Setting up the back of the cruiser for camping

[cornfarmer]

Howdy, anyone out there got any photos or ideas on a home made storage system for the back of a 70 series FRP. I want something to keep camping gear and the tool box in. Have rigged a fold down picnic table onto the backdoor but am looking for more cheap DIY mods.
Cheers
Colby

[Ryan]

there is a factory setup for those....i saw one on trade me the other week and decided i wanted to do it to my nissan......good luck and post some pics when your doin it mate

[fweddy]

I have a real basic plywood shelf that is the same level as the seat when it is folded down. I store draws with recovery gear and tool under it and it give a nice big flat area for throwing bigger items on top - might not be big enough for a bed tho

[Jerry]

The factory setups are for the LWB's usually, Assuming you are going to rip out your seats, been thinking about a similar idea with mine (LJ71) , with the seats out there is sort of enough room to sleep, a false floor would work, maybe a low box which includes an onboard water tank and then a nice plywood floor to sleep on (mame sure no screws are sticking out had a look at mine and thought I could buiild one which incorporated the OEM mounts and stuff at the back and make it not permanent ie clipped together or something so its easy to rip out and put back in again....'

consider a 12/24v water pump for running water, or even a fresh/dirty water tank so you can recycle the good used stuff (with a filter) and use it for non drinking/ cleaning windows/ radiator etc.

[Sadam_Husain]

Probably not quite what you were thinking colby but my 70 series makes a pretty good camping truck so long as it dosent rain

[Jerry]

does the missus complain much when you strop her down in the back with all the other gear

[Sadam_Husain]

does the missus complain much when you strop her down in the back with all the other gear

Nah its easier to stick the couch back on the truck with nobody on it Jerry

[cornfarmer]

Cheers fellas. I usually run a tarpaulin awning off my roof rack for a kitchen area and chuck the tent off the other side. I have to leave the back seat in for the little fella. Have got some MDF, will probably build a box/shelf for the tools and recovery gear behind the backseat. Might rig up a small water tank though. It's a pity you can't always rely on the water in the bush these days with 1080. Will post some picks on my photo album as soon as it's done. (page 57 colby's cruiser)

[Clint]

I made some up for my SWB cruiser, took out the back seats though, have a look at the 'clints cruiser project' thread in projects. If you design your storage system around cheap plastic bins as drawers it makes it real easy & you can even have different bins pre packed for different occasions.

Cheers
Clint

[dazza85]

Have got some MDF, will probably build a box/shelf for the tools and recovery gear behind the backseat.

I made up a unit out of MDF for the back of a van a while ago, this was used on road only and with vibration it lasted about 6 months.
I would recommend using ply instead. it stands up to the punishment much better.

[fweddy]

Here is mine, thrown together real quick with just what I had around



When the seat folds down it is about level.

Only real problem so far is it tends to wander back when it gets bumped round, need to tie it forward some how or bolt to the floor.

[dazza85]

Here is mine, thrown together real quick with just what I had around

When the seat folds down it is about level.

Only real problem so far is it tends to wander back when it gets bumped round, need to tie it forward some how or bolt to the floor.

Thats simple but effective,
To tie it in I would use a strip of wide aloy angle on the sides and use 2 or 3 screws into the side panels.

How long have the plastic drawers lasted ?
I have had my Highlift destroy a plastic tool box when I bounced through a hole that was a bit rougher than expected.

I have a couple of ideas for mine ...I just need to get off my butt and do it

[PR]

Ok I know its safari and not a damm toyota but this is an awsome setup
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13250

[fweddy]

Thats simple but effective,
To tie it in I would use a strip of wide aloy angle on the sides and use 2 or 3 screws into the side panels.

How long have the plastic drawers lasted ?
I have had my Highlift destroy a plastic tool box when I bounced through a hole that was a bit rougher than expected.

I have a couple of ideas for mine ...I just need to get off my butt and do it

Draws have been in there since about July so not long enough to really test yet. The highlift is meant to be on the back but the mount needs welding, its not my jack any way and the owner has claimed it at the moment.

I need to refine it really, its not flash but I guess it only took a few mins to throw together and it works so until I get enthused or have another need it will stay like it.

[BrentC]

Ok I know its safari and not a damm toyota but this is an awsome setup
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13250

Maybe - but you have to sign in and who is going to join a Nissan forum

[PR]

Dohhh

[Clint]

That's one thing I would have done differently, the plastic bins I used have had the odd hole knocked in them when carrying heavy stuff on rough trips, at $7.99 ea that ain't too much of a problem & if they're packed so stuff don't rattle around it helps, but if I was doing it again I'd use the much heavier duty 'fish' bins that are available.

Another cunning idea I had was to get 4 different colour bins so it's easy to see & remember whats where - yellow is recovery gear, red is oil & fluids, blue is tools & green is beers!

Cheers
Clint

How long have the plastic drawers lasted ?
I have had my Highlift destroy a plastic tool box when I bounced through a hole that was a bit rougher than expected.

I have a couple of ideas for mine ...I just need to get off my butt and do it

[kruzin]

This is my setup in my mid wheel base 70 series and it works well. I can fit alot of gear under there (more than you can see there) I just welded up a frame from RHS 25x25mm steel (cant see it very well in this pic) then screwed some 19mm plywood onto that, then got hold of some mariene carpet and a strip of alluminium 25mm angle. Is this what you are after or are you going the remove the back seats and make something bigger?

[cornfarmer]

That looks great mate. Is it very light?

[kruzin]

That looks great mate. Is it very light?

Yea it looks quite professional, but is very practical. Its not light (i havnt got it bolted down and it sits in there nicely with its own weight) but isnt heavy either, if ya get wot i mean?? The 25x25mm steel RHS (square hollow steel) is quite light, but the plywood is the heaviest part. But i wouldnt use anything else.. MDF is like wheetbix when it gets wet, alluminium checkerplate looks mint, but shines too much in the sun and into the rear vision mirror, and galvanised (etc) sheet steel makes the things on it rattle (metal on metal).

[cornfarmer]

Yeah was thinking about the 'Wheetbix effect'. I have filled it full of water in the past. I'll run with the MDF setup untill it craps out because I've already made it. Should sort out a 70 series cruiser trip in Canterbury over christmas.

[fweddy]

Should sort out a 70 series cruiser trip in Canterbury over christmas.

On the Ashley trip I was surprised to see that I was the only Cruiser of any model, plenty of Surfs and Hiluxes but not one other Cruiser/Prado. Nissan was the opposite with 5 big units and only one Terrano

[cornfarmer]

I imagine there would be a few keen 70 series enthusiasts around. Should we post something on the main forum.

[Jerry]

Theres a few up here as well

[BrentC]

Back of our clone 70 series -



rear seats removed - 2nd hand briford cargo barrier - most recovery and tools behind front seats - over flow in back - open driver side window for snatch strap etc - or grab a bag (ex bunnings $9.90 ea) - rear holds all our camping - tent space is always accessible - so that it can dragged out or put back in rain without rest of gear getting wet

[tgaguy1]

I know it is not a toyota; but i thought I would post it anyway. The fish bins are $12 warehouse ones. They seam tough enough.

[86-surf]

Hey tgaguy did you get my pm email thingy?

[cornfarmer]

Wicked set ups. I will have to do something like that when my MDF setup eventually self destructs.

[kruzin]

Sweet setups guys! Gota be ready with your gear, thats for sure.. And the 70 series trip sounds like a good idea! Il be there for sure..

[fweddy]

Here is mine, thrown together real quick with just what I had around



When the seat folds down it is about level.

Only real problem so far is it tends to wander back when it gets bumped round, need to tie it forward some how or bolt to the floor.

Draws have been in there since about July so not long enough to really test yet. The highlift is meant to be on the back but the mount needs welding, its not my jack any way and the owner has claimed it at the moment.

I need to refine it really, its not flash but I guess it only took a few mins to throw together and it works so until I get enthused or have another need it will stay like it.

Finally got 'enthused' to make a better set of draws. Thought of all sorts of fancy setups but basically still ended up with a similar setup to my original design. (update on the question re draws - the bottom fell out with the shackles and gear bouncing in it.)




Just needs some handles to finish it off. Trying to find some that are cheap, don't protrude far and won't rattle!

I was going to build it right to the back doors but for a few reasons didn't. This way I can slide them a bit open enough to get gear, a strop etc, out without opening the back doors, thought this might be handy if stuck and for some reason can't or best not to open back doors. and this is part of the reason I don't want handles that stick out too far as they will reduce this space.