TB8 - Technical Bulletin 8

Rear Parcel Tray

• The area behind the passenger seats is ideal for carrying luggage or other goods. This area formed part of the rear floor pan, and was occupied by the rear seat squab and backrest.

  

  To make the area more practical a tray can be fitted.

  A tray can be made from panel steel, wood or a variety of materials, but the easiest method is to use plywood cut to shape.

  5 ply needs no additional bracing and is a good compromise between strength and lightness. For those wanting to minimise weight, a wood router can be used to remove a few layers of ply from underneath.

  Construction Details

  The overall cut dimensions of the ply blank are 56" x 17.50". Allowance needs to be made for the saw cut when cutting the tray in half. If roll over protection is not being fitted, the tray can be made as one piece.

  The trim measurements for the tray in the above image are shown in the line drawings below.

  Due to manufacturing tolerances, the measurements are a guide only.

  Slots need to be cut for the centre section floor pan attachment beams and at each end if a roll bar is fitted. The centre section attachment beam slots need to be under-cut at 30 degrees at the front to allow for the beam angle.

  If the tray is to be made as a two piece unit, add two 6" ply tabs to the bottom of the RHS tray as shown to ensure the two panels keep their alignment.

  The tray needs to be secured to the bodywork. In the example above, the tray has been fastened to the inner guards using right angled 16g panel steel brackets, and two ¼” CSKMT screws tapped into the transmission tunnel top RH sections.

  Warning: Objects placed on the tray should be securely restrained as they will become missiles in an accident.