I've always liked SUVs that provide a totally level cargo deck with no slopes, bumps, valleys or the like. When I took the back seat out of our JKU the next project was to add a platform in front of the rear cargo area that would convert the interior of the JK behind the front seats into one level deck.


I wish I'd made photos of the project as it went along, but I was eager ti get it done, so. . .


Here's a cross section of how the thing was made.






The platform was rough cut to 30.5" front to back by 53" side to side across the front. Across the rear, the platform measures less than 53" because it was scribed and trimmed to meet the outlines of the rear wheel wells as shown here:







Two 8" x 8.5" pieces of 3/4" ply were fastened under the front lip of the platform via 8" pieces of 2" x 2" stock. They support the front of the platform.



At the rear, the platform is fastened to the cargo deck via a couple studs originally used to tie down the rear seats. The plywood was drilled through to pass the studs, then the top was partway countersunk to allow the original nuts to be turned down onto the studs and hold the ply in place. Caution should be exercised in doing those countersinks: you want to leave as much meat as possible in the plywood (for strength) while still getting the nuts level with the surface of the ply, plus the thickness of the carpet that finally covers the top and edges of the ply. The carpet was stapled down to the sides or bottom of the ply with heavy fasteners prior to actual installation.








The front corners were rounded off to avoid having a sharp angle.



The project furnishes a nearly level deck - there's a hump 3/4" tall where the plywood starts, but it's covered by the back deck stock carpet.

There's also a lot of useful space under the platform for odds and ends.