Replaced jump seats with something better

Hello, I'm not sure if this will interest anyone but I am kind of proud how this mod turned out and I want to share it.

After 3 years, we have never used the jump seats in our Access Cab, so I decided to remove them and build something that would be useful. Here is the result:


My goal was to complete this project without drilling any holes or modifying the truck in any non-reversible way, using existing bolts wherever possible. I started by removing the seats and covering as much sheet metal as possible with sound deadening material.



I used Hushmat because that is what was available locally. I don't know if it is any better or worse than other products. It seems to work fine.

To fill in the empty air chambers, I taped up some regular household insulation. I have no idea if this actually has any benefit.



For the back, I used a flexible product that I don't know the proper name for. Around here it is called showerboard. In the photo above, you can see that there are plenty of bolt holes to secure it at the top. There are also enough bolt holes along the bottom to do the job.



I was able to attach it using 50mm bolts in the existing bolt holes. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the showerboard in place. I screwed a furring strip across the top so I could wrap carpet over the top and tack it in place. I used self-adhesive carpet squares.

For the floor, I made a simple frame that would form 3 compartments. The middle compartment is easily reachable from the passenger seat.



The floor comprises five lids, or hatches, joined by one long piano hinge. The two longest lids cover the factory-supplied compartments where the jack lives. I used boards rather than plywood because it they are easier for me to work with; I'm old enough to be done wrestling 4 x 8 sheets of plywood.



The five lids are not attached; they just rest on the frame. To keep them from sliding around, I screwed rubber bumpers to the underside:



The bottom assembly is held in place with just 2 bolts.



This is not very elegant looking, but it serves as a hook to attach bungee cords to.



I am not tall, and I can just squeeze back there for a nap while my wife drives.

I'm looking forward to a long trip with my wife to give this mod a real-life workout. I hope someone likes this mod!

 

nice cobbling and writeup. i have an AC and doing something like this frequently comes to mind. the jump seats are generally useless.
the only change that might suit me is to use some sort of interior matched plush carpet since i am not likely to use the AC for anything
it could not handle. it might provide additional sound dampening too, though might require more solutions around the hinged area.
i like the minimal install bolts and bumpers for when it needs to be removed for whatever reason. well done.

since you are vertically challenged , did you allow for moving front seats all the way back or is it tuned to you leg length?

 

You can slide the seats all the way back, but only if they are fairly upright. If they are scooted all the way back, the forward lids cannot be opened. That's not a problem for us. It's easy enough to scoot a seat forward if needed, and we seldom if ever recline the seat backs all the way.

I think your carpet idea is a sound one. My original plan was to use a roll of carpet, but the clerk at Lowe's said it wouldn't work with glue, so I went with the self-adhesive squares.