Backseat/toolbox finished!

Finally got the seat cushions upholstered and installed.

 

That's a pretty cool set up. Lots of lockable storage. I like that rollcage design too, mine has those slanted kickers that waste space. What top model is that?

 

Duro-last roofing material (PVC single-ply membrane)!
Great stuff, won't tear, but unconventional use.

 

Very nice! I'm thinking about building some high backs for the back seat and your design is great. I like the way you radiused the angle iron corners and then welded them back together.

 

Here's a few more pics Dan Stew asked for:

Basic box:

Inside:

Latch:

Hinge:

Seat frame:

Put together:

Installed:

Open:

Closed:

Cushions added:

 

Thanks Dan.

All of the square corners are cut and welded together. The radiused corners are cut with a chop saw, then bent and welded. I think I left 1/8" between the 16 cuts. The cuts just graze the bottom of the angle, then I clamped it in a vise and bent it by hand and ran a bead with a wire welder on one side.

 

Dan - one more thing I would change: I would make two or three cuts in the back support uprights instead of one so the seat would lean back a little more.

 

How many attempts at the cuts did it take before figured out how many were needed to make a 90 degree bend.

 

"I owe you a beer" - I only drink the cheap e-beers (and only a sip at a time)

I used the back off of a steel wardrobe cabinet for the box material and bent it up. This was my first project using a wire welder, so don't look too close at my booger welds inside. It is, however, watertight!
The first pic shows my bender (welding table top) - angle iron, clamps, saber saw and hammer do the rest.
A folding back would be nice, but you'll have to make something to hold it upright, and allow it to pivot - more than I wanted to get into at the time. The only fabrication problem I had was bending the hinges for the lid offset. I used a piece of 3/8" square keystock clamped between the hinge and vise and a BIG hammer to persuade it. The box lid is 1/4" bigger all the way around than the box, so I had to have a way to offset it without a really thick spacer.

 

Believe it or not, I got it on the second try. I made the first trial piece with about 20 cuts and after bending it square, counted the cuts, and deducted the extras. More luck than anything!

 

It's great when it works out like that. Nice work!

 

very cool. I don't know when your started. I have not looked at the board in a while. I started building a similar project a week ago. In mine the box is only 8 inches deep because I wanted it to fold down and stay hidden under a toneau cover when not in use. I used 3/4 water pipe and a bender for the curves on mine, but the angle iron idea really looks good. Thank you for posting the pictures. I will certainly borrow that idea for some future project. The slots give it a very interesting look as well as a functional bend. The project realy looks good.

 

also if your not in the mood to search a junk yard I bought two new seat belts for mine from a place called rv and truck supply for about $17 I found them on ebay with a seat belt search.

 

Click . . . Save . . .

 

Brilliant!!!