One thing I love about SUV's and hatchbacks is the large rear storage area.
One thing I hate about SUV's and hatchbacks is that it is completely visible unlike a trunk.

I wanted to fabricate a lock box that could fit in the back of my 944, secured to the bottom and covered w/carpet, etc to somewhat hide that it is there.

Has anyone seen one of these or already made one for themselves. Doesn't seem terribly difficult with the proper dimensions.

 

Do you not have a cargo cover?

You could make a panel covered in carpet that attaches to the hatch glass so that it lifts when you open the tailgate but then with it closed, just looks like a parcel shelf. Maybe put some fake speaker grilles on it so it looks like the back window of a sedan. That way the entire cargo area is shielded from outside views.

 

No cargo cover. Ironically, found one on ebay for $150...but it was broken. :-(

Either way - still would like a lock box, to store laptop in while at lunch for work and/or my firearms for some range time after work, no way I would do that now, even with the cover...figured someone must have done this already.

 

Limo tint that hatch. Nobody will be able to see in if the sun's out

 

WIndow tinted. Again - I am not laying an AR-15 in the back with nothing but glass and tint separating said firearm to would be thief.

I guess its fabrication time.

 

Anything that would keep someone out is pretty damn heavy like a small safe you can buy from harbor freight. If you get something light it can be opened with a crow bar.

 

I like spencer's idea....make a complete cover for the hatch area that sits about 6" off the current trunk carpeting. Cover it in similar carpet material and nobody will ever know there's a compartment.

 

How often do you use the rear seats? Have you thought about doing a rear seat delete and making a custom compartment? I think it would better suit your needs, especially if you want up any carbine sized or larger firearms stored discretely. Even if the car was broken in to, they would probably think the car just seats two and look in obvious places like the rear hatch, foot wells, glove box, etc.

 

The rear deck height is around 8-9" above the trunk floor. In my car, I have a bar mounted on the pins that the rear seatback would otherwise latch to, that is also around 8" off the floor. In my rearview mirror I cannot see the bar so there would be no no visual obstruction at that height.

The cargo area is roughly 3x4 feet, if you account for the fuel filler and spare tire lump. Diagonally would be around 5 feet, long enough for most long-barrel shotguns. Big enough "box" to fill that area could fit a few rifles, ammo, accessories...groceries

Could be even bigger if you had it slope up with the body line rather than be parallel to the floor.

Hell, I might try to make something now...

Box could be secured to the floor using the rear seat-back hinge bolts, the two random threaded holes in the middle of the trunk floor, and some attachment point near the taillights.

 

OP, I like your idea and I see your point. Using one of the rear cubbies would be a great idea, and if all you're going for is the "out of sight, out of mind" idea, then you won't need to worry about it being very heavy duty. I'd say fab something up that is secured to the body and fits under the stock rear carpet...no one will know it's there except for you

 

Spare tire wheel?

 

AR15 medium Pelican case attached to back of rear seats only means you have to split the AR into barrel and stock, I think you can get tumble locks on the new cases.

 

I've always thought that the cubbies in my 924s' represents underutilized space. Why not weld a 'trap-door' over one/both?

 

thought this was interesting...similar to what others were suggesting above, but uses the original cargo cover.

http://www.automotion.com/rear-cover...EL_LANDING_924