[jimnynutter]

So this is what I've started with.
Pulled out my rear seats, reason being I never have people in the back seat, bought the vitara as the now ex of Missus wanted something more comfy than the Jimny and extra seats for her friends so she could socialize.
Now that that we aren't together anymore I've got an awesome vitara and no need for back seats but a desperate need for a decent draw system. So ill post up pics as we go.

Plan is
2 draws with slot for my camp table above them and then a sliding extendable bed base so I can sleep in the cabin
And all I have to do is pull up on level ground where I'm camping. slide the front seats forward and chuck the backrest back. slide bed base forward and attach legs. Fold out my Clarke rubber double bed comfy as heck mattress and slide under the covers and to bed.

Pulled out the back seats.




Went down to bunnings today with dad in his patrol and picked up 3 sheets of 12mm structural ply, was going to go form ply as its designed to get wet and survive but it was Deemed way to bloody heavy for this intricate design I've got in mind.

[reeceh]

I'm not having a go, but consult with your department of transport about removing the rear seats. I know there's some rules in qld about removing them. But should be great though with the extra length of the lwb!

[jimnynutter]

Thanks reeceh ill check that out. But I can't imagine ill have that much trouble, all the ST pack GU patrols I see have had the rear seats unbolted and I haven't heard of anyone getting pulled up for it. But I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Today's progress,

Got the frame together


This is we're it will sit in regards to the back of the front seats I wanted it this way so i still had the big areas behind the front seats. One side will have the esky/fridge the other side will have my bag of tools.

This edge is how high the next layer will be my table will slide on top.

Table will sit on the carpeted bit and be enclosed with another top.

[missmyljdaze]

If whoever you speak to at your Transport mob says its ok to run without seats- get it in writing, even if its just an email.
Print it out, bung it in a envelope and stash it in your owners handbook....just in case.

stephen

[reeceh]

I got defected when I had the rear seats in my laser removed. It was a self clear defect. The rules are something like if you make them permanently removed you have to get it put on ur rego or some jazz!

[jimnynutter]

Well I've checked the vehicle standards bulletin and modifications bulletin, and nothing is mentioned about "non permanent occupant carrying capacity reduction"

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/ ... 011_v2.pdf

[Fatzook]

jimnynutter wrote:

Well I've checked the vehicle standards bulletin and modifications bulletin, and nothing is mentioned about "non permanent occupant carrying capacity reduction"

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/ ... 011_v2.pdf

Well you can't prove how long the seats have been out for, and the presence of a rear draw unit will certainly make it look like you have no intention of re-fitting them.

I'd be suprised if you could talk your way out of a defect given the above.

[jimnynutter]

Fat zook, I could not agree more with you, I'll call the transport hicks tomorrow and find out.

[Fatzook]

jimnynutter wrote:

Fat zook, I could not agree more with you, I'll call the transport hicks tomorrow and find out.

Seating capacity change is a mod plate only. $100ish.

[jimnynutter]

But if I need to chuck the back seats in then am Legally allowed to do that?

[Fatzook]

jimnynutter wrote:

But if I need to chuck the back seats in then am Legally allowed to do that?

Nope.

Can't have your cake and eat it too

[jimnynutter]

So I would have to get it re mod plated the. Basically?

F@&$

[Fatzook]

Yeah. Still, it won't hurt to ask I guess.

[jimnynutter]

Just got off the phone with the receptionist at an engineering place, waiting for a call back,
She said it needs to be mod plated but under certain circumstances (which she wouldn't elaborate on) I am in the clear.

[atari4x4]

meh, why bother?

the body lift or larger tyres would be more of a concern than removed seats.

[royce]

This come up a while back and it was asked of the people that hand out the tickets what the go was

It was thought that if it looked like it would come out pretty simply (IE it looks like its latched in not bolted in) and you had a good reason for it being in at the time you'd be in the clear

[jimnynutter]

Sweet., its not designed to be hard to remove, so that should give me some leeway in negotiation with the constabulary.

Where as body lift and big boy tyres, I've passed and been passed by numerous difference police cars and none have batted an eyelid at my car.
So I'm not too worried but if the canary does arrive then ill just cross that bridge when I come to it.

[jimnynutter]

We cut out the sides and bases for the drawers and placed them on the carpet to make sure we'd have enough
Plenty left as you can see


Tomorrow night we will get the front and backs of the drawers marked up and cut out.

At this point I have to give a massive thanks to my dad Glen, without him I would not have been able to make this, (he can use the circular saw much better than I can, to say the least. your an awesome bloke dad and I love you heaps!!!!

Pics are coming as we build it.

Price so far
180$ for 3 sheets of 2.4x1.2x12mm structural ply
81$ for 4m2 marine Carpet
$10.97 bottle of Selley's PVA wood glue
$2.50 drawer handles

[tonyevans]

Nice idea

[want33s]

Lookin' good

Heavy duty drawer slides are pretty cheap on ebay and worth every cent if you plan on opening those draws a lot!

[jimnynutter]

I went away from using draw slides because I didn't want the extra hassle of them. Plus I get more draw space this way.

Some may argue my reasoning but if I find it is a hassle we can just cut the draws down in size and add runners later.

Haven't done anything new with this yet, attending ADVANCED 4wd and recovery/winching course with my 4wd club this weekend as a spotter/winch bitch for one of the drivers, so I won't be able to get anything done bht hopefully each night next week we will get something done.

[reeceh]

I have some heavy duty stainless draw slides that have an anti slam feature on my camper kitchen! I find myself all the time opening and shutting them and when it gets to the last 50mm it slows right up and closes ever so gently! They are egging awsome!

[wrboy89]

at present i only have a plastic tub for my draws though so far my lazyneous has proven quite handy while camping i always end up having my plastic drum pulled out and chilling nere the camp table saves me always walking back to the car for stuff

[jimnynutter]

Well the draws are mostly finished. Just need to cut out a back for the end of it, to stop the draws rolling forward.
Went on a trip this weekend and the were great, nice and easy to pull out and I've got plenty of storage space, now I just need to sort a system out of how to pack everything neat and organized, because its all to messy for my liking.

We had to can the idea of a slide out bed base because there want anyway to get enough support under the sheet of ply, because the front seats were in the way so much. So it's back to a tent camping. Ill go out and get photos later tkday

[TrevorStaader]

Looking forward to see it finished, looking good so far.

[jimnynutter]

Well it's all finished now.
Woohoo!!!
It's now fully carpeted and the Drawers slide easily.
I've put a back end piece on finally. Now the drawers don't slide through.
Really happy with how they turned out.


Clothes and cooking utensils




Recovery gear, air compressor, first aid kit, jump leads, tied downs and tools are in this drawer.

It loves a good wash.

[tom240]

really like the draws, well done. looking to do something similar in my SWB vit. was keen on the sliding bed base idea, is that still in the plans?

[jimnynutter]

Sliding bed base was canned,
There was not any foreseeable way to support it enough due to the seats being in the way everywhere when in any position. Good idea in theory, Suzuki clearly didn't think about us zook modifiers.

[tom240]

jimnynutter wrote:

There was not any foreseeable way to support it enough

hmm thats what i was going to ask you haha, ill let you know if i work out a way to do it

[jimnynutter]

No worries that would be great!!
I'd love to have a working version.