Parcel shelf

Post by **Sidney'61** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:13 pm

Hi,
I'm currently thinking of fitting a parcel shelf in my car as it hasn't got one and has no glove boxes either, which can be very annoying at times.
I ordered a shelf from a minor spares company and just got a flimsy piece of card.
I know the original shelf had a metal bar through it for support, I'd rather not do this as I've heard about the dangers they can cause.
How else can a suitable shelf be fitted and what materials can be used?

Post by **Dean** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:30 pm

Mine has a metal bar across the front held on with screws on the sides just in front of the doors. The card is held in place with brass type paper clips pushed through the bulk head. Is this what you mean?

Post by **tortron** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:20 am

you could strengthen the front - where the L/angled metal would have originally been with some angle aluminium

im sure your knees would thank you for it
(or fibreglass or wood)

Post by **Peetee** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:15 am

Maybe you could replace the front angle iron with square aluminium tube. With the right section it would hold the shelf but crumple much more easily in an accident.

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:28 am

or just leave it out

Post by **mike.perry** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:40 am

Have you got the early short parcel shelf or the later wide one?
The early shelf had the bare metal bar and the later bar was padded. I've always resisted the temptation to test the crash protection.
I don't know if the later bar would fit the early shelf. I used pop rivets to fit my shelves.

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:43 am

my last one i fitted with pop rivets

of course the origianl way was with bifurb rivets

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:45 am

The aluminium angle sound like a good idea. I left the original bar in place but beefed up the padding with pipe insulation foam from the DIY and recovered everything in red. I know it's not original but looks quite good.
I might re-think and try the aluminium bar though for safety reasons.
Declan

Post by **mike.perry** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:55 am

It looks a neat job. Well done

Post by **Dean** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:30 pm

Declan, what a great idea.. thanks.

Post by **Sidney'61** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:56 pm

Just had a rumage around the garage and found an old thin aluminium bathroom tiling strip...

that should work pretty well as it'll just slot under the shelf, it looks quite nice and is lightweight.

this should keep me busy for the afternoon...

Post by **PSL184** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:34 pm

Looks good Andy - I like Declan's idea too - makes for a nice neat jobbie !!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:30 pm

If that doesn't work - try a broom handle !

linearaudio · Post by **linearaudio** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:27 pm

bmcecosse wrote:If that doesn't work - try a broom handle !

There's a jolly good idea- you could even stain/polish it!!

If you are worried about your knees with the steel original, then how about notching the rear (front?) edge in a couple of places to create a deliberate weak point?

Post by **Longdog** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:56 am

Hi I leave mine off as a friend of mine broke both his legs in an impact on the standard "soft" shelf edge.OUCH!

Post by **RogerRust** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:27 am

This how to fit the padding and vinyl.

You'll need some spray adhesive some pipe lagging and vinyl. The vinyl needs to be about twice the circumference of the foam in width.

First open the spit in the lagging and glue the vinyl onto one face of the cut in the lagging. Glue the vinyl backing onto the foam so that later you can stretch the vinyl over the foam with the right side up.

Attach the metal angle to the cardboard parcel shelf with the horizontal face UNDERNEATH the cardboard. and the vertical face pointing upwards

When it had dried glue the lagging complete with vinyl onto the upright of the metal angle section. so that the vinyl is at the back, upside down, laying on the shelf.

Finally when it has dried. spray glue the back of the vinyl, foam and the area on the bottom of the shelf to be covered with vinyl.

Keeping it tight stretch, the vinyl neatly over the foam and cover the metal angle underneath this will probably require four hands. Two to fix the vinyl and two to keep the loose vinyl off the card.

I hope that is useful

Roger

Post by **Sidney'61** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:12 pm

After months of barely doing any car work I've just fitted my shelf.

With an edging strip and two bookcase corner brackets.
I quite like Declans padded one so I might think about that for the other car, this one suits the modified car quite nicely though.

The edge brackets aren't quite straight so I'll have to sort them out again later. The most awkward bit though was trying to shape the shelf around those speakers!

Post by **stiguk** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:12 pm

great pic thanks for the tip,s guys

Post by dp » Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:48 pm

Hmm just thinking, maybe plastic water pipe inside pipe insulation would be rigid enough but easily deformed in an accident

Post by **ASL642** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:36 pm

I've taken out the parcel shelves in my cars - don't fancy broken shins, and they always sag even if you dont put anything on them.