Z71 Suburban Camper

[NOSOK]

I really like the hinged shelf solution, rattle as it may, as we'll have to keep the 2nd row seats in the truck with the grandkids going with us. Nice job!

Even so, with one of those damn Nascar roll-cage baby seats it's going to be a pain until the little guy gets considerably larger. Question for you, though - how were your door mouldings attached? Mine aren't falling off like yours. I'm just wondering what's involved in yanking them off before I ruin a paint job underneath them. Thanks!

Edit: May have just solved my own problem. I could build the platform so the hinged portion is divided at the hinges. Since he won't need the full length of the platform for a few years, I could just flip up the one rear seat that doesn't have a car seat in it to give me room and leave his side with his car seat alone. Once he's big enough for a simple booster seat, all those issues go away.

they were just held on with double sided tape. I used a steamer (and also poured near boiling water on them) to soften the adhesive, and then a plastic scraper to lift the edge to the point where I could pull them off. Heavy fishing line also works to saw off the mouldings but that leaves a lot of adhesive behind, which is a real pain to remove. Just make sure you clean the area very well - mine had some sand stuck in there I didn't get out fully which resulted in some fairly large scratches. Still better than yellowed mouldings that were half falling off!

Divided hinged platform should be no problem.

Just throwing this idea out there.. Give you a bit more space, and doesnt effect fuel mileage...

There are also hi-top conversions.. Something like this. This is on a van, but they do make them for Suburbans. These do affect fuel mileage.

IIRC Sportsmobile is one of the major companies who do conversions like that and those tops aren't cheap (like $8k+). I thought about a poptop, but not with any seriousness given the price and questionable utility. I don't really get the point of doing that on an SUV unless you absolutely have to sleep 4 people (and in that case you can get a rooftop tent for a fraction of the price). Stealth factor would go out the window as well.

 

[bobsburban]

they were just held on with double sided tape. I used a steamer (and also poured near boiling water on them) to soften the adhesive, and then a plastic scraper to lift the edge to the point where I could pull them off. Heavy fishing line also works to saw off the mouldings but that leaves a lot of adhesive behind, which is a real pain to remove. Just make sure you clean the area very well - mine had some sand stuck in there I didn't get out fully which resulted in some fairly large scratches. Still better than yellowed mouldings that were half falling off!

Divided hinged platform should be no problem.

Thanks for that. Mine are in good shape and though I prefer the look of yours, I may leave well enough alone for now. At least until I decide about spraying matching color bedliner down below them and on the bumpers.

And yes, piano hinges are a good thing...