rear floor storage

dl1030 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:48 pm **Posts:** 5

*first post, Hi all! Been lurking for a few months and have the lifetime membership already sent in. Love the enthusiasm around here! Just have to join the fun!

I hate to ask dumb questions but havnt found much info from searching.

I ride a lot of MTB (mountain bikes) and bought the KK to get to trail heads that my Grand Prix couldnt get to. The problem is I didnt test fit my bike before pulling the tigger. just my luck, the bikes are too tall to stand up in the back. If I were to remove the rear floor storage unit it appears that I would gain a couple inches. That should allow my bikes to ride side by side in the back rather than laying them down on a side and stacking. I am sure I can figure out how to remove everything but before I do i wanted to ask what is under the storage unit? are there many wires? Does anyone else run storage-less, have a pic? I would hate to tear it all out only to find out I cant do it.

BrendonR · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:44 pm

not sure about the rear cargo area...

but wouldn't THIS http://www.thule.com/en-GB/CA/Products/BikeCarriers/Hitch/16334.aspx be a WHOLE lot easier? And it'll keep you from cutting up the jeep.

How do you carry your bikes on the grand prix? I carried some bikes on the back of the jeep using my father-in-laws rack that just straps to the trunk of his car. ACTUALLY it fit on the back of the KK better than it does his car!

dl1030 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:48 pm **Posts:** 5

When I take the GP I am able to put one bike in the back seat (removed the bottom part of the seat). If I need to carry a second/third bike I will toss the Saris Bones 3 rack on the back and load them all on that. Works fine but gas mileage suffers(30+mpg without, ~22mpg with a rack). Ideally I would take the GP when I ride alone as the bike is safe inside the car. It is when a friend or two wants to go that I would rather take the jeep. Adding a hitch rack I assume would drop the Jeep's mileage to a point where it wouldnt be worth taking. Not to mention that having the bikes on the back leave them open to theft/elements.

I dont want to cut up the jeep, just wondering if I could remove some unused parts to give it a slightly bigger cargo area without risking a bike fork snagging and cutting an important wire.

BrendonR · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:22 pm

WOW!!!! 30 - 22mpg? holy crap that's a loss....

I'm not sure what's under the storage area, but depending on how much room you need - you could TRY simply resting the forks inside the recessed cargo tray & take the wheels off the bikes - might work.

Your Saris Bones rack Might work on the back of the KK, although the one I used was a folding design - give that a try. Keeping in mind of course; the KK is not exactly an aerodynamic vehicle to start with (it's a big box :JEEPIN:

), I find it hard to believe something behind the Jeep would really hurt mileage that much. AND, in my opinion anyways, if a thief REALLY wants your bike - he'll get it, whether it's on the back, or inside. IMHO, locking the bike to the rack is just as safe as glass. just my :2cents:

hrogi · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:58 pm

If you remove the wheels then it should fit without doing much of anything.

You can get a 2X4 and some Fork mounts for cheap to keep it from mvoing around and make it so 2 bikes or possible 4
You add Strong grip Velcro the the wood and you can use Bungy cords as well to tie it down.

To do 3 or 4 bikes you need to face 2 forward and 1 or 2 backwords.....
I have not done the math insdie the Jeep only in a Truck with 6 feet of width and 8 feet of lenght...

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:59 pm

There shouldn't be any wires under the load floor, If there are any, they would be off to the side...

DaveV · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:00 pm

I just went to walmart and bought a Bell bike rack that hooks to the receiver hitch. They also sell ones that fit over the lift gate. I can hold up to 4 bikes on mine. It also came with a special cable lock to secure th bikes. I run it through the bikes, tires and through the part of the receiver hitch where you would hook a chain hook to the receiver. Think the price for the whole package (rack & cable) was around $130.)

dl1030 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:48 pm **Posts:** 5

Thanks for the replys.

Brendon, the bone rack would fit the kk, it is highly adjustable. just really want to avoid hauling the bikes in plain site. But you do bring up a good point about the aero, err, box-dynamics. It is already punching a huge hole so the bike rack may not kill the gas mileage any more than what already is going on. The GP is much lower with much smoother lines so the rack kills.

hrogi, you are pretty much on track with that i would like to do. 2x4 glued to the floor with some silicone (so it could always be removed and not harm the jeep), fork mounts on that to secure the bikes from flopping side to side, bungees to help. During my test fit (with the front wheel removed) i needed just a few extra inches to get the bike to stand up, not much. I ride a 21.5" frame, it is on the big side.

digger, sweet. Just wanted to make sure i wasnt going to pull it out and find the stock wire routing path ran straight down the middle. Or crossing from one side to the other

Dave, hitch rack is on the same lines as the bones3. If I can hide all the bikes behind some window tint i have a greater chance of not being noticed. out of sight is out of mind, ie: cant steal what you dont know is there. If I cant find the room in the jeep the hitch rack will quickly become my #1 option. Have read way to many stories of people coming back from lunch to find their bikes, and bike rack missing. angle grinder > all locks.

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:37 pm

there are no wires running through the back except on the sides as stated. you will need to remove the side interior pieces in the rear to be able to pull the back tray. ive had my complete interior out, good luck. :lol:

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:40 pm

DirtyKK wrote:

there are no wires running through the back except on the sides as stated. you will need to remove the side interior pieces in the rear to be able to pull the back tray. ive had my complete interior out, good luck. :lol:

Ahhh, the master of interior break down speaks :ROTFL:

Sorry, just had to give you crap since I never saw any pictures :goink:

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:45 pm

Diggerfreek wrote:

DirtyKK wrote:

there are no wires running through the back except on the sides as stated. you will need to remove the side interior pieces in the rear to be able to pull the back tray. ive had my complete interior out, good luck. :lol:

Ahhh, the master of interior break down speaks :ROTFL:

Sorry, just had to give you crap since I never saw any pictures :goink:

for some reason i never managed to take pictures with everything removed :oops:

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:47 pm

DirtyKK wrote:

Diggerfreek wrote:

DirtyKK wrote:

there are no wires running through the back except on the sides as stated. you will need to remove the side interior pieces in the rear to be able to pull the back tray. ive had my complete interior out, good luck. :lol:

Ahhh, the master of interior break down speaks :ROTFL:

Sorry, just had to give you crap since I never saw any pictures :goink:

for some reason i never managed to take pictures with everything removed :oops:

Not those pictures, pictures of you stuck :twisted:

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:50 pm

Diggerfreek wrote:

DirtyKK wrote:

Diggerfreek wrote:

Ahhh, the master of interior break down speaks :ROTFL:

Sorry, just had to give you crap since I never saw any pictures :goink:

for some reason i never managed to take pictures with everything removed :oops:

Not those pictures, pictures of you stuck :twisted:

thats cause my "buddy" never got them off his camera for me. we dont really talk anymore either...

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:52 pm

DirtyKK wrote:

Diggerfreek wrote:

Not those pictures, pictures of you stuck :twisted:

thats cause my "buddy" never got them off his camera for me. we dont really talk anymore either...

Crappy

Any way

E2 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:51 am