4x4 Shifter Substitute

I am looking for a 'substitute' for this flat rectangle area to the right of the front cup holder. Normally the 4 wheel drive shifter/ knob is here so I am assuming there is a void under it. I would love to have a deeper space to put my phone or something. Maybe remove the rubber lining, cut a hole, and drop in a rectangle 'cup' holder.

Problem is I have no idea how to find something... everything I search ends up bringing up the other cup holder, the center console, or nothing at all...

I would appreciate any help.

 

Not much people try to fill it. I haven't seen one yet so probably custom.

 

I think the first step would be to lift up the center console to make sure there is actually some usable space under there.

 

Looks like a great space to invent something with your local library's 3D printer.

 

You could probably buy a sacrificial center console for this experiment too.

 

You say this so casually, as if the skill set were easy to acquire. First you have to design the part. Then you have to acquaint yourself with some sort of modeling software, learn its limitations, modify the design of your part, output your stl file, find a library with a 3D printer, learn how to operate the 3D printer, learn the limitations of the 3D printer and 3D printing in general, and then revise your design again to accommodate those limitations.

Most people will be stymied right up front at the “invent something” phase.

 

Well OP is asking for something that not much people have if any.

What else you suggest?

 

There are designers on Fiverr that will design and print 3D prototypes with provided dimensions. Might be a place to start.

 

First I’d suggest looking under the console to see if there’s enough available space to make the effort worthwhile.

But here’s the thing: Imagine I said “Looks like a good opportunity to heat up that vacu-form machine and pop in a sheet of black styrene.” There are so many things that have to happen before you pull the part out of the vacu-form machine, so many skills to know and master, that to just say “vacu-form the part” with the assumption that everyone knows all the background skills needed, is not helpful.

 

Yeah everyone bust out their vacu-form machine.

I think with the popularity of 3D printing now days you can find someone.

 

Yeah, but in his first post he didn’t say find someone.. He basically just said go to the library. And even if you “find someone” you still have to design the thing yourself. The guy who’s going to provide the stl file isn’t going to design it. He’s only going to model it. You’re going to have to design it. There are a lot of skills involved in just gathering enough information to hand off to the modeler.

 

Get the replacement for a 4x4 shifter and invert the leather or cut that area out and make it into whatever you want. If you can't make a small box out of wood, bend metal or plastic get a local tinknocker to make a box that fits perfect in there. You really can do anything if you put your mind to it.

 

@Shelbie
I think first step like mentioned above, you should remove the center console to confirm there is usable space under that area. You could cut a hole and drop in something like this? Maybe they make something rectangle shaped?

 

Good idea there. You can never have too many cup holders.

 

It's 3d printed plastic designed in something like Autocad. It's not rocket science. A 15 minute youtube video will have you up and going. 3d printers are everywhere these days. Just because you can't learn how to do something doesn't mean others cant

 

Hello, please measure the length shown by each of the 8 blue lines. I'm thinking we cut out the part outlined in red so we can use those 4 mounting holes/tabs to attach the part to. Also please measure the diameter of the holes. How deep is the void we have to work with? This is a pretty easy part to draw up and print if we can just get these measurements correct. Once we have dimensions that fit the space you're working with there I can just print one out and mail it to you. Are you thinking more of a general utility space or a cup holder?



Something like this?

 

The question isn’t whether I or anyone else can learn how to do something. And it’s not a matter of the availability of a 3D printer. My point is that it’s moving the goalpost to start off with a trip to the local library and then make the jump to acquiring a new skill set. I’ve designed a few 3D printed parts and sent them off to a service bureau for printing. It takes experience to design the part and then some judgement to know at which orientation it should be printed for optimal strength, what filament should be used, and what support structures should be incorporated, both internal and external. It’s not as easy as TKXX626 makes it sound, and it’s not as easy as you make it sound either.

 

Perfect spot for a 8 track deck.

 

welcome to the forum. I fabricated a cup holder in that spot. It's ghetto AF , but works.

 

Did you ever end up figuring anything out for this? It would be cool to see what you came up with.

 

Step one: Trade the 2Runner in for a 4Runner
Step two: You no longer have this problem!