Thread: Defender Outback storage drawer platform extension.

We’re off on a road trip in the Defender (aka the Kelvinator). Four weeks heading west from Sydney aiming initially for Esperance WA. We’ll make the rest up from there. It will be our first trip across the Nullarbor.


The last time we did a big trip to central Oz we stacked the Oztent and the bagged bedding on the roof. Which was a pain in the “fundament” for one-night stands. Not to mention the impact on fuel economy!

29790357931_778ec7de8f_k.jpg


This time as much as possible goes inside. The Oztent and mattresses stay at home and are substituted with a large swag.


In order to fit the swag in I’ve removed the rear seats (they must weigh a combined 100 kilos!) and extended the Outback storage drawer platform 75 cm. Giving a total of 180 cm of flatness on which to stow stuff. The other benefit is additional stowage under the platform where the seats were.


The obligatory expedition to Bunnings for bits resulted in:

• · 1.2 x 1.2 m 12mm ply
• · marine carpet
• · Four angle brackets
• · 3m length of aluminium 21 x 12mm channel
• · contact adhesive
• · nuts, bolts and screws
• · and one kilo of body weight lost walking up and down aisles looking for stuff

It’s a very simple design with an upright ply “blade” fixed via 100x75 angle brackets to two of the four seat bolts. This blade supports the platform fixed to it by two smaller angle brackets.


The rear edge is bolted to the drawer unit using the existing four rivnuts on the unit. Given that the holes in the ply were close to the edge I reinforced them with some angle I had lying around. Some flat would have done equally well but I didn’t want to do another circumnavigation of Bunnings.


I’m well pleased with the result.

I snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at two stages in the process. Laying the carpet: that contact adhesive grabs and doesn’t give back! The miters at the corners of the channel turned out ok given that I used a jig saw rather than a drop-saw.


All-in-all it was two days’ work including the retail experience.

As I don't have a cargo barrier I'll be adding some more tie-down points.


So to the slide show:


Blade support






Topside

I added some carpet strips to the corners to protect the front seats.






Underside

Two brackets for the blade fixing and the reinforcement angle for the rear fixing points.






Side view (installed)







Foot-well view







Rear view

Originally Posted by MBE_NZ

I inow this is a bit old thread - BUT I really like it
can you tell me whether it would work if the "join" between rear floor and the extension, was hinged? as in would it be possible to lift the top of the extension to vertical to ease access to the under storage or do you simply remove the floor extension for access ?

I'm also considering a split extension floor so I can retain a 60 or the 40 seat (as often have a child in the back seat) and I feel a hinge would make that more secure if it would work

TIA for your thoughts

Hi,

I've never had the need to lift it to gain access as I can stow stuff from either side with the doors open. I guess a piano hinge along the join would work but unfastening the blade from the platform would be required.

Let us know how you get on.