- Joined
- Sep 17, 2023
- Threads
- 11
- Messages
- 222
- Reaction score
- 292
- Location
- California
- Vehicle(s)
- 23 Maverick Hybrid XLT
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
- Thread starter
- #1
After getting the Maverick a month ago I realized that I needed a truck trunk. Coming from a 1st Gen Tundra SR5 that I kept stuff in the back seat, or then a Prius which had a hatchback, in the Maverick I probably could do better at storing tools in bins and cases and pulling them out as needed but I tend to just leave stuff in the vehicle and then never have to forget/remember things and I want to keep the back seat clear being a 4 door. If I do a tonneau cover I feel like I have covered security and being weatherproof, but then lose the bed since I'd fill the thing up. So I'm going to experiment with DIY bed drawers, since it leaves the bed open and would be secure as I have a locking tailgate and plan on adding the "plus" alarm for anybody getting in the bed.
The plan so far is being driven by these bins others have posted about:
Under-bed storage bins: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Project-Source-Project-Source-69-QT-Clear-Snap-Lid-Tote/1003095826
They glide on the factory bed liner well, they keep weather out, and have a lid that folds up in the middle which is perfect. They use most of the bed width and depth and fit under the wheel well height, and I could have another set filled with camping stuff to swap out. The plan then is to make a new bed floor at the wheel well height. That way I can still carry 4x8 sheets with the tailgate supporting it. I had some 7/16" OSB and planned on coating it in bed liner anyway so I got to trying things out:
I had these steel bars that came as reinforcement from a Microwave box, figured I could use them to support the front and give something to help hold it down and secure it to the truck. I used both to add support to the front and a 1"x4" wood cross beam at the back to sit on the wheel well cut outs and act as a back stop for the drawers. With this support it is surprisingly solid to walk on being 7/16" OSB, and I got some 7/16" automotive edging to protect the wood edges from damage and give it a finished look once it is painted in bed liner. Will use the same edging under the wood rails so it doesn't rub on the factory bed liner.
I figured I could use the factory D-Rings to hold it down and give me new rings above to use. The benefit of these low drawers is that the bed is still deep, I could build my own deep wood drawers and still might later on, but then you lose the depth of the bed. Going to see what fits in these bins and if I can make it work, there is still a little flexibility on height if the lids lift a little. There wasn't enough room for a turn-buckle, so I came up with this to hold it down and give a new eye on top:
It is coming together pretty well, the bins are perfectly snug and don't move or make noise, so now I want to make it look good with a reasonably close match roll-on bed liner to the factory, so then at fist glance it will just look like the original bed floor. I got a gallon of Herculiner and plan on painting all sides with it, then trying to give the top a texture to look as factory as I can with the roller.
Any tips about Herculiner on wood? I plan on putting that automotive edging all the way around, so I'll go light on the edges.
The plan so far is being driven by these bins others have posted about:
Under-bed storage bins: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Project-Source-Project-Source-69-QT-Clear-Snap-Lid-Tote/1003095826
They glide on the factory bed liner well, they keep weather out, and have a lid that folds up in the middle which is perfect. They use most of the bed width and depth and fit under the wheel well height, and I could have another set filled with camping stuff to swap out. The plan then is to make a new bed floor at the wheel well height. That way I can still carry 4x8 sheets with the tailgate supporting it. I had some 7/16" OSB and planned on coating it in bed liner anyway so I got to trying things out:
I had these steel bars that came as reinforcement from a Microwave box, figured I could use them to support the front and give something to help hold it down and secure it to the truck. I used both to add support to the front and a 1"x4" wood cross beam at the back to sit on the wheel well cut outs and act as a back stop for the drawers. With this support it is surprisingly solid to walk on being 7/16" OSB, and I got some 7/16" automotive edging to protect the wood edges from damage and give it a finished look once it is painted in bed liner. Will use the same edging under the wood rails so it doesn't rub on the factory bed liner.
I figured I could use the factory D-Rings to hold it down and give me new rings above to use. The benefit of these low drawers is that the bed is still deep, I could build my own deep wood drawers and still might later on, but then you lose the depth of the bed. Going to see what fits in these bins and if I can make it work, there is still a little flexibility on height if the lids lift a little. There wasn't enough room for a turn-buckle, so I came up with this to hold it down and give a new eye on top:
It is coming together pretty well, the bins are perfectly snug and don't move or make noise, so now I want to make it look good with a reasonably close match roll-on bed liner to the factory, so then at fist glance it will just look like the original bed floor. I got a gallon of Herculiner and plan on painting all sides with it, then trying to give the top a texture to look as factory as I can with the roller.
Any tips about Herculiner on wood? I plan on putting that automotive edging all the way around, so I'll go light on the edges.
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