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 The cargo area in the rear of the Grand is fairly spacious, but throw a spare tire back there (especially a full-size 35x12.5") and suddenly the space seems much smaller. By the time you throw in your tools, first aid kit, and winter gear, it can become very cluttered. In an effort to make things a little more efficient and organized, I decided to build a shelf. I started with some 4x8' plywood from Home Depot. After cutting and sanding the pieces, I put them all together with a nail gun and reinforced it with wood screws.
After assembling the shelf, I tried it out in the cargo area. After confirming that it fit, I took it back out and sprayed it down with a flat black paint and let it dry.
The next day I picked up some automotive floor carpet from Checker Auto Parts. After some trimming, I used spray-on 3M adhesive to affix it to the shelf top to give it a more finished look. I also shortened the legs on the pet divider since it now sat on top of the shelf. To secure the shelf to the floor of the ZJ so that it won't bounce during off-roading, I attached tension hooks to the existing floor hooks. I also used some adhesive foam rubber strips along the bottom. This functions not only as a shock absorber, but also keeps the shelf from sliding around. Between the tension hooks and the rubber insulation, the shelf does not even budge!
Below is the finished product, complete with mounting loops which have been bolted onto the top and sides so that I can secure items to the shelf. This comes in especially handy when I have the spare tire in the cargo area instead of on the roof rack. Otherwise, all of the items fit in the lower compartment, hidden from view.
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