purpose to claim anything edible that may be under there.

I will say that even using 1x4 boards it's more than strong enough for me to stand on. I don't plan on standing on it and I've had a few various items that needed an extra inch or so of clearance to fit under there so I'm planning on trimming down the long side 1x4s except the ones along the front.

 

[Tj1004]

@JEEPCJTJ - that’s badass

 

[dcoop]

Most of the overlanders or Jeep campers I see up here in Arkansas use hammocks with a net over it. We have plenty of trees.

 

[ShinyTravisto]

Probably more permanent than you're looking for, but I used the rear seat bolts to weld up a support then just used the wheel wells to support the rear. Made wall up front so everything is seperated and puts ome cheap carpet in so it looks kinda stock and my pup is comfortable. Added tie down tracks for the cooler as well.

 

[lBasket]

All these people with their miniature dogs that fit on a shelf

 

[hear]

Probably more permanent than you're looking for, but I used the rear seat bolts to weld up a support then just used the wheel wells to support the rear. Made wall up front so everything is seperated and puts ome cheap carpet in so it looks kinda stock and my pup is comfortable. Added tie down tracks for the cooler as well. View attachment 619854

View attachment 619855

View attachment 619856

That just bolts in/out right? It’s probably taller than what I want but conceptually it’s on the right track. Looks good too.

 

[ShinyTravisto]

That just bolts in/out right? It’s probably taller than what I want but conceptually it’s on the right track. Looks good too.

Yep, just bolts in. Wanted it secure enough that stuff wouldn't become shrapnel if there was a roll or something, but modular just in case.

 

[KennethS]

I don’t need a TON of stuff, but I am bringing a kid with me, and it’s going to be raining. So I need tent, sleeping bags, cooler, camp chairs, cooler, some tools, etc. im not talking about packing to the gills or anything.

A friend and I went on a 3 day camping / hunting trip and fit all of our gear in back of my '98 - just removed the back seat and started packing. Cooler, tent, sleeping bags, stove, lantern, chairs, shotguns, waders, and a dozen duck decoys. Was not even to the tops of the seats, so we still had room for more stuff.

 

[macleanflood]

Hook Road rear rack or a piece of 3/4" plywood wrapped in marine carpet from wheel well to well... factory hole in the top you can bolt the plywood down with.

Don't waste space on bulky dimensional lumber.

-Mac

 

[hear]

Hook Road rear rack or a piece of 3/4" plywood wrapped in marine carpet from wheel well to well... factory hole in the top you can bolt the plywood down with.

Don't waste space on bulky dimensional lumber.

-Mac

what are you using as the riser? Link to the Hook Road thing?

Although I think I can do what I"m thinking with lumber I have on hand. The space is only part of it. Having some degree of organization & the ability to get something out without other things sliding around is also a goal. I also don't expect to do very many of these sorts of adventures so I'm keeping the investment to a minimum.