Cup holder

[justinburnett]

Anyone have a good idea for a cup holder? I'm one of those dirty smoker types, so getting rid of the ashtray doesn't really work for me. I often use the middle seat, so I don't know that a console is the way to go either. Earlier I got really pissed off about having to drive around holding my coffee between my legs, so I grabbed some bar stock and a MIG and made this ugly contraption. Not pretty, and it's not straight, but I'll be damned if it won't hold a cup. I don't think it'll work when I go to put my dash back together though, so any suggestions would be welcome. Perhaps something stylish, as well as functional.

[Prerunner1982]

I built me one out of wood that had two cup holders, held my CB and some switches.. worked pretty well.

You might try a bike bottle holder... looks a bit like what you tried to make and may fit one of those taller skin coffee cups.

[justinburnett]

That's not such a bad idea, but it would probably look about the same as it is now (minus the crookedness of the bottom ring). Looking for something that looks a little bit "cleaner". Less improvised and bolted on.

[Prerunner1982]

I would imagine something custom made or perhaps one of these on the transmission hump.

[justinburnett]

Won't fit between CB and 4WD stick. Tried it earlier this morning.

[Prerunner1982]

Ahh didn't realize it was a 4x4..

[justinburnett]

Yeah, I don't have much use for anything that's not 4wd.

[RuralRoute C-30]

Just an idea but not sure if I can explain it to create the visual:

Yet from looking at what you already have made in the picture;take your fabricated cup-holder, straighten it up a bit for looks if you want, then bend that straight metal strap currently with the holes and bolts to a 90 degree angle. Then bolt it underneath the dash next to the CB radio utilizing that left hand bracket bolt that supports the CB bracket to support it. Or bolt it under the dash somewhere else so to speak. This allows a cupholder to be located just to the left and a little lower of the CB.

Yea, it will hang lower than it is but my former 05 Ram's oem cupholders were low compared to my 96 Ram. Liked the lower one better myself.

Seem to recall cupholders that were bracketed to slip and hang off doors once. Not sure if that would work and might mess with the weatherstrip...just a point to ponder too.

Just an idea.

Good Luck!
Mark

[tucsonjwt]

I would make something out of wood that slipped over/semi-attached to your 4x4 shifter, on the inboard side next to your right leg, with enough clearance to operate the shifter. I find that anything on the dash tends to vibrate and move more than something on the floor, especially liquids. Why not post a pic of your floor hump with levers for us armchair designers to see.
I lined the bottom of my behind the seat wood triangular shaped storage unit with some rubber tool box liner, and I think that in the bottom of a wood cup holder would be ideal, maybe even line the entire inside of it. Make sure the cup holder is custom fit to snug up against your favorite liquid container.

[TexasJeff]

I have both of these from LMC.

[justinburnett]

Do you find that the center console stays put pretty well? I thought of getting one but I was worried about it shifting all over the place and generally being in the way. If it works for you, it may be worth getting. Let me know.

[TexasJeff]

Originally Posted by justinburnett

Do you find that the center console stays put pretty well? I thought of getting one but I was worried about it shifting all over the place and generally being in the way. If it works for you, it may be worth getting. Let me know.

It seems to stay put pretty well, it has a loop on the underside for the center seat belt to go through it to hold it in place. I dont use it because my seat folds foward and I store lot of stuff behind the seat. I really like the console, lots of storage, good place for the cell phone too.

[Wrecker55]

recycled some parts on the bench to make mine.....

[Slonaker]

I have a home made on that looks sort of like the one Texas Jeff has sitting on his seat. The base is made of oak plywood, and the top is covered in fabric that matches my seat. It has a coarse woven fabric glued to the bottom, and it has never slid around on the seat.

I used an adjustable universal cupholder on the top that I bought from Wal-Mart.



Slonaker

[Prerunner1982]

I had one that sat on the bench seat in the middle.. you mentioned you used the middle and that such a console would get in the way, which is why I didn't mention it.

They have a loop that the center seat belt goes through so it doesn't roll around. When mine wasn't strapped in, it would try to roll across the seat unless I had my arm on it.

[tucsonjwt]

Or, take the one that Prerunner shows and cut the back off of it - just leave the actual cup holder part - should fit behind your 4 x 4 stick.

[78 Chevyrado]

I've had both of these types and just screwed em to the floor.

[Prerunner1982]

I say take the wire bike bottle holder and hose clamp it to the 4wd shifter..

shifter shaft probably isn't long enough though..

[justinburnett]

It looks like I'm either going to have to

A: construct some sort of floor console that fits around the shifter

B: Just get a seat console and tell people to "bite me" when they want a ride home from work.

C: Quit smoking and use one of the ashtray adapters. Not very likely.

D: Take out or relocate my CB radio and use one of the "pre-fab" plastic floor consoles.

E: just use what I've got, even though it's ugly and stupid looking.

I'm thinking probably getting rid of the CB since it's not working right now for some reason anyway. Maybe in the future I can make something that will incorporate it into the design but at least for the time being I can put my dash back together, and still not spill coffee in my lap. Don't think the bike drink holder thing's going to work on the stick. It's pretty short and narrow. I wouldn't mind a "center seat" console, but it really would be in the way. I do often use the center, although I'd love to get some sort of seat like the old "buddy buckets" that have the fold down 3rd seat, with storage and such underneath it. Don't know if they would fit and I've only seen 2 for sale in really bad shape.

The only other thing I could think of was, what about one of the cupholders from the 88+ model years? You could maybe mount it on the bottom of the dash at an angle and it pulls out and sits flat. I don't know what kind of angle you need though. Maybe if I find one in a junkyard I'll just grab it and see if I can't make something happen with it.

Thanks for the ideas guys!

[Prerunner1982]

Or you could build something like this and bolt it to your floor..

[87 chevy silverado]

Originally Posted by Prerunner1982

Or you could build something like this and bolt it to your floor..

it reminds me of a bow tie

[Mr79C10]

Originally Posted by prerunner1982

or you could build something like this and bolt it to your floor..

thats cool!

[justinburnett]

I don't have a brake, so I can't bend sheet, but I could make something like that out of plywood or something. We'll see. I'll post whatever I end up with when it's done.

[knightowl73]

I like that! simple and easy, I think im gonna try and make somethin like that(prerunner's idea) real soon

[Prerunner1982]

I can't take credit for it. A member of a Jeep Cherokee forum I am on built it.