Underseat Storage

[747driver]

I am looking at the rear underseat storage box which Dansaircraft in Anchorage sells. I found quite some pics here and all are using a hinged plywood cover on top instead of the original springs to get access.
I am always thinking the plywood might be to weak and can break if an adult is sitting on top, also it should hold with the given g-loads of about 4g. What is your experience, are the covers reinforced somehow?

 

[Steve Pierce]

Installed several and seen a bunch and never have had any problems with breakage.

 

[DW]

A 1/4" peace of plywood with a couple of Alum. angle stiffiners it's light and cheap, the seat cushin will disperse the weight pretty well.

 

[kevin]

I was going to use Birch plywood on mine. I don't remember the thickness. I bought the board, and cut the wood out but when I cut it, the wood tweaked. I went back to the local company I bought it from. They sell exotic woods and build cabinets etc. They told me that plywood is know to tweak after it is cut. They said that you can not tell before you cut it what it is going to do. I tried to bend it back by wetting it with water and clamping it under pressure and letting it dry but it still bent back. I ditched the plywood idea and used a piece of aluminum.

 

[OLDCROWE]

I was going to use Birch plywood on mine. I don't remember the thickness. I bought the board, and cut the wood out but when I cut it, the wood tweaked. I went back to the local company I bought it from. They sell exotic woods and build cabinets etc. They told me that plywood is know to tweak after it is cut. They said that you can not tell before you cut it what it is going to do. I tried to bend it back by wetting it with water and clamping it under pressure and letting it dry but it still bent back. I ditched the plywood idea and used a piece of aluminum.

From my experience the only reason plywood would "tweak" after cutting would be if there was tension in one or more of the layups which is caused by the ply not being moisture stable and continuing to try to shrink after layup... I've cut a bunch of plywood and have only had it happen a very few times if you purchased cabinet or marine grade material that was properly stored they own you a new sheet.

 

[spinner2]

I am looking at the rear underseat storage box which Dansaircraft in Anchorage sells. I found quite some pics here and all are using a hinged plywood cover on top instead of the original springs to get access.
I am always thinking the plywood might be to weak and can break if an adult is sitting on top, also it should hold with the given g-loads of about 4g. What is your experience, are the covers reinforced somehow?

I have the Dan's box under my rear seat. The seat bottom/lid is made from .050" aluminum hinged in the back and with a 1/2" up-turned lip on both sides for stiffness. The front side of the rear seat base, behind the rear stick, is also a formed piece of aluminum but a lighter gauge.

I also have the Dan's folding rear seat back that is hinged from the same location. Makes for a neat and simple combination with a lot of utility.

 

[mike mcs repair]

Stodards sells a carbon fiber box, few pounds less weight

 

[mike mcs repair]

.050" aluminum hinged in the back and with a 1/2" up-turned lip on both sides for stiffness.

I use that too (.050" alum),

I like the upturned lip, never thought of that....

I usually add angles underneath.....

will your seat belts clear that?

 

[spinner2]

I use that too (.050" alum),

I like the upturned lip, never thought of that....

I usually add angles underneath.....

will your seat belts clear that?

Mike, yes the seatbelts slip in between the lip and the side panels. With the back seat cushions out I just tuck them inside of the Dan's box where they're out of the way.

 

[kevin]

I've cut a bunch of plywood and have only had it happen a very few times if you purchased cabinet or marine grade material that was properly stored they own you a new sheet.

I went back to the shop that I got the wood from. They would not make it good. They said that there is no guarantee. That is when I went to aluminum. I don't remember the thickness though. I think it was a little thicker than .050 but not much. I really like the idea of a carbon fiber insert. When I got mine, Stoddards did not offer one. They only had fiberglass. Charlie Center had the same thing. I got mine from Charlie because he has been nice enough to answer questions from me when I call.

I put mine in a -12. To do this, you have to cut the horseshoe brackets that the original wood for the leading edge of the seat sling sat in and then you have to weld in a tube that goes across the front seat. This forms the box for the liner to sit on. I put my tube in a little too low (I thought that the diagonal supports of the frame were supposed to meet the tube to be welded in). This resulted in the bottom of the liner hitting the frame. To fix this, I cut the fiberglass liner all the way around, and re glassed it. The result is my liner box isn't as deep as it once was. You can't tell anything was done now. In looking back on this, I should have stabbed the liner in with the tube to be welded to find the exact location of the cross tube. I say this so 747driver does not do the same thing.

 

[stoddard]

Stoddard's is selling a Graphite/Kevlar rear underseat compartment for a PA-18. Weight is approx 14 oz. They also have fiberglass underseat compartments for PA-18 and PA-12s Weight is approx 3 lbs.

 

[behindpropellers]

Stoddard's is selling a Graphite/Kevlar rear underseat compartment for a PA-18. Weight is approx 14 oz. They also have fiberglass underseat compartments for PA-18 and PA-12s Weight is approx 3 lbs.

If you are going to post that you are selling it, post the price.

Tim

 

[stoddard]

Hate to put in prices as they seem to change daily. Current price on Graphite box is $225.00 Price on fiberglas box is $150.00.

 

[behindpropellers]

Hate to put in prices as they seem to change daily. Current price on Graphite box is $225.00 Price on fiberglas box is $150.00.

Thanks for posting the price.

Do you do any volume discounts? Probably would be the same price to ship 10 of them down to the lower 48.

Tim

 

[stoddard]

No volume discounts. It would be cheaper to ship more than 1 at a time. They don't weight much but the shipment is bulky and box is oversize. Usual cost $50.00 to $60.00 depending upon location.

 

[Bill Rusk]

Stoddard


Thank you for posting. It is really nice to have the vendors on the site.

Bill

 

[Iflylower]

I have a box in the rear seat. I've hinged the lid from the floor to the rear baggage floor. Now I'm redoing my rear seat back and trying to find a good way to secure it. Another hinge? Little mini posts?

Anyone have any good pics?