73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: Stewart G Griffin on April 05, 2013, 08:18:00 am
-
i had thought about getting this for a long time, as a place to mount gauges because i didn't want to drill into the dash. So, i finally got it.
It was about $98 after shipping. The actual price is $79. It took over a week to receive it even though it was listed in stock. The packing was very good though. i guess i am not allowed to say where i got it from, but it's pretty easy to figure out where as there are only a few places carrying it. If you need to know specifically where, i can email you. The company the makes it is Vertically Driven Products which i think is a good company but they don't sell direct. Here is their website: http://www.vdpusa.com/
Actually, now that i think of it $20 shipping is too high as the shelf is light.
The first thing is that i had to slightly bend the brackets with a crescent wrench to line up with the holes in the self. This MIGHT be due to the fact that the shelf shows signs of being previously installed. Some of the surface area appears that bolts were already installed---the shelf has a sort of sprayed on felt/velvet surface and one of the screw holes appears that a bolt was installed. i CANNOT absolutely confirm that the shelf was previously installed---it may have been a test at the factory.
After the shelf was installed in place it appears to be sturdy and able to carry a lot of junk up there. The shelf is a decent gauge thickness to give enough strength yet still remain light.
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd31/sencraig/7baee7c0-835c-41f8-93a1-89f23213ed50_zps97baa784.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd31/sencraig/446ebd52-b765-4ccc-b50a-408b21167564_zpseec0ef49.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd31/sencraig/6fc70ab6-ccd4-4bd9-aa1d-5830c3fe7d29_zps00782ea0.jpg)
1) Now, the first problem is that the stock visors do not work with the stock review mirror. i accidentally broke mine off the adhesive mount when adjusting it to try to work with the visors and will have to re-attach, but trust me----they won't work together; With the shelf you now have to fold them forward instead of backwards. And the visors now contact the windshield.
a) You could angle the visors a little back, but then it blocks the view of the mirror a little.
b) You could fold them backwards, but now they are too close to your head and affect the view.
c) You could try visors from a smaller gm vehicle. i don't want to do that. Also, even though i don't hardly use the visors i don't like the idea of leaving them off.
d) Even IF the visors work with the rearview mirror OR you want to leave the rearview mirror off, the visors are now lower and kind of affect the view. Also, as you can see the visors don't have the snap-in clip things so that kind of sag a little which further adds to the problem.
2) If you are a taller person---say over 5'10" you might very probably have visibility issues as the shelf, even without the visors, really lowers the roof-line and makes it seem like you are driving a car---which in itself is not a bad thing, but if you are taller it's probably a problem. i think the first 2 pictures really illustrate this.
3) It also comes with "Rifle-it" which is a strap that allows you to carry a rifle up there. i don't own a rifle so i can't test that function.
So i would say that if you are willing to leave the visors off or try different visors, then the product is ok for storing things and is sturdy. Unfortunately i can only give it a 2.5-3 stars out of 5 stars.
Here are a few other reviews and i wish i had read them before buying it:
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?100294-Overhead-shelf-from-
http://www.jcwhitney.com/shelf-it-overhead-storage-shelf/p2017549.jcwx
http://reviews.cabelas.com/8815/523045/rifle-it-shelf-it-console-reviews/reviews.htm?sort=submissionTime&dir=asc
If you have any specific questions or need measurements i can try to provide them.
Unfortunately, i don't think i can use it because it did not turn out as i envisioned. This has inspired me to finally do the center gauge console. i know i say i'm going to do this or that and it doesn't get done. But this WILL get done.
i'm thinking of proposing that we might have some sort of raffle---where whoever donates or becomes a site supporter to the site is entered and then we have a drawing. i would send it to Chris and then he sends it to whoever wins. But we can talk more about that later.
-
did you order it right from the shelf-it website? ive tried to build my own once but it didnt work out that great. if this works for you id be glad to finally get one! ;D
-
Beware of the middle seat passenger with no seat belt on and the vehicle comes to an abrupt halt. The shelf is at just the right height to do damage....just sayin... I mighta seen something like this happen to one of my passengers...late at night..off road etc...
-
I have considered this more than once. I really want your honest opinion of it Stewart...
-
did you order it right from the shelf-it website? ive tried to build my own once but it didnt work out that great. if this works for you id be glad to finally get one! ;D
No, "Shelf-it" is the name of the product and Vertically Driven Products makes it. They don't sell direct. It's pretty easy to figure out where i got it from as there only a few places that carry it. I don't think i'm allowed to say here?
Now, just because it didn't work for me does not mean it will not work for others. It is Very sturdy. I just didn't like idea of leaving the sun visors off.
-
Original review updated.
-
I had one in my K5. the extra storage was nice till you hit a big bump or punched it off the line, then everthing ends up in your lap. I ended up taking it off because I'm 6'4" and was afraid of it scalping me in a wreck. I would recommend it if your a sane driver who drives good roads.
-
UPDATE:
This sun visors will work with the rearview mirror BUT they have to be angled back slightly and the view of the rearview mirror is partially blocked:
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd31/sencraig/e61df159-dcb9-4c6c-91e1-7afe3f4a71e2_zpsd06dfaee.jpg)
If anyone needs any measurments, let me know. i'll be taking it down soon.
-
Had one of these in my '98 1/2 ton Chevy single cab and loved it. It made a very usable storage area where there had previously been wasted space. The visors were deleted in my case, since I'm 6'3" and didn't need them once the shelf was installed.
I have intended to pick up a shelf for my '85 burb, just haven't pulled the trigger yet. Thanks for the review. I think I'll still get one and try it, as each person's needs and expectations can be much different.
-
Had one of these in my '98 1/2 ton Chevy single cab and loved it. It made a very usable storage area where there had previously been wasted space. The visors were deleted in my case, since I'm 6'3" and didn't need them once the shelf was installed.
I have intended to pick up a shelf for my '85 burb, just haven't pulled the trigger yet. Thanks for the review. I think I'll still get one and try it, as each person's needs and expectations can be much different.
i actually did drive around with it a few days ago and the only real problem was/is that the rearview mirror is partially blocked so it generally can't work in present configuration. Maybe with some adjustments it could. The shelf and visors did not actually block my view of any signal lights. If you leave the visors off it might work out good for you. i might actually leave it up for a while despite the fact that i am using a custom gauge console---the last picture shows it in an uncomplete stage.
-
kind of a random idea, but what if you made some kind of mount thingy to hold or attach the rear view mirror to the shelf it instead of the windshield?
-
kind of a random idea, but what if you made some kind of mount thingy to hold or attach the rear view mirror to the shelf it instead of the windshield?
Wow! that is a good idea.
-
kind of a random idea, but what if you made some kind of mount thingy to hold or attach the rear view mirror to the shelf it instead of the windshield?
Funny you say that cause I have one of these shelves in my truck and have thought the same thing. Trying to figure out just how to mount it cause my mirror fell off and I've tried reglueing it twice and can't get it to hold. Lol
-
What's a rear view mirror? :o
Mine fell down when I first bought my truck in 2006, i reglued it once, it fell down again within a week and it went under the seat where it stayed until finding its way into the dumpster when I took my seat out t while installing my new wiring harness. Never used the thing anyway.
-
What's a rear view mirror? :o
Mine fell down when I first bought my truck in 2006, i reglued it once, it fell down again within a week and it went under the seat where it stayed until finding its way into the dumpster when I took my seat out t while installing my new wiring harness. Never used the thing anyway.
That's true; If your exterior mirrors are big enough, you probably don't need an inside mirror. i have the small, car, mirrors so i prefer to keep my inside rearview. Some 1-ton chassis-cabs probably don't even have an inside mirror.