1st Gen 4Runner lockable cargo area
 

When I first bought my 1st Gen 4Runner (https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...e-work-192141/), I quickly removed the top and found a big problem. If your driving around 'topless' with stuff in the back, it's pretty risky to just park your truck and go in to the local walmart. There needs to be someway to lock down your stuff.

So I came up with a hatch system to lock down the rear cargo area in my 4runner. I decided to use wood on this project, because I don't have any metal, welders, etc, but I had quite a bit of spare wood sitting around in the garage.

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I also put in a 1 farad capacitor, 540 watt Power Accoustik Amp, and a Boston Accoustics 10" subwoofer.

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I also mounted my fire extinguisher under that hatch using carriage bolts, and used some extra rubber roofing material to make a pouch for some tie down straps.

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It works great, but I'm not done yet. In the spring I'd like to give it a finished look by gluing on some carpet, the stuff they use on sub woofer boxes. Also, the backs of the rear seat need to be fastened/locked down from inside the cargo area; still trying to figure out the best way to do that.

Looks good so far.

Are you gonna carpet it or cover it in sheetmetal?

Nice.

Cool!! wish I could see the pics...darn work computers...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. :(

looks good, and pretty secure. How are you stopping the opening of your tailgate? Gonna crack the window up an inch so the lock can't be pulled?

I was thinking about doing something like this, but the ghetto people would still take random things from me.. Steal my change, cd wallet, faceplate (no head unit though).. there's a lot of dumb kids with no curfew near me that take stuff just for the thrill..

you should try to screw some sheet metal down on top then carpet over, some junkie with a hammer/ hatchet could easily break in

that's one way of doing things! i like it, but it's too bad you made it so high you can't use it as a sleeping platform with folded down 2nd row. when i used to have my k5 blazer with the top off, i kept my stuff in a "tuff box" that i bolted to the floor with the nuts on the inside of the box. i also mounted a U-bolt to the floor and kept a long kryptonite chain (like for a motorcycle) in the back just in case i needed to chain/lock something down.

nice work regardless - it'll be really nice once you get carpet on there.

hey man! you may want to relocate that extinguisher to the front. if you're boomin the system and that amp cooks your cap, all that wood will be the first thing to torch up!

hahah i'm just kidding; really, that's some nice work man. impressive. until you can secure the seat backs, possibly by scavenging some locking mechanisms from a honda civic rear seatback, just remove the pull knobs.that should make it harder to get inside. stash the pull where only you'll find it.

my plan is to cut a hole in the bed floor, make the cut out a "hatch", and weld a metal box from the underside where the spare tire used to be.

that carpet you're talking about, i've seen super cheap at Dollar General i think. ONE of them dollar stores anyway. use 3M spray adhesive on both contact sides and it's good to go!

Man, nice project. :great:

I love this! This is exactly what im doing! Do you have finished pictures? I am going to be using bedliner on it instead of carpet tho.

awesome job! are u going to drill some air holes for the speakers/sound to come through more easier then cover with carpet...just a though.....

otherwise awesome job!

This is an awesome idea, i have an 89 4Runner and even with the soft top up i get nervous about people looking in and taking things. I have 2 12" Kenwoods in the back that i just put 2 eye bolts through the sides of the box and chained them to my rollbar. Looks alright, but definitely hillbillish and not as clean as yours.

OP has not been on since april 2010...good luck getting the bed liner to stick to the wood...i don't think it will bond...but I have been wrong before:bigok: