83 standard cab storage issue

[Rammunition360]

so i finally got the ranger running decent so i decided to clean out all the old owners stuff today and some of my crap (tools, electrical tape, beer cans) and i realized that there is no where to put anything in this truck! the clove box barely holds my documentation and there is no center console...so my question is, what to do for storage...as of right now i have no bed or i would just use tool boxes, is there anyway to get a center console in this mutha licka???

 

[RobbieD]

Have you got bucket seats or a bench in it?

 

[Rammunition360]

bench

 

[RobbieD]

OK. I've got an '84 with the bench, too. For now I just put all of my stuff behind the seat. Spare fluids and a breakdown tool kit eat up all of the room there, so I know where you're coming from.

You might check for pre-made "consoles" for bench seats, but if I was looking to put something like that in I'd just build it. Basically, a plywood box, hinged locking top, padded and covered in material. As for nailing it to the seat, a pair of slots front and rear, and a pair of ratcheting tie-down straps through it and around the seat bottom (not quite "Fort Knox" secure, but better than non-locking). The top can be extra-padded, and serve as an armrest, too. Used to make stuff like that all the time when I did conversion vans (about 120 years ago).

 

[Rammunition360]

yeah i was thinking about that...as for behind the seat i have two 6x9's and a few wrenches and thats gone haha, i may do they center console thing, but then i couldnt get my swerve on over the bench cause it wont fold up...UNLESS i cut out the middle of the back rest and fabbed a seat frame that had a spot for the console to fold up and had built in storage in the back of it...

 

[dangeranger01]

I have an explorer center consel an dbuckets in my 97, and im picking up a canopy tonight for it. I love not having the 60/40 bench, it is so much nicer.

 

[RobbieD]

Yep; you'd have to slope the back of a console, to get some decent seat fold. At least you're doing some good thinking; necessity is the mother of invention. Another suggestion- a good pair of speakers cut into the doors will sound as good as (or better) than 6X9's behind the seat. Would free up some room. Anyway, good luck with whatever you come up with.

 

[Rammunition360]

yeah ive been thinking about puttin some in the doors...and i bet the slope in the console would be ugly unless i did it perfect

 

[philS]

I have a std cab with the regular cab and bench seat.

I put the pass seat bottom forward a bit, with the back tilted backwards to hold all the stuff I've tossed back there. I'd rather not have a center console.

 

[Rammunition360]

my seat slides as one and i have to have the driver all the way back

 

[Mark_88]

I'd go with the buckets too...and put some of those nylon fishnet baggies that hang on the back of the seat for storage of books et al...a toolkit fits nicely behind the console or as an armrest in between the seats (not too wide though)...and you could always get a box for the bed to put big stuff in...

but that's exactly why I got an extended cab the second time around...more room for junk that's outta sight...