Thread: My Nissan XTrail 2004.

Old Volvos (140 and 240 series) had a storage well with lift up slatted plywood cover between the chasis rails, back seat and tailgate. This was secured at the seat end on my vans by a couple of slats that extended over the flap about 20mm, and at the tailgate end by a recessed snib type arrangement. Totally effective at controlling the cover at up to 120Kph over rough dirt roads. Ply cover was about 16mm thick, metal latch plate On the attached jpeg from parts manual, the second slat from the edge each side of the cover was short and the corresponding slat on the floorpan was long. Hope the parts list diag shows the system better than I explained it. You could probably get the whole catch setup cheap from a wrecker if they have a 1 or 2 series (boxxy) wagon. I may be able to get one locally in a few weeks if needed, currently laid up with bloodclots. Info valid for Volvo wagons 1972-92, although the high end units were carpeted and did not have the slats.

Hi Malb,
Thanks for your in put.
Have a bit of trouble with Diagrams.
I got a bit of an Idea from that anyway.

I thought I may have had more Ideas coming forward, as there have been a lot of LOOKERS.

Had a '72 144S Volvo, Excellent car, but those Twin Carbi's kept going through the Rubbers. $80 every time it went in. Can't think of the correct name.

Sorry if the diag is a bit daunting, don't have access to the glovebox to get owners manual at present with clots, (not allowed in shed). Could not find a photo of back deck in 3 service manuals, had to resort to old spare parts manual that I had in PDF format for 10 years or more, but it would not let me edit it, just print whole page. Pic is for the 2 seat van unit which has a false cargo bay floor over the back seat reccess and a divider between passenger and cargo areas.

The small illustration in the top right labelled 11 is a full breakdown of the latch assembly,the arrow down leads to its position on the cover (16mm ply). The raised bits on the cover are timber slats, which are also used on the cargo bay floor ahead. As mentioned two slats on the cover are shorter at the front end, with correspondingly longer slats for the same position on the cargo bay floor. This functions as a holddown for the front edge of the cover, while allowing the cover to be fully removed and replaced in seconds by operating the latch in the upper drawing.

Never had anything to do with 140's but ran a 78 van for 25 years and 1.5milion Km until it dropped freeze plugs while towing a tandom and bobcat and cooked the motor. Bought a identical unit to use while orig was being restored, but it never made the road as it needs more work than the original. Both stored in barn at present with back full of stuff, second one turned out to be 14 later off the production line than old no 1. Single SU carb on both.