Im going to get right to it. this "mod" is harder then it seems. details will be discussed below.
Reasons for doing this mod are as follows: gain more height, loose a few pounds, and add a toolbox.
step one:
remove bottom snap on cover. pull straight upwards. (EASY)
step two:
grab a 14 mil socket and remove the 2 nut washers in the front. (TO EASY)
set those bolts aside. you wont need them.
step three:
behind the seats; pull the snap on cover straight upwards. start at one end and finish at the opposite end. (MEDIUM EASY)
ill show the way the system is held on by the seats. the cargo cover is held in place by those front 2 bolts and 2 "J" hooks by the seats.
these areas on the driver and passenger side do not need to be cut out. I did because I didn't know how the tray was held on.
step four:
man your in for a pain... both sides of the cargo trim need to be almost all the way removed. seat belt trim needs to be removed to remove the rest of the cargo trim. make sure to remove cargo straps with a T15. (MEDIUM HARD)
step five:
pull upward and out with the tray. get the tray off of the bolts. the "J" hooks slide right out. (AWKWARD DIFFICULT)
there is a padding material in the area, keep it in there to reduce exhaust and road noise.
you gain nearly 5 1/2" of height do what ever you want to do.
here's where my mod turns from a help guide to a personal project.
I measured out the area for a square 2x4. worked out to be 29" length by 36" wide. the frame can not be an exact square due to the spare tire winch and the rear seat brackets, so leave about an inch and a half overhang on the wood frame.
the insert on the right side; the trim is melted on and is a snap on. can be reused even if melt tabs are broken. the insert is close to an inch off the floor pan.
make sure to add the insulation. I used zip ties, but have plans when I complete the mod to use u bolts. the big ones.
here's how it looks currently.
with the 2x4s, height gained is 4".