DIY rear cargo cover

[simple jake]

So I noticed a guy looking through my rear hatch window the other day, and since I keep my tools back there, I'd rather not give someone the motive to break in my car. I didn't feel like searching everywhere for a stock cargo cover, and I didn't want to buy one from the stealership so I thought I would make my own. Overall I spent 25, maybe 30 dollars to make it myself.

List of Materials:

1. One(1) 4'x4' sheet of 1/4" Underlayment plywood-$7.65 at Home Depot
2. One(1) 5/8" dowel-$.89 at Home Depot
3. Two(2) yards of black felt-$3.67/yd at Walmart
4. A large cardboard box for making your mold/outline of rear trunk space
5. A roll of Gorilla Tape 12' long-$4.78 at Home Depot
6. One(1) can of 3M Super77 spray adhesive-$5.49 at Home Depot

List of Tools:

1. Two(2) sawhorses
2. One(1) Jig Saw
3. One(1) Roll of duck tape
4. A staple gun with 1/4" staples

Step 1:

The first thing you need to to is take your cardboard box and try and fold it around a little to match the outline of your trunk space. After you've gotten a rough idea of what it looks like, go ahead and cut your piece of cardboard to shape. Once it is cut to shape you can start trimming and making it as perfect as you want. Don't worry about taking too much off because you can just duck tape a larger piece onto where you messed up and re-cut as needed.

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Step 2:

Once you're done cutting out and making your cardboard perfect, it's time to trace it to your plywood!

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Step 3:

After you trace your cardboard to your plywood, set up the plywood on the sawhorses and bust out your Jig Saw! I made sure to cut on the outside of my outline so I could trim accordingly.

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Step 4:

Go ahead and measure from side to side where your dowel will snap into place. There should be a metal clip on either side that will hold your dowel in place. If you don't have these clips you may have to move up to the next size dowel.

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Step 5:

After you measure and cut your dowel, place it on the edge of the board, but still underneath. I used Gorilla Tape to keep in in place before you felt your board.

Then staple one end of the felt to your board, stretch out the felt, spray some adhesive on your felt and smooth it over your board. Then staple the other side of the felt. I stapled around the dowel to keep it help in place because I figured the Gorilla Tape would unstick over time and because of the heat.

There you go! You now have a hand-made cargo cover!

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Total cost of materials: $26.15

 

[turboglenn]

that loooks really good man, nice work!

 

[dees75z]

Looks really good man!!!

 

[simple jake]

Thanks for the replies! I'd actually suggest using 3/8" plywood rather than 1/4" because the 1/4" I'm using will most likely warp under its own weight, making it curve in the middle.

 

[greengoblin2011]

That's awesome. I've looked my butt off trying to find one, now after reading your post ill just build one. Awesome.

 

[4g63tc]

I have one just sitting in the garage, since i bought a CF one from InfiniteGSX awhile back.

 

[knochgoon24]

I didn't think they were that rare either. There are at least 6 or so in my (once) local pick a part yard. I've never pulled them because I figured no one would want to pay the cost of shipping. I'm currently kicking a grey one around my apartment. The only time I've ever used it is when I put my tools in the back, so no one gets any ideas.

 

[4g63tc]

Same as i thought, there are about 4-5 at the local junkyard, seems no-one ever takes them, center console covers are always missing though