Advice on rear cargo storage?

Hello, I know many people have done rear cargo mods, as this website is a wealth of knowledge. My situation is slightly different. My 4R is a 4R “Coupe.” I removed the rear seating surfaces (where you actually sit) so the seat backs would lay down completely flat. The 4R is our dog mobile, as we’re empty nesters and each have a German Shepherd. We like to be active.

Here’s what I’d like to have, even if I have to make it. But, I’m hoping that one of you good folks can point me in the right direction because I’m about as handy as Tim “The Toolman” Tailor. I’d like to remove the rear seat backs as well and devise some way of having storage behind the front seats that can be covered. I can toss hunting supplies, camping gear, extra stuff for the dogs, etc.. Basically because there isn’t anywhere good to keep things out of plain sight, even with tinted windows. I’d like to be able to access everything through the rear doors, but have the cover be flat. I can get carpet that’s a close match and put an all weather mat over it and nobody is the wiser. I’ve found that if potential thieves don’t see anything at first glance, they will most likely move on to a better victim. In the perfect world, I’d have access that way, as well as storage accessible in the rear cargo area via the tailgate with a platform on top that the dogs would still be good on.

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated! I plan on keeping my 4R forever, so I’m not worried about resale or the rear seats or doing mods.

 

I'm thinking something like this would be ideal. No rear door access, but very stealth.

 

You’ll have to deal with the kinda-oddly-shaped floor under the second row in this case but people have pulled out third row seats from 4Runners, Sorentos, other vehicles in favor of building a covered cargo floor.

 

If you can stomach the cost, GooseGear or AirdownGearup have solutions for you. They call them "seat deletes". They comprise a full platform with storage underneath in the old seat areas.

 

Thank you so much!!! Those are some outstanding ideas, I really appreciate it! I need to save a little money, but that Goose Gear Stealth Sleeping platform looks absolutely perfect for us. The one with the drawers underneath with rear access offers a metric crap ton of room behind the front row seats. Toss in a couple of dog beds and it’s exactly what we need. This way we don’t have bags and stuff all over the place in the rear cargo area.

 

Haven’t seen air down product in person. But, I have seen Goose Gear good quality nicely built, owners are very nice as well. Both have similar designs. Fortunately, I have a few table saw skills and 30 yrs. of CAD experience (was an architect). So, I was able to draw and fabricate my own. I did something similar what you described and the retail guys offer. Two drawers at the cargo area, omitted second row seats and built a flat deck over them for sleeping with storage below. Admittedly, Air Down and Goose Gear looks nicer…