Rear drawer system questions

I have a 2007 limited 4runner and in the rear space, it has that double-decker compartment deal where u can lower the shelf to be flat and raise it for a shelf.

I'm wanting to build a drawer system for my rear so stuff will be easier to store but I didn't know if I should take out that double-decker system or if it would be fine to build the drawers with the shelf in just in the lowered position.

If anyone has done this maybe you can help and send some pictures of your drawer systems.

 

I'd take it out. I don't have any drawers but I took mine out and couldn't be happier to have an actually flat floor now that doesn't encourage things to fall out of the back. The shelf thing seems stout enough but if you're going to be bolting or attaching the drawer system down I don't think I'd do it on top of that. Plus it'll give you a couple more inches of vertical space.

 

I would take it out, too. Here’s the drawers we built.

 

so you took the rear shelf off and left the little filler piece between the rear seats and shelf?

 

We didn’t have the shelf, and left all the factory carpet in place. I just cut the upright boards to fit the slight up slope behind the rear seats. I used the factory cargo tie down points to anchor the front of the drawers. I removed the trim piece at the rear, and used “L” brackets to secure it. Then, put it back on, so it has a more factory look. We also cut a board to fit between the front of the drawers and back of the front seats. So it can be used as sleeping platform. The board rest on the back seats flipped forward, and lid the front edge of the drawers box. We also decided to leave cutouts at the back, to be able to access the factory side compartments. So far it has served my son well.