DIY Gear Tunnel Straps

[Rivianero]

I've been struggling a bit working out how to make best use of the oddly shaped gear tunnel storage. I occurred to me that I had several long but light items that could be stored in the narrow top, leaving the bottom free for my toolboxes.

Here's how I added a couple handy straps to store items up an out of the way:

1. The hardware I used includes these strap mounts taken from military surplus (I'm sure similar can be found at online sources), some 1 meter straps with simple clasps, and stainless steel rivets. I found that the rivets were not long enough in some cases so switched to ss machine screws.
   
   
   
   
2. Removed the forward panel from the truck bed. 8 simple bolts. Mine does not have the powered tonneau, which makes this easier.
3. Determined where inside to place the straps. I wanted to avoid the interior lights, molding for the gear tunnel doors, and the "roll top desk" access to the gear tunnel from the back seat. I cut some small pieces of wood to wedge in between the door molding and back seat access and drilled guide holes in them to locate where I want the brackets. This transfers easily to the other side for consistency. In hindsight, this probably wasn't necessary as it is easy enough to eyeball where you want to place the brackets.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Drilled 3/16" holes for the brackets from within the gear tunnel, up through the liner and metal "roof"(below where the powered tonneau cover would sit). Attached first bracket with ss rivets. My longest ones barely did the job so I switched to ss machine screws of the same diameter for the other brackets ($3.99 set from HF).Threadlock.
   
   
   
   
5. Noting that there's only about 6" of metal between where the rear bracket holes came through, I measured the same from the inside and drilled up from there. Otherwise might have drilled up into the rear seats or something important / not sufficiently strong to support the strapped items. Attached brackets with screws and passed the strap through.
6. Did the same on the opposite side.
7. Sealed the penetrations with marine sealant, just in case, to prevent water intrusion into the gear tunnel.

Long items like my big level span across both straps. Shorter items are sufficiently secured with just one strap. Doesn't seem to block the internal lights, but that may depend on what you have strapped in there.

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[fergie]

I've been struggling a bit working out how to make best use of the oddly shaped gear tunnel storage. I occurred to me that I had several long but light items that could be stored in the narrow top, leaving the bottom free for my toolboxes.

Here's how I added a couple handy straps to store items up an out of the way:

1. The hardware I used includes these strap mounts taken from military surplus (I'm sure similar can be found at online sources), some 1 meter straps with simple clasps, and stainless steel rivets. I found that the rivets were not long enough in some cases so switched to ss machine screws.
   
   
   
   
2. Removed the forward panel from the truck bed. 8 simple bolts. Mine does not have the powered tonneau, which makes this easier.
3. Determined where inside to place the straps. I wanted to avoid the interior lights, molding for the gear tunnel doors, and the "roll top desk" access to the gear tunnel from the back seat. I cut some small pieces of wood to wedge in between the door molding and back seat access and drilled guide holes in them to locate where I want the brackets. This transfers easily to the other side for consistency. In hindsight, this probably wasn't necessary as it is easy enough to eyeball where you want to place the brackets.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Drilled 3/16" holes for the brackets from within the gear tunnel, up through the liner and metal "roof"(below where the powered tonneau cover would sit). Attached first bracket with ss rivets. My longest ones barely did the job so I switched to ss machine screws of the same diameter for the other brackets ($3.99 set from HF).Threadlock.
   
   
   
   
5. Noting that there's only about 6" of metal between where the rear bracket holes came through, I measured the same from the inside and drilled up from there. Otherwise might have drilled up into the rear seats or something important / not sufficiently strong to support the strapped items. Attached brackets with screws and passed the strap through.
6. Did the same on the opposite side.
7. Sealed the penetrations with marine sealant, just in case, to prevent water intrusion into the gear tunnel.

Long items like my big level span across both straps. Shorter items are sufficiently secured with just one strap. Doesn't seem to block the internal lights, but that may depend on what you have strapped in there.

Well done sir. I like seeing novel approaches to problems.

 

[R1TandMe]

Great write up thanks!

 

[Dark-Fx]

You're gonna really hate that space between the battery and rear motors if you ever take the underbody covers off.

 

[Rivianero]

You're gonna really hate that space between the battery and rear motors if you ever take the underbody covers off.

How so?

I've had the bed out completely and know there's some unused space there as well.

 

[Dark-Fx]

How so?

I've had the bed out completely and know there's some unused space there as well.

 

[Rivianero]

That is under, not above the gear tunnel.

 

[shracks]

Where is this exactly? I can't picture it in my minds eye

 

[Dark-Fx]

Where is this exactly? I can't picture it in my minds eye

Below the gear tunnel, those black grommets are in the bottom of the tunnel. Not sure if those have changed for gen2, but I don't think they've ever used them.

Edit:

Here's a screenshot from a crappy 3d scan I did a while back that helps show the depth of the photo above.

 

[ThirteenElectrics]

You are a legend.

 

[Blueassassin]

Below the gear tunnel, those black grommets are in the bottom of the tunnel. Not sure if those have changed for gen2, but I don't think they've ever used them.

Edit:

Here's a screenshot from a crappy 3d scan I did a while back that helps show the depth of the photo above.

Someone needs to make a water tank that fits in that and can be plumbed to the gear tunnel.
would be awesome to have the water down low.
Probably needs to be double walled to make sure no water gets on the battery.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Someone needs to make a water tank that fits in that and can be plumbed to the gear tunnel.
would be awesome to have the water down low.
Probably needs to be double walled to make sure no water gets on the battery.

I bought everything to make a tank, decided to wait for Gen2 in case something significant changed. Tanks that aren't just plain rectangles are a pain in the ass if you don't rotomold them (I wouldn't be for a one-off)

 

[Blueassassin]

I bought everything to make a tank, decided to wait for Gen2 in case something significant changed. Tanks that aren't just plain rectangles are a pain in the ass if you don't rotomold them (I wouldn't be for a one-off)

Do It!!

 

[Erik+]

You're gonna really hate that space between the battery and rear motors if you ever take the underbody covers off.

Smuggling space...

 

[Rivianero]

Where is this exactly? I can't picture it in my minds eye

HV layout diagram from the emergency responder docs...

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