Luggage with rumble seat or changeover to trunk

[qmdv]

Doing a 32 roadster with rumble seat (maybe). With a rumble seat is there any room for an overnight bag in the rumble seat when it is closed. And then after is shakes around and settles can you get the deck open.

This is a Brookville roadster that I ordered with rumble. I just called them and they said not too difficult to change to a trunk . The parts from them are cheaper than the seat springs. The body is already painted and they said it could be done without messing up the paint. Well they did say that the inside of rain gutter would have to be touched up

Tim

[Old Redneck]

My 32 has a Rumble Seat and would rather have trunk instead also.

[qmdv]

Originally Posted by Old Redneck

My 32 has a Rumble Seat and would rather have trunk instead also.

Can you put a duffel bag in it.

Tim

[DavidG]

When properly installed, both the bottom and back rumble cushions are fixed in place and don't move around in use. There's room for several suit cases on the floor (which is thankfully basically flat) between the front seat back and the rumble bottom cushion. Inserting them into the available space and retrieving them does require some thought and a bit of gymnastics, but definitely doable.

You cannot, however, place anything beyond a bit of printed material on top of the bottom rumble cushion and close the rumble lid.

[cas3]

david g has it right as usual. even throwing a light coat on the seat makes it hard to close. all items must be on the floor, which is hard to reach down to the bottom, and in my case, dirty as i live and drive on gravel roads. i have one rumble i leave intact, cant remember the last time anyone used it, but all others have, and will have a trunk

[qmdv]

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I think I am going with the rumble seat. I will not be taking this car on vacation so the need for luggage is minimal. I think the grand kids will get a kick out of it.

Tim

[Kerk]

I am looking for a 1935 5 window with a trunk. Most seem to have the rumble seat. Kerk

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by DavidG

When properly installed, both the bottom and back rumble cushions are fixed in place and don't move around in use. There's room for several suit cases on the floor (which is thankfully basically flat) between the front seat back and the rumble bottom cushion. Inserting them into the available space and retrieving them does require some thought and a bit of gymnastics, but definitely doable.

You cannot, however, place anything beyond a bit of printed material on top of the bottom rumble cushion and close the rumble lid.

DavidG, are there any issues, that you are aware of, with temporarily removing the rumble seat cushions to utilize that space for storing luggage, etc., when touring/traveling?
This has been my plan for a '35 RS coupe, if/when I get it in drivable/touring condition, rather than going through the trouble of perminately converting the rumble seat to a trunk.

[Pat/Ohio]

John, I have removed the bottom seat cushion at times to pack more "stuff" into the rumble area. Works fine! I usually transport my cleaning supplies, 2 or 3 folding chairs & small cooler in the space in front of the seat with the seat cushion installed. I am referring to my '32s. Pat

[DavidG]

As Pat indicates, removal of the bottom rumble cushion is pretty straight forward as it is basically held in place by heavy wire tabs that engage the back of the cushion riser on the floor. Push back and lift it up. Removal of the back cushion is a much bigger deal as it is retained by tabs at the top and screws at the bottom which must be removed to disengage the tabs at the top.

'33 and up rumble bottom cushions are even easier to remove by simply lifting up the front edge to clear the dowels in the floor pan that receive the two holes in the wood spring platform.

[uncle buck]

I simply remove the lower cushion when I travel and need luggage space. I also try to use a small suitcase or duffel bags. My car is a '36 and as DavidG points out may be easier to remove the cushion.

[Charlie Stephens]

Would it be easier to add a luggage rack on the back than replace the rumble seat?

Charlie Stephens

[ford38v8]

As this thread has expanded beyond '32s, I'll add that my '38 rumbleseat allows two large duffle or sea bags on the floor, one in the pass-through between rumble & front, and one full size soft side suitcase on the seat with rumble closed. The '37 & '39 rumbleseats are basically the same as '38.

[Andy]

I have three 32's. All with rumble seats. One never got it's cushions and one does not have them installed. I am converting one now to trunk. It has beeen at least 30 years since anyone sat in the rumble seats. I travel in the cars and the trunk would be vastly easier to use. I once got a cooler jamed so the lid would not open. I was lucky to get it open. I would never consider putting one in. I think my kids rode in the back maybe three time max. I drove down to my mothers house and a rain came up. Three kids and the wife with me in the front seat. My wife was always negative for fear one would fall out.

[Floyd]

There is a lot of room in the trunk/ rumble area of a 32. How much stuff and how often are you really going to use it? I have a rumble in mine and even with the bottom cushion in place, there is lots of room. You have to reach in to get it but so what. If you take out the bottom cushion, you have room straight in from the top. Folding chairs, small cooler and a couple of overnight duffle bags fit fine. Rumble seats can do both, trunks cannot. If you have that much stuff, get a 40 coupe, you can live in there.
My opinion

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Pat/Ohio

John, I have removed the bottom seat cushion at times to pack more "stuff" into the rumble area. Works fine! I usually transport my cleaning supplies, 2 or 3 folding chairs & small cooler in the space in front of the seat with the seat cushion installed. I am referring to my '32s. Pat

Originally Posted by DavidG

As Pat indicates, removal of the bottom rumble cushion is pretty straight forward as it is basically held in place by heavy wire tabs that engage the back of the cushion riser on the floor. Push back and lift it up. Removal of the back cushion is a much bigger deal as it is retained by tabs at the top and screws at the bottom which must be removed to disengage the tabs at the top.

'33 and up rumble bottom cushions are even easier to remove by simply lifting up the front edge to clear the dowels in the floor pan that receive the two holes in the wood spring platform.

Originally Posted by uncle buck

I simply remove the lower cushion when I travel and need luggage space. I also try to use a small suitcase or duffel bags. My car is a '36 and as DavidG points out may be easier to remove the cushion.

Guys, thank you for the followup on my question.