Topshelf for Troopy

Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 08:56
ThreadID: 61749 Views:5882 Replies:7 FollowUps:8
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Hi,
I have a Black Widow two-drawer system installed in the back of my Troop Carrier and was considering fitting a top shelf for sleeping bags, pillows, and mattresses. I imagine the shelf to be somewhat similar to the one you can buy from Black Widow. I like to fit / build the shelf myself - however, I am not sure how to create the grill or if I have to have it custom made.

I was wondering if anybody has done this before or if anybody has any ideas?

Thanks,
Kris


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Reply By: Member -Signman - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 10:01

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 10:01
Image Could Not Be Found
Here's a pic of our 'mezzanine' ..it's an elasticised box trailer cover and is ideal for stowing exactly what you mention- sleeping bags, pillows, self-inflating mattresses and wet weather gear.
It's attached with saddles and cable ties. Very cheap but very effective and convenient. The extra ocky strap at the back of the net is stretched tight so stuff doesn't fall out.

AnswerID: 325696

Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 17:57

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 17:57
Hey, I like that. I like storage systems that fold out/can be out of the way when I want to carry something big in the back. Your system does this nicely. Can't quite make out how the attachment to the body work of the vehicle has been done. You mention saddles. Please explain further.
Thanks
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Reply By: troopyman - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 10:16

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 10:16
Outback interiors had a rear storage compartment but dont seem to have it anymore . It was similar to a top shelf but about 150mm high and 500mm deep i think . You could put it at the back or in the middle using those bars that run across the roof .
AnswerID: 325697

Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 12:18

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 12:18
I have one of the Black Widow Top Shelf's.
In fact my Troopy was the original one fitted, I lent the vehicle to BW for the pre manufacture measuring and fitting etc.

It works really well and I keep the soft loose stuff that you mention up there.

For all the stuffing around to make your own its probably cheaper and easier to just buy the BW one.
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Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 13:08

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 13:08
Hey John
Can ya post a piccie??
Cheers

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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 14:09

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 14:09
Yeah David I just had a look through my photos and don't have one on hand.
Will take a couple and post them shortly.

Cheers
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Reply By: Best Off Road - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 13:23

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 at 13:23
Kris,

Find your nearest security/screen door manufacturer and get him to make big aluminium "security" door without the locks, hinges etc.

Then get some angle brackets from the harware store and teck screw it into the pillars.

Cheers,

Jim.



AnswerID: 325715

Reply By: andoland - Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 at 08:34

Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 at 08:34
Kris,

I designed one myself for my Prado and had a mate whi has a fabrication business build it for me. Even paying for all the labour it was still less than 1/3 price of the black widow one (I have black widow drawers).





I have CAD drawings if you would like them. Obviously being for a Prado they will not fit your troopy but will give you some ideas.

We also use the elastic net (shown in a post above) over the back seats for storing pillows and bulky jumpers.

Regards
Ando
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Follow Up By: Jones - Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 at 18:07

Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 at 18:07
andoland,

Really nice setup you got there - I also like the small tables fitted to the back door - I should be able to make something similar.

Regarding the mate you mentioned, what kind of business is he in? I'm just asking as I have no idea of what to look under in the yellow pages. Maybe a security screen manufacturer as Jim suggested would be able to do it.

Thanks,
Kris
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Follow Up By: andoland - Friday, Sep 19, 2008 at 08:35

Friday, Sep 19, 2008 at 08:35
Kris,

My mate owns a business that manufactures wire display shelves for shop displays.

Any engineering or fabrication shop should be able to make this up for you. Look up "Engineers" in the yellow pages and there should be a subheading "General Fabrication" or something similar. Being such a small job I imagine one of the smaller places would be more likely to take the job on.

My shelf system was easy to make. It is 19mm SHS (same as cargo barrier) bent at the corners, welded at the join with 2" x 1" mesh welded on and holes drilled in the right places. The brackets are just flat bar cut to size, bent in the right spots and holes drilled. It is all powder coated.

My set up (2 frames beside the fridge, the horizontal shelf, brackets) cost $200 for all materials, labour and powder coating compared to the black widow items (horizontal shelf and only one frame beside fridge) for something like $560.

It would be very easy to make yourself, even if you had to get an engineering shop do the bends for you. There is nothing else but some short welds and some holes drilled.

The only caution I give you is to make sure that you don't have the shelf made so wide that you can't get it throught the doors when trying to install it.

Hope this helps.

Ando
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Reply By: Member - Mark E (VIC) - Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 at 10:38

Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 at 10:38
I also have the BW top shelf. I would have normally made one myself, but ran out of time when I needed it for a trip and I must say it was quite exxey...
Image Could Not Be Found

I also have a mesh 'shelf' that I had made from non-stretcy netting my a net maker. This sits over the back seat and is perfect for storing little kids stuff and a couple of jumpers, hats etc. Might have to re-think when the kids grow taller...
Image Could Not Be Found

Cheers,

Mark



AnswerID: 325865

Follow Up By: andoland - Friday, Sep 19, 2008 at 08:18

Friday, Sep 19, 2008 at 08:18
Mark,

Where did you get your net from? The only thing I could find was a trailer net and it works okay but sags a bit too much (ends up touching the kids heads if we are on a rough track).

Ando
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Follow Up By: Member - Mark E (VIC) - Friday, Sep 19, 2008 at 14:57

Friday, Sep 19, 2008 at 14:57
Looked up net makers in the phone book and found someone who would make up a little one for us. You could also probably get some old tennis court netting to do the job. Best to have it as non-stretch as possible....
Cheers,

Mark

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Follow Up By: andoland - Friday, Sep 19, 2008 at 14:59

Friday, Sep 19, 2008 at 14:59
Roger, thanks for that.
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Reply By: Jones - Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 at 18:15

Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 at 18:15
Thanks guys - for all your replies. To be honest, the net solution didn't cross my mind but seems to be an excellent solution for the light weight gear - including that jumper or raincoat that always seems to be at the bottom of the bag.

Thanks,
Kris
AnswerID: 325933

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