Random Twitch
Forum Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2021
- Messages
- 16
- Location
- Australia
- Car Year
- 2007
- Car Model
- Forester X
- Transmission
- Manual
Hi all
Thinking about installing overlander/camper/sleeper/drawers in the back of my MY07 Forester, but I'm struggling with options to attach it to the car. I'm particularly worried about accidents and objects becoming missiles in the cabin (e.g. the cooler), or the whole drawer unit ripping free and slamming into the front seats.
So I have been toying with the idea of ripping out the rear seats (and the foam) and installing a couple of metal rails. I'd mount the drawer/etc frame on them. Ideally, there'd be tie points on it as well.
At its simplest (cheapest!) I'm thinking about two rectangular-section tubes, (one left-side, one right-side), running from the rear mounting bolts of the front seats, through the rear seat well and up onto the mounting points for the rear seat. Probably some cross struts somewhere. It would be nice to use the black loops the rear seatback clicks onto, somehow.
Here is a terrible artistic rendering of the idea (that has been further degraded by programs doing something wierd, sorry):
I cannot find any reasonable attachments in the cargo bay. Those black cargo loops are only rated to 20kg. The spare-wheel bracing is going to have to retain its original function (no external tire mount for me, unfortunately). I am hoping there will be enough stiffness in the rails to handle that load - for example, not too much rattling in normal operation - but not sure.
I would have to get the rails/frame made up by a professional (another challenge: don't know how to measure, design, specify etc). Aluminum would be better for weight, clearly, but is steel more cost-effective?
I've never done something like this before.
Would really value feedback from wiser heads. Thanks!
Thinking about installing overlander/camper/sleeper/drawers in the back of my MY07 Forester, but I'm struggling with options to attach it to the car. I'm particularly worried about accidents and objects becoming missiles in the cabin (e.g. the cooler), or the whole drawer unit ripping free and slamming into the front seats.
So I have been toying with the idea of ripping out the rear seats (and the foam) and installing a couple of metal rails. I'd mount the drawer/etc frame on them. Ideally, there'd be tie points on it as well.
At its simplest (cheapest!) I'm thinking about two rectangular-section tubes, (one left-side, one right-side), running from the rear mounting bolts of the front seats, through the rear seat well and up onto the mounting points for the rear seat. Probably some cross struts somewhere. It would be nice to use the black loops the rear seatback clicks onto, somehow.
Here is a terrible artistic rendering of the idea (that has been further degraded by programs doing something wierd, sorry):
I cannot find any reasonable attachments in the cargo bay. Those black cargo loops are only rated to 20kg. The spare-wheel bracing is going to have to retain its original function (no external tire mount for me, unfortunately). I am hoping there will be enough stiffness in the rails to handle that load - for example, not too much rattling in normal operation - but not sure.
I would have to get the rails/frame made up by a professional (another challenge: don't know how to measure, design, specify etc). Aluminum would be better for weight, clearly, but is steel more cost-effective?
I've never done something like this before.
Would really value feedback from wiser heads. Thanks!
