Making second storage compartment

[jblc]

The passenger dash has a fair amount of open space behind the silver grey Ranger panel -- enough for a second storage compartment.

I'm planning to turn this into a compartment (making a hinged door in the stock silver dash trim), except I have one hesitation: does anyone know if that solid panel shown below, is structural, ie needed for crash safety?
It does not seem substantial, but asking in case anyone knows.

BTW, there is a metal stiffer cage structure behind that panel, which I assume is more structural...and would be used as the frame for a small storage compartment.

(The compartment shouldn't hold anything large or sharp though, since that is perhaps a crush zone)

The image is just what's behind the silver trim, which i removed for purposes of the photo.

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[9zero1790]

thats a nifty idea, i wonder if any airbag related stuff is dependent on the plastic panel and thats why ford left it solid to support stuff. i know the air bag space is above it, but that area may be utilized somehow in the way the bag deploys. if it was mine i would not try it in that spot. most automakers cut lil corners to keep costs under control, and if they spent the money to make that an enclosed piece i would guess it was for something. the idea is awesome though. if you do it show us pictures!

 

[Danager]

I’ve wondered what was back there. As much as I don’t like to discourage people - That’s not something I would get into. Is the juice worth the squeeze? With a little work, you could fab up something under the front passenger seat.

While doing some searching online, I could not find a pre-fab option. I did however find locking covers for the rear under seat storage from Front Runner. Damnit!

 

[WOADKIL]

Is the juice worth the squeeze?

The question is: "Is the squeeze worth the juice?"

 

[OFC Ranger]

I've deduced (and could be absolutely incorrect) that they left such a huge empty cavity behind the dash as a "blast zone" for the airbag since it deploys in the opposite direction.

When I mentioned installing a small rigid molle panel on top of the silver dash trim all the fly by night engineers had to chime in about that creating essentially a death booth for a passenger, to which I do not agree. (The airbag deploys up through the top of the dash, over, and outward from the silver trim as seen in crash test videos)

I will say that the airbag is behind that black frame panel, so I am not so sure installing anything beyond that black piece would cause problems, but personally that would venture beyond the line my redneck engineering would cross.

Take my opinion with a grain of salt, but tooting my own horn, I am a bit of the self pro-claimed Storage King of the Ranger world.

 

[jblc]

Thanks all for the replies. I won't touch that area, then ; i did see the airbag above, but hadn't consider a deliberate pocket below it.
That's why I ask you all for your collective wisdom; thanks for the thoughts

(The volumes under all seats are already taken)

 

[McLeadslinger]

I would definitely research that area and why there is a vast amount of empty space below the air bag. I would also guess that you will weaken the dash by cutting that area out.

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