RB-50 rear compartment mod

[Tapatio]

The storage area under the rear bed platform is fairly limited so I added some folding brackets to raise it another 7". This allows me to easily lower it when we need the bed. It's strong enough to support the weight of an adult and sits very securely once the wing nuts are tightened. Worked out really well so I thought I would pass it along.









Parts used:

3/4" cabinet grade plywood cut to 29" X 7"

1/4-20-1" wing bolts

12" locking shelf brackets http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0039ZB2RI

1/4-20 thread inserts. Home Depot carries them, here's a picture http://www.amazon.com/4-20-Alloy-Hex...3430787&sr=1-1

Speaker Cover Carpet and Spray Adhesive

[Ford_6L_E350]

It looks like you are using wing bolts, not nuts. And, unless I'm mistaken, the reason you need to tighten the wings in to keep the shelf brackets from folding and causing the bed to collapse.

I think you would accomplish the same thing if you simply had some threaded rod sticking out of the threaded inserts. Once the rod is in the hole on the bed rails, the brackets can't collapse and no need to get under there and install or remove the wings. Of course, the platform could lift up and then collapse, but gravity is pretty good at keeping things down and it would take a really big whoopdeedoo to lift the bed off the rails. And, a longer piece of threaded rod would stop that.

Mike

[Tapatio]

Wing bolts not nuts, corrected. The suspension on the 4X4's is pretty stiff and I wanted to make sure it didn't come loose when 4x4'ing.

[jage]

Great mod. Awesome that it folds in place too.

[Zeta]

Nice.

Z

[johnolden]

Good Idea, but if you have cargo in that area you have to move it in order to lower the bed platform for sleeping.

Has anyone ever moved the bed platform (at night) to be in front of the couch? That would require some type of nighttime support for the platform in front of the bed.

[jage]

Originally Posted by johnolden

Has anyone ever moved the bed platform (at night) to be in front of the couch? That would require some type of nighttime support for the platform in front of the bed.

You would also lose the "split" piece, which could be narrow or wide depending on your equipment.