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I installed the Ford drawer, which is really well made. I was able to load it with essentials that I might need along the path (recovery gear, first aid, lights). Two concerns:
1. Will I still be able to use my Deep Sleep mattresses. The answer is absolutely. Simply use the support pieces on top of the folded down seats. Fits pretty well. There is a gap if you slide the support all the way up. My plan was to fill it with a blanket. Iāve since slept on the setup without the blanket and it worked just fine. Just need to load the support cushion the ling way.
2. Will it support two people. I felt the answer was no. Ford listed 50 pound limit for items stacked on top of their drawer assembly. It can easily hold more, but the center is pretty weak. I added a steel cross beam. You need some bend or a pretty thick strip. I used a rubbermaid channel ($10) and attached it with glue and one screw in the middle. This screw pokes through where Ford placed a support beam so it is 100% covered (thus will not snag). Painted it black and rounded the edges. The bar is supported by solid metal on both ends so it adds easily a few hundred pounds of support. We slept on top with zero issues.
Photo of the Rubbermaid bar. I bought at Home Depot. That bend adds a lot of strengh. Yes, it sticks up but is well rounded. I find that it helps keep things from sliding around I topped the sides with a rubber mat.
You want to tuck the drawer end under the metal lip and run the bar to the other end. This way it is supported by solid metal. I added a screw halfway across. You will see a ācā channel is welded underneath by Ford (so the screw will not stick through).
This gap exists if you rotate the underneath pad. I felt this way would best support my head but probably needs a blanket. If you spin the pad 90 degrees, no support blanket needed but you need something under the head. Pick your poison. Either works just fine.
1. Will I still be able to use my Deep Sleep mattresses. The answer is absolutely. Simply use the support pieces on top of the folded down seats. Fits pretty well. There is a gap if you slide the support all the way up. My plan was to fill it with a blanket. Iāve since slept on the setup without the blanket and it worked just fine. Just need to load the support cushion the ling way.
2. Will it support two people. I felt the answer was no. Ford listed 50 pound limit for items stacked on top of their drawer assembly. It can easily hold more, but the center is pretty weak. I added a steel cross beam. You need some bend or a pretty thick strip. I used a rubbermaid channel ($10) and attached it with glue and one screw in the middle. This screw pokes through where Ford placed a support beam so it is 100% covered (thus will not snag). Painted it black and rounded the edges. The bar is supported by solid metal on both ends so it adds easily a few hundred pounds of support. We slept on top with zero issues.
Photo of the Rubbermaid bar. I bought at Home Depot. That bend adds a lot of strengh. Yes, it sticks up but is well rounded. I find that it helps keep things from sliding around I topped the sides with a rubber mat.
You want to tuck the drawer end under the metal lip and run the bar to the other end. This way it is supported by solid metal. I added a screw halfway across. You will see a ācā channel is welded underneath by Ford (so the screw will not stick through).
This gap exists if you rotate the underneath pad. I felt this way would best support my head but probably needs a blanket. If you spin the pad 90 degrees, no support blanket needed but you need something under the head. Pick your poison. Either works just fine.
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