Cargo Options

[KSNeptune]

I popped for the cargo box with my Vibe, knowing the groceries would appreciate some form of restraint when put in the rear. IT's backordered, but I'm hoping it lives up to it's price. I've got cargo nets in my other car, but they have yet to prove very useful. I'm a product/furniture designer/builder, and tonight built myself a "cargo divider bar". It is 5.5" tall, about an inch thick, and reaches across the 41" width of the rear. It locks into the track on both sides, and can be slid anywhere forward or back on the track. When tightened down it won't budge. I used two of the track inserts to thread into, and some metric mini-cam fasteners to lock the bar down. I added two tie-down hooks to the top of the bar, giving more places to hook bungie cords to. It allows rigidly dividing the rear space with a vertical bar. You could stand a row of loaded grocery sacks against the rear seat, and slide the bar in place to hold them tightly there. I'll be testing it's worth the next week or so, and report back just how useful it becomes for everyday load containment. I'll post a picture once I get it refined a bit. Anyone else been creative with the storage options in the rear? I'd love to hear about it.KSNeptune

[Flip-Side]

Sounds cool. How about some pictures? I love to hear of mods that people try out, and pictures really do speak a thousand words. Heres a thred where some of us made custom cargo liners.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1366

[KSNeptune]

Thanks, Flip. I'll take a picture this weekend. The bar is a chunk of walnut (wood) and needs to be rounded off, sanded, and finished yet. I tend to save finishing for the VERY-LAST-THING, preferring to stare at and work with my designs for awhile until I'm convinced they solve the problem as best as they can. The thread on cargo liners was good. Seems like great minds think alike. It also points out that a plastic bed doesn't really hold cargo very well. Look for more from me. My vibe has only just begun. KSNept.

[Yoda]

quote:I'm a product/furniture designer/builder...Anyone else been creative with the storage options in the rear? I'd love to hear about it.KSNeptuneThis reminds me of something I've been kicking around for a while - how difficult do you think it would be for a non-furniture builder to make a box to replace the "spare tire compartment/organizer" that's in the back under the floor. I wouldn't start till next summer, but I'm thinking of either relocating the spare to one side or getting rid of it altogether and buying a can of fix a flat. The three compartments that are under there are almost completely useless to me. The only reason I might reconsider is that I thought the center well as where the new subwoofer might go for 2004. I'm not sure where I saw that - it might have been SCC...

[KSNeptune]

I've been thinking about where a subwoofer would go too. My first thought was that it would be most effective under the driver's seat. Although the spare seems nearly worthless, I know I'd regret removing it the minute I had my first flat. I've actually found the odd compartments around the spare good for various things.... A bag of bungy cords, the bag of tire straps, the bag of rail hooks, and a few tools. I discovered the storage space between the rear seat and the rear deck is perfect for storing the folded-up cargo cover. There's even a little additional space there. Just remember to package anything you store so that it won't rattle or shift around.Does anyone know if the Moon/Tunes single CD stereo has dedicated subwoofer output? A crosssover, perhaps?KSNept.

[KSNeptune]

Thought a picture would help. This prototype was made from a scrap of walnut, and does not have a finish on it yet. We went shopping today and it proved very nice at keeping the packages tucked against the seat rear.Thoughts, anyone? Feel free. I enjoy opinions, no matter what they are.

[vibegirl]

Love the utility, not too sure about the look. I would beg for one if it matched the colour/material of the car. Why didn't Pontiac think of something like this???

[NovaResource]

That's sweet. Nice design. I know the Pontiac guys are watching. Take note gentleman.

[KSNeptune]

This one is the original prototype, made out of whatever I had on hand. My first thoughts are to make production versions perhaps vinyl covered with color matched to the interior, and slightly padded. The core would be High Density Fiber Board or plywood. Plywood would be stronger.So, if you could get a lightly padded one, color similar to the interior, how much would you pay? I'm a college professor, but can affors to make small production runs of things I design during the christmas and summer breaks.KSNeptune

[Flip-Side]

Thats really cool. I like the idea a lot. Nice Pic!

[Yoda]

quote:This one is the original prototype, made out of whatever I had on hand. My first thoughts are to make production versions perhaps vinyl covered with color matched to the interior, and slightly padded. The core would be High Density Fiber Board or plywood. Plywood would be stronger.So, if you could get a lightly padded one, color similar to the interior, how much would you pay? I'm a college professor, but can affors to make small production runs of things I design during the christmas and summer breaks.KSNeptuneWell, if it can't be made of ... (best woodchuck voice) WOOD ... , and knowing how difficult it is to match the color and grain of the cargo area, how cool would a carbon fiber one be. It would still need some plastic bushings so that the anchors didn't tear through. One of the current import mags has a nice little homage to carbon fiber - I've been trying to dream up something I could make myself without the expense of a mold... Hmmm

[LocDog]

theres this composite plasic used to make deck that i saw at home depot, it looks like its recycled plasic, its grey, and itll probably match the interior....

[KSNeptune]

quote:theres this composite plasic used to make deck that i saw at home depot, it looks like its recycled plasic, its grey, and itll probably match the interior....It's called TREX, or whatever other name those who ripped of the original idea call it. Nice idea. But the pieces I've seen don't have a rectangular cross section. Made for decking, the bottom side is coped out to reduce weight and material.But I'll look into it. They might have solid sections of 2x6 I haven't seen before.KSNeptune

[KSNeptune]

I received my Cargo Gear box today, and believe I have ovedosed on plastic for now. For those of you thinking about getting one:It's hard gray plastic, with GM embossed into it. It fits perfectly between the wheel wells behind the rear seat. The color doesn't quite match the car's interior. Long plastic panels fold up from the center. They cover 4 plastic dividers. The two on the ends simply hinge up, then lock down into place to hold the rectangle up. There are two more dividers, and they can be inserted between the front and back to subdivide the area into 3 equal sized compartments. The box came with four self-adhesive foam rubber pads to stick to the base. They do an excellent job of keeping the box from sliding. There are two rectangular metal clips that can be screwed into the outside left and right of the box. They give you extra places to hook bungie cords. There was also some velcro straps and adhesive velcro pads, but no obvious place or way to use them. When the whole thing is folded down, you can supposedly load cargo on top of it (as thought it's the cargo floor), but it sure make one hell-of-a bump on the floor.Thought you'd like to know.KSNeptune.

[KSNeptune]

And, Oh yea... The bottom of the Cargo box has this loose shelf-liner like rubber pad. I left it out, since when the box is set up, anything put in there would have a hard time sliding anywhere anyway. At best it serves to cover up the ugly bottom of the inside of the box.KSNeptune

[KSNeptune]

The next change I'm planning for the cargo bar is to insert a piece of C-Channel along it's length on the face. I'm trying to find some that matches the channel in the floor, and then will be able to use the same clips to slide into position/tighten/hook to. Having some track 90 degrees to the existing track should make tying down stuff much easier. I'm also going to modify the bar so it can be clamped down flat, in addition to standing up. Ideally I'll try to get it so that loosining two clamps (cam levers, perhaps) allows you to tip it up or flat, slide it forward or back, and then tighten it down with the same clamps.I'll post another picture when I get it all figured out.KSNeptune

[vibegirl]

Is it possible to use the box while bolting in a child seat?

[KSNeptune]

There is nothing about the cargo gear box that would interfere with bolting in a child seat. In fact I don't believe you can push it far enough forward between the wheel wells to block access to the bolt down points.KSNeptune

[Shadow Realm]

Thanks for all the info on the cargo box. I had planned on building a homemade box with sectioners and two tier loading. I have also been tooling around the idea of a speaker box/utility box all in one. I have almost finished the plans for it and will post as soon as I copywright itLOL. No, when its done I'll put the pics on so everyone can view my limited skills in the garage It will fit into the tracks somehow though. Thats the part i am stuck on ( how to have some kind of quick release system.)

[TGebiV]

yeah and it could say VIBE across the middle

[djFLUWID]

What i did was buy some floor mats at a hardware store and i took one of the tie downs in there with me. i bought screws that matched it and washers and i screwed it in where the tie downs were then i cut it to shapeif somone can show me how ill post pics? [IMG][/IMG]

[Frosty]

Use the file attachment on the reply window. (I can see it while I type this)Having said this.....I can't get it to work! Help! Nick!

Attached files

[Frosty]

quote:Nothing is showing up when I click on it.I know it isn't working for me. You try attaching a pic. Maybe it is the nut behind the keyboard.

[NSimkins]

quote:Nothing is showing up when I click on it.I know it isn't working for me. You try attaching a pic. Maybe it is the nut behind the keyboard.Frosty, try renaming the file to something shorter than it currently is, reattach the file and try it again. I just tested a picture in the Testing forum and it seems to be working fine. Let me know if there are any additional problems via IM. Thanks.

[djFLUWID]

I'll get some pics up over the weekend