DIY hard rear cargo cover

[Rem234]

I had been waiting for it to get consistently warm enough here in Illinois to completely remove the soft top so I could continue working on my hard cover. I made a cardboard template over the winter, but plan to use the soft top mounting point for the front supports so I needed it out of the way to proceed. The cover is a piece of 3/8 thick HDPE. As you can see in the photos it sags some so I am now working on some support bars and the attachment brackets. I'll post up all the details once I get it completed, but my plan is to have it removable with just four bolts or thumb screws. The purpose of this cover for us to provide some semi secure (out of sight) storage, keep sun and some weather off of our tailgate mounted sub box, and increase the subs performance with the top off by providing a "chamber" for the sub to fire into. That being said when I am finished if it resonates or rattles I may have to add some dynamat to the underside.

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[Rem234]

Update with a couple more pictures. The cover does a great job of keeping stuff out of sight and improving the bass.

 

[GreenbeanBob]

I owned an '86 SAAB hatchback a zillion years ago. From the factory, the cargo area had a carpeted cargo area cover made of plywood that worked great.

Found an image of the underside of one (not mine)

 

[604Bronco]

I owned an '86 SAAB hatchback a zillion years ago. From the factory, the cargo area had a carpeted cargo area cover made of plywood that worked great.

Found an image of the underside of one (not mine)

We use pineapples for measure of size on B6G, but your banana is a weird and intriguing flex...

 

[NORCALGXP]

Update with a couple more pictures. The cover does a great job of keeping stuff out of sight and improving the bass.

Update on adding supports? Very cool I like the look.

 

[Rem234]

Update on adding supports? Very cool I like the look.

Did not need to do anything to the supports. The cover worked awesome all summer long. I removed it a couple weeks ago to put the soft top back on for the winter. Honestly, I don't think I will mess with making it hinge open next summer, since we never really needed it to move this year. Here are a couple more photos of the rear mounting points that I took.

 

[JetG]

What is holding it in place? Cant really make it out in the pics on how it is kept in place. Awesome idea and more than likely the way I will go with my Brapror.

 

[Rem234]

What is holding it in place? Cant really make it out in the pics on how it is kept in place. Awesome idea and more than likely the way I will go with my Brapror.

At the front there are 90 degree brackets that slide over the soft top attachment point locating pin and then are held in place with a bolt into the soft top mount point. This is then attached to the front cross bar.
At the rear the aluminum toe clamps pinch the soft top latch points between them and the rear cross bar. They are just a piece of 1/2" aluminum machined to an "L" shape with a 5/16 threaded hole in the one side. Here are a couple more photos I don't think I had posted before.
I feel like it would be fairly simple to make it hinge at the front and then use some spring latches at the back, so it could be opened. But this is the second summer I have used it and never needed it open for anything.

 

[Bheemsoth]

Great build! Will this fit with the soft top attached?

 

[Rem234]

Great build! Will this fit with the soft top attached?

No, I only put this on when I take the top off for the summer. That is how I was able to use the soft top mounting locations to attach the cover. Here is a current photo.

 

[Rem234]

It also makes a great standing taco table...

 

[GAN]

With doors off is there any way you've considered to secure the rear seats to the cargo area?

 

[Rem234]

With doors off is there any way you've considered to secure the rear seats to the cargo area?

Originally i considered disconnecting the seat latch cable or putting a couple bars across behind the seats, but it's honestly difficult to get the seat down and reach into the back without climbing up onto the step or door sill. I figure anyone willing to do that will figure out how to defeat a latch or lock, or just pry open the cover. This will be our third summer keeping the top and doors off from June till October and fortunately have not had any issues so far.

 

[GAN]

Originally i considered disconnecting the seat latch cable or putting a couple bars across behind the seats, but it's honestly difficult to get the seat down and reach into the back without climbing up onto the step or door sill. I figure anyone willing to do that will figure out how to defeat a latch or lock, or just pry open the cover. This will be our third summer keeping the top and doors off from June till October and fortunately have not had any issues so far.

This is true. Thanks for the quick response!

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