Rex Smith

I've got my OLD workhorse of a truck that I *REALLY* need to come up with a solution for "stuff" storage. A center console would be nice - since there's so much floor room over the transmission.

My truck is a '91 F150 - with bench seat. The stock radio is a single DIN size - HOWEVER is a weird width size, so that a straight swap with a modern radio isn't possible... So - I would like to build my own console, adding a 2nd radio (so the original can stay stock), room for several power ports (probably high amperage USB and possibly an old cigarette lighter style) - and also on my wish list - is room for a backup camera screen. I tow a lot - so that would be handy for hitching up quickly.

Any pointers to ideas on design? I do plenty of woodworking - but looking for ideas for functionality before I commit the wood to a blade.

Thanks,
Rex S.

Steve83

The radio is a standard DIN, like most aftermarket ones. There's nothing special about its mounting or connections, so a modern radio is an easy swap. There's NO advantage to keeping the original POS. I put Kenwood KDC-X997/998s in all my vehicles because they're DIN, and they have most modern features (other than touchscreen & NAV). It allows me to hop from one vehicle to the other listening to MP3s from my phone, and the song picks up where it left off.

The easiest floor console would be the stock one. It was rare in pickups because most came with bench seats. But most pickups & Broncos with captain's chairs got the '81-91 floor console. The caption of this diagram shows a simple mod so it holds cups better:


https://www.supermotors.net/registry/media/898400 (for phone apps)

Yes, you'd have to swap to captain's chairs, but it's easy (after you find a pair). The floor is built to take any stock chair.


https://www.supermotors.net/registry/media/767951

This & the NEXT few show most of the stock '80-96 FS truck chairs:


https://www.supermotors.net/registry/media/894813

As to functionality... That depends on what functions YOU think are useful. Cupholders? A lockable vault? A fridge/warmer? A subwoofer? A power inverter? Don't limit yourself to a wood structure just because you're familiar with woodworking. The truck is steel & plastic. Molding your own plastic isn't practical yet (unless you own a 3D printer already), but you can shape fiberglass. And if you can't bend & weld steel, there are probably fabrication shops nearby that can, if you design it.

Personally, I don't think a rear-view monitor on the floor is a good idea. It's not intuitive, and it doesn't give you an intuitive perception of what's behind you, or where. Look at rear-view mirrors with integral color monitors. Most can be paired to any camera you choose.