Optimize Your Trunk Space

Two Story Trunk? It's Possible!

Think about times you wish that your trunk was a little more...compartmentalized. When you have wet and muddy shoes and you don't want them to touch anything else. When you have a rear window that puts your entire SUV cargo space on display...and you'd rather keep some of those shopping bags under wraps. When you have multiple grocery bags, and you don't want them to crush each other on the way home.

Believe it or not, you can build a DIY pop up trunk shelf. You get two stories when you want it, but it folds away when it doesn't make sense. This works particularly well for three row SUVs. You want the third row up for carpooling, but that gives you a short trunk space. So if you picked up a load of groceries, you have to fold down that third row, or stack the groceries. And if you fold it down, you get a huge space for the groceries to roll around in, and if you stack, no matter how carefully you plan, you'll squish something you didn't want squished.

With this shelf, not only do you have a better system to use that trunk space, but you also can hide purses or shopping bags when you leave the car. SUVs are great, but you don't always want that cargo space on display. This is a basic tutorial. For images and more complex instructions, you can find them online from a variety of places by searching 'pop up trunk shelf'.

You'll need:

• Open wire closet shelf (available at a home improvement store for about $6.00. 48" in perfect for most SUVs).
• Two legs (wire folding locker shelves work surprisingly well and retail online for $4.99 each).
• Auto grade carpet (4?x3? works well and is available at home improvement stores for about $5.00)
• 8 zip ties
• 2 teacup hooks (you can get these anywhere, and they're cheap)
• Needle and thread (heavy duty works best)
• Scissors and/or a box cutter
• Saw (only if you want to trim the legs)

How to do it:

1. Trim the shelf and legs to fit your car. Fit the length to the upper width, not the lower width. Find the spot where the legs are high enough so the shelf can swing down and be flat against the seatback, and low enough to still have the seatback as a back wall.

2. Add the shelf hooks and secure the legs. Attach the hooks to hang the shelf on the backseat (most seats are board covered by carpet and easily accepts small screws). Attach legs to the shelf with zip ties, making sure you've spaced them to fold up and down.

3. Not necessary, since your shelf is now functional, but nice if you want a shelf you can't see through. Make it look nice by upholstering the shelf with the carpet. Place the carpet piece face down and put your shelf down on top of it, aligning the edges. Cut notches for the legs and sew the fabric around the shelf. Measure and cut holes for the hooks.

4. Hang your shelf back on the hooks. To 'pop up', just swing out the legs!