In looking something up for a buddy I just noticed that the cargo covers were stock items for a few years. Why are they so hard to find? Folks back then just tossed 'em or what? More importantly(if you could call this important at all) is the matter of a weird factory looking cargo cover that this buddy just found. He says its made with a steel frame and is like a big box with a large zipper in the front. My guess is that it might be the 2+2 version for 7's with back seats but that should make it pretty small. Dunno.
Any guesses, ideas?

 

I'm not sure why the parcel trays are so hard to come by. I'm babying mine, as it's all flimsy and barely holding together...

I'm not sure the 2+2 tray would be any smaller.... Got any pics of said tray?

 

They were made of that cheap cardboard stuff and covered in cheap linty cloth. Short answer, they suck(ed).

I have the one that came stock with my car and would love to have it redone in a molded plastic with a leather cover or higher quality cloth or something but can't find anyone that really does anything like that.

 

I have one in decent shape with all of the mounts. I've been thinking about maybe trying to replicate it in CF or fiberglass. Still unsure if the cost wouldn't price them out of the market.

 

I have one in excellent condition that came with my gxl. Seems others must've beat them up and tossed them. My car also didn't spend a lot of life sitting in the sun either. So maybe that is why it's still nice?

If I knew a place to mold them, I would look into getting some clones. But you need the attachments for the rod too.

 

Mine's in decent shape, but yeah, like RockLobster says, made of molded fibreboard covered in mouse fur, so I suspect if they get wet, or stepped on/sat on or otherwise folded/mutilated/spindled while out of the car, they're probably done; plus I don't think they were offered on S4's, so right there that means a lot less cars had them. I really like having mine in when driving on the street, less road and resonance noise in the cabin, plus junk in the trunk doesn't slide everywhere under cornering and braking. I take pretty good care of it to try to preserve it.

 

Well, that same buddy found a stock cargo cover for me that matches my GXL interior and I picked up a set of the rear speaker covers that help support it. I know theres a rod that goes between the speaker covers, a "drape" that velcros to the floor, and that theres elastic cables that attach to the hatch lifters, but I've never seen the rest of the hardware.
I know the stock setup was weaker than weak and I'f like to see what it was before I fab something much stronger. My cover is the molded and felted one that folds up the middle to store somewhere-maybe in the spare tire area...dunno. I think it looks great and could use it to keep things out of site.
Anybody goe any pics?

 

They were on s4 models for sure. My 88 s4 has one that came with it when the original owner bought it new. He said it was in the deal if he bought the car, the dealer would include the cargo cover.

The drape is more of a leather type material with 3 velcro tabs on it to attach to the floor.. The 2 strings that hold it up are not elastic, they're just black strings that go to the connectors that are screwed onto the latch struts. Mine also folds in half.

I wonder If i just took mine and traced it onto plexi-glass and cut it out would it work? I mean, it would be the right corners, it would just be flat. But it would still work I imagine to hide stuff if it was black plexi-glass.

 

you could even do it out of fibre board again, and just get that 'sub box carpet' for it. Someone send me measurements with a pic, and I'll give it a shot over the winter months.

 

How about you pm a address and I'll trace my cover on a heavy sheet of paper and send it to you? That way you have all the curves it needs.

 

Thanks, you've been pmed and I'll post some pics of it when I'm finished. Maybe I'll get to it sooner than the winter. But until atleast October, I'll be pretty booked up.

 

I'll run and get some construction paper tomorrow and a tube to roll it and send it in. Hopefully if you can replicate it, you can sell them to people who really want/need them.

 

bad thing about it was it prevented you from loading up the hatch, and back when people used these cars as daily drivers that had to be a pain in the ***

 

That's probably why most are all gone. People removed them and they just got beat to hell and thrown out. Idk.

 

S5 had them as standard equipment but the S4 was form a dealer accessory catalog, Mazda Finish Line. Just a piece of cloth to cover the inside back.
The catalog also had, transparent moon-roof, ski rack, splash guards, graphic equalizer, rear areowing spoiler, lip style rear spoiler, center armrest that was the same height as the door arm rests, cruise, fog lights, vinyl front mask, sunroof wind deflector, rear louvers, cruse control, a/c.

The covers are difficult to come by, similar to the complete battery boxes including the top.

 

I figured the battery boxes with tops were standard. Both my S4s have them with the top. GXL has the arm rest option. Funny how it seems the simplest thing like a cargo cover and even mud flaps are the rare gems.

 

I paid $80 for mine from a forum member here. Freaking love it, even tho its a lil beat around the edges and has screws on the top of it that have been put there for support. Really dont notice the blemishes when its on and it really compliments the interior. Hides my strut bar and subwoofer box.

 

battery box and lid were standard items, but the lids are usually missing

Another bad thing about the cover was the possibility of break ins, I have had roll up covers in lots of my cars but I always left them unrolled, a thief passing the car will think something is being hidden in there and smash your window for what may be nothing

 

I'd love to find a decent or template of one to re-make in fiberglass... anyone wanna trace out a template? if not i guess I'll try with fiber-board

 

I sent a trace out to djphonics. He never did give me any progress on it though.

 

I've got a pretty nice carbon fiber one in my FC now

 

can you post or pm some pics of that tray soldave? also where did you get it from?

 

I got it from a friend and believe it was custom made. Will post up some pics tonight if I remember.

 

i love the cover! i use it as a desk when at the racetrack :P

 

Mine is pretty beat as well. it's all there, just saggin in the middle and ruff around the edges. I love it though. I always thought I geek out about it too much but I guess not from everyone elses posts.