Seat removal/DIY storage/console

I posted a few pics in the "what have you done today" thread, but this should probably be its own thing.
I have a 2021 DCLB, 2wd SR. Column shifter, front center seat and vinyl floor and seat covers.
I removed the 60 rear section and front center seat. The plan is to make a raised platform, roughly seat height that covers the whole rear floor and extends out between the front seats. It will serve as storage and a platform for tool boxes and dogs.
Not shooting for perfect/factory looking, just functional and decent looking. I'll use up some 1/2" birch ply I have left over from another project and auto carpet and/or vinyl.
I replaced the double seat bracket in the center with the single bracket from the 60 seat.
The front/center seat is just (4) 14mm bolts and the connection for the rear 12v outlet.

To figure out the height, I just stacked blocks under a straight 2x4, used the rear door armrest and the lines on the seat bracket as a reference for level, then measured to the floor from the top of the 2x4.
Installed the rear panel to check fit and left it in to check for noises. I'll pull it out, seal it and then cover it with carpet or vinyl.

I'll add more details, measurements and maybe a drawing of the boxes/console later (I use the free version of Google SketchUp. Sorry, no 3D laser renderings or cad).

 

My rear seat is completely out and I have a temp platform for my fridge. In the process of planning a more permanent solution and back wall board. What is keeping your back wall board in?? Look forward to the rest of your build on this.

 

I trimmed and used the insulation pad that was already there, then just pushed in place. The seat brackets are holding it in place for now. I'll use the other seat bracket mounting location on the other side to secure it on the bottom and come up with some kind of panel across the top to hide the section below the window and secure the top.
It doesn't seem to be moving at all as is.
If I wasn't using the seat, I would've covered the whole area up to the window and bolted it in. But I had to push it back so the seat would fit.

 

Nice. Yeah I was figuring to cover the whole area and bolt in. Also on the floor part was thinking of having a hidden compartment under the floor. Just have to figure it all out. Also have to figure out if I want to cut the jack brackets off or build around them. They are kind of in the way for how I want to mount the fridge and get maximum depth from the ceiling
.

 

I didn't know they offered vinyl floor. I wish I had that.

 

Well, it's more like a rubber/plastic. Not really sure what it's made of. You just have to get a truck with no options. My truck has absolutely no options other than what's standard. It's what I think they used to call work truck trim.

 

I was gonna work on it today but work kicked my ass, so I'm veggin out tonight.
I'll take measurements and pics as I go. I'm sure the dimensions are the same for all DCs. Something I post might spark an idea or 2 for other designs.
I have a costway chest fridge, some batteries, a DC-DC charger and an inverter. I'm considering figuring out making a spot for the fridge, but it won't be in the truck all the time, so I may just throw it on top of the platform whenever I use it.
Weather looks good for the weekend, so I should get a good chunk of this done.

 

I made a basic model in sketchup, for the general idea. Once I start building it, I'll repost these pics with actual dimensions labeled.

 

Also, whenever I try to post pics as thumbnails, it posts them full size anyway.

 

Got a section slapped together today and dry fit it. Just wood glue and the cordless brad nailer. I didn't use the table saw, as that would have required cleaning the entire basement and that shit ain't happenin. Just used the cordless circ saw, straight edge and clamps. Worked on the ground in the yard and on the tailgate. So, it's not perfect, but as an old coworker used to say, "if you want perfect, the church is down the street."
Besides, I can hide all my sins with a little sanding and whatever I cover it with.
I have grey carpet, gray headliner, or I can go buy some gray or black vinyl. I have factory black cloth seat covers on the way for the fronts, so I might do a HD black vinyl. And probably a thin, dense foam for the top. I want a little give, but not enough that setting a tool box on it will put a big dent in the vinyl.
I'll build the section behind the driver seat tomorrow. I ended up making the whole thing 2" higher so my aux batteries will fit in the center, at the back wall (if I install 'em). I might skip doing an armrest. I had something clever in mind, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like more of a PITA than it's worth.
And I'll draw up dimensions once the main structure is done and I know it all fits.

 

Yeah well, I have ADD and probably 17 other 3 letter conditions. I decided to go ahead and just start installing everything I need for aux electrical while everything is apart and easy to access. I'm still not sure how much I'll use it, but at least it will be there and if I don't use it, I can just pull it out.
I guesstimated I'd need roughly 10' of cable to get from the battery to where I planned to mount the DC-DC charger on the back wall. So, I bought 12' and it came up short . And I really don't want to pull it out and run a longer one, because it was a PITA getting it through the firewall. And I don't want to pop the panels off the B and C pillars a million times. Good thing I decided to dig into the electrical before I built the box. I'll have to factor having the charger and inverter inside the storage box now, rather than mounted outside, on the back wall. Which, is probably better anyway, since it won't be visible to meth heads from outside and will look better. I'll just have a little less storage space inside the box.
I picked up black marine vinyl and black PVC non-slip mat to cover everything (forgot pics) and got the back wall covered in carpet. Still pondering what to use on the strip between the panel and back window. Probably just glue carpet to it, since there's no room behind the seat back.

 

No real progress recently. We had a really nice (abnormal) weekend, 2 weekends ago and then the weather went back to its typical wet, windy and cold spring crap. In the meantime, the factory cloth seat covers that I scored from another member showed up, so I pulled off the passenger side vinyl. I realized that the seat covers are a little more involved than I anticipated, so I'm gonna stop here and wait for the seat heaters to arrive and avoid having to pull the seats apart a second time. They should be here in time for the weekend and hopefully the weather is decent. I can work on part of the console indoors in the meantime.
I didn't bother to take a bunch of pics or document pulling the seats apart, but if anyone has any questions or needs a pic of something while everything is apart for the next week or so, just ask.
2Seats heated seat,seat heater For Toyota 4Runner Tacoma Tundra Prius Highlander | eBay

 

Anyone know of a thread that details how to get this section out or what to remove (and how) to get behind it? I need to run wires and the 2 seat heater switches and I really don't wanna break tabs or leave screwdriver pry marks.


Edit:
Nevermind. Found a few vids on YouTube.
Takes 13 seconds.....if you take your time. Crazy how easy some of this stuff comes apart.

 

When I was working out of my truck daily last year I built this 60% shelf system out of some scrap plywood and 2x4. Covered it in outdoor home Depot carpet. The whole project cost less than $50 and 4 hours. I got a ton of use out of it but have since scrapped it.

 

Got the pass side done at least. Had a few hours of no rain today, so I humped it out. I've never pulled the upholstery off a vehicle seat before. The driver seat should take a lot less time, now that I kinda know what I'm doing. I'm glad I decided to tackle the seats before finishing the console. That woulda been a bitch with the console in the way. I know that taking the seats out would make it easier, but it's been raining and I don't have an indoor space to work on a car seat at the moment. Once I get the driver seat done, I'll get back to the console/storage. Seats, console, rear storage, aux pwr/batteries/inverter and rear speakers. It's all kinda merged together as one, interior mod project.
I'll need to find black cloth headrests or covers. I tried looking them up, saw some prices and stopped looking immediately.

 

So, while working on my little rear speaker box, I decided to open up the B pillar, find the rear door speaker wires and snip them in the B pillar and leave the speakers attached in the door. That way it would be easy to hook them back up later if need be.
Pop the door panel off and the speaker wire is Ford blue and mint green. Awesome. Pop the lower B pillar panel off and find the only Ford blue and mint green wire in the bundle. Then snip them. This is too easy.
......speaker is still on.
Am I an impatient idiot? Well, yeah. But that's beside the point. Why would you run the only blue and mint green wire pair in the bundle for power window, run it all the way to the door jamb, then on the other side, blue and green are for the speaker?
Was that s'posed to be funny, Toyota?