Trammels for Threatening Toes

(Sorry, I couldn't resist the alliteration.)

When I upgraded my JBL sound system, replacing all but the HU, I ended up with more equipment under the driver and passenger front seats than I had planned for. Arranging it all so power cables, interconnects, speaker wires and controls were somewhat accessible without unbolting and tilting, but also protected, was an impossible task. Therefore, I schemed to implement some sort of barrier across the lower-rear of the front seats to protect from threatening toes riding in the backseats.

Considering there are HVAC vents under the front seats, with airflow directed toward the rear, I installed all equipment on racks (fabricated from 1/2" HDPE cutting boards) that I elevated, using rubber feet, above the vents, so as not to block them. It was important to me that whatever barrier I came up with that it also not substantially interfere with airflow.

Here's my solution:

Parts: 3/8" structural, steel pipe (black) from Lowes

(Note, this photo was taken before I added an AudioControl Matrix Six Channel Line Driver to my setup. Currently, there is no free real estate on this cutting board under the passenger seat. For that matter, there is no free real estate under the driver's seat, either, since I also added an old-school AudioControl ESP-3 to that rack.)


I drilled holes, using a step bit. Hole placement is critical (measure ten times, drill once); the pipe must fit tight up against the bottom of the seat rails while still allowing the trim caps to snap securely back into place.




Completed and installed, the trammels are solid, solid. They do not slide back and forth; they do not move. While sitting in the back seat I tested, kicked and stomped them, hard, while wearing work boots. They didn't budge. I've had them off several times, like when I added the line driver and ESP-3; easy as snapping the trim caps off and back on.