Home Made Grocery/Miscellaneous Hooks DIY

[triton.]

Parts:
Nylon Toggles 3/8” 4 Pack - $1.66 USD
8” Screw Eyes #8 Screw Size - $0.39 USD each
Aluminum Quick Link - $0.99 USD each

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1630/diyhooksparts7fy.jpg

I really wanted something to hook bags on in the trunk but wanted something a little more secure than the BMW OEM grocery gripper. I came up with this solution which allowed to me securely attach the handles of grocery bags so that I can whip my car around still when coming back from the local stores. You can really use any kind of hook you prefer here once you setup the anchor

It’s very basic but very secure. Just get some Nylon Toggles, hand screw the Screw Eyes into the nylon toggles until they expand out and the anchor doesn’t fall out of the hole. This is your anchor.

Then attached what ever kind of hooks you want. I choose the Aluminum Quick Links because there extremely light weight but this is personal preference. There are actually 4 different holes that you can decide to set this up (highlighted in red), I only setup 2 as I never bring back more grocery bags than that.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/336/diyhookstrunkview28ra.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5307/diyhookstrunkview0sc.jpg

There may be an issue with noise, but so far I haven’t heard anything yet. If I do hear it clinking back there, an easy solution is to just wrap rubber bands around the base area where the hole is to stop the hook and anchor from moving around. That or any kind of rubber you can wrap around the base of the anchor will work, but again, I can’t hear it so don’t see it being necessary. You can also just detach the latch from the hook when not using it too.

Total cost was about $3.50 USD for 2 Hooks. Would have beed$5.50 USD for 4 hook setup.

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/1755/diyhookscloseup4jq.jpg

[Arkansas3]

do the screw eyes interfere with you folding up the floor of the trunk and having the "hook" thing hold it in place?

if not, i'm gonna try this out.

[poldim]

do the screw eyes interfere with you folding up the floor of the trunk and having the "hook" thing hold it in place?

if not, i'm gonna try this out.


I dont see how they would interfere...they would just bend back around the eye loop.

[lux.sh]

I needed something like this!!

[noflash]

Great job.

Last week, I spent an hour at Ace hardware going through all their hooks and such.

They let me bring some to the car to see which fit best. I ended up with a couple of "S" hooks that fit perfectly in those holes of the rear shelf.

As soon as I took a turn though, I could hear the creak of metal on metal.

Looks like the nylon toggles were the missing ingrediant.

Thanks.


P.S. Bought and returned the grocery grabber. I was not impressed.

[triton.]

Yeah, the reason I went with the Alluminum Hooks is because of their light weight. I figured since there so like even if they bounce around they shouldn't make that much noise. Plus with the nylon toggles and screw eyes setup you can put S hooks in if ya need them.

I knew right away that the OEM was wa pretty much garbage. This is probably going to be my most used mod

[Paul330d]

Thanks for sharing what is a simple solution to an everyday need. Maybe this should be put in the DIY section? :)

[longtran]

wouldnt it swing and make more noise??

[triton.]

wouldnt it swing and make more noise??

It definately swings, but because the main contact point is the nylon and the clips are lightweight aluminum, I don't hear it. I'll see if I can hear it this week. Are the pictures showing up ok for everyone? I might rehost the images on anohter server.

[Chesmu]

looks cool. I'm gonna get me some of this. besides, have beaners hanging from the back just looks cool, even if nothing's hangin' from 'em. thanks for the diy!

[3aficionado]

It definately swings, but because the main contact point is the nylon and the clips are lightweight aluminum, I don't hear it. I'll see if I can hear it this week. Are the pictures showing up ok for everyone? I might rehost the images on anohter server.I'd be interested to see what the inside of the trunk looks like after 6 months. You may not hear the metal clips hitting the trunk but after 6 months I'm sure you will see some worn/chipped paint.

[poldim]

I'd be interested to see what the inside of the trunk looks like after 6 months. You may not hear the metal clips hitting the trunk but after 6 months I'm sure you will see some worn/chipped paint.


I dont see how it would really matter unless you are just trying to point out that they do in fact bounce around...

[triton.]

I'd be interested to see what the inside of the trunk looks like after 6 months. You may not hear the metal clips hitting the trunk but after 6 months I'm sure you will see some worn/chipped paint.

There shouldn't be any thing worn at all. The contact points are the metal sheet where the holes are, and the nylon toggles. The nylon is softer than the metal under the trunk so should be scratched. The hooks are leight weight aluminum and even if they do bounce so hard as to hit the top of the trunk area, again there so light weight and softer than the metal.

[shragon]

i remember seeing the vw passat commercial, and going, what a cool thing that is.

this is a really good diy!!!!!!! awesome idea, and thanks for sharing. i'm going to give it a try when i have some time.

[Ghunger]

Nice job with the DIY.
I know you can buy nylon carabiners as novelty keychains. You could use those if you were really worried about the aluminum ones causing damage. They don't hold a whole lot of weight but we're only talking groceries.

[poldim]

Nice job with the DIY.
I know you can buy nylon carabiners as novelty keychains. You could use those if you were really worried about the aluminum ones causing damage. They don't hold a whole lot of weight but we're only talking groceries.


A gallon of milk has a good amount of inertia....


Ahhhhh, who cares.....I dont drink milk, at least not in gallons....

[kevE90zsp]

I figure I bring back an old thread. I was actually doing a search for the grocery gripper and found out people were less than satisfied.

So how is the ceiling of the trunk look after all this time? how many of you guys tried this?

[Josh49]

wouldnt it swing and make more noise??

I was thinking along the same lines when I first saw this. The beaner's swinging around and hitting the top of the trunk.. This could be solved fast by putting a zip tie tight through the eyelet and beaner. Crank on it some, and they won't swing at all. Some 5-minute epoxy would work too, but if it was my I might go zip tie route..

Nice DIY, nice setup and going for it. I like the initiative.. :thumbsup:

[canucklion]

Josh, if you're really concerned about the noise (like I am), wrap the beaner with felt tape:thumbsup:
I was thinking along the same lines when I first saw this. The beaner's swinging around and hitting the top of the trunk.. This could be solved fast by putting a zip tie tight through the eyelet and beaner. Crank on it some, and they won't swing at all. Some 5-minute epoxy would work too, but if it was my I might go zip tie route..

Nice DIY, nice setup and going for it. I like the initiative.. :thumbsup:

[Josh49]

Josh, if you're really concerned about the noise (like I am), wrap the beaner with felt tape:thumbsup:

You wouldn't need it. The zip tie would keep them from moving.. :thumbsup:

I was just throwing this out there. I don't plan on doing this..

[canucklion]

haha, yeah,

I'm all about the felt, I can't wait till spring when I can de-rattle/creak my interior

You wouldn't need it. The zip tie would keep them from moving.. :thumbsup:

I was just throwing this out there. I don't plan on doing this..

[Minipuck V 2.0]

interesting DIY ... i might try it out as well

[triton.]

Well after a little more than a year of having these in. No damage to the roof of the trunk. Also simple solution for the noise is I just wrapped some rubberbands around it. Still my only functional mod for the car other than switching the shift knob.

[LEA69]

cheap and practical... i like...

[kevE90zsp]

Some people may say this looks like an after thought or it looks tacky, but it's no way near as tacky as the BMW grocery gripper. Like someone else mentioned you could remove the carabiners when you are not using them. I personally would not hang bags in the trunk. It's more for keeping bags upright. Great idea.

[triton.]

Some people may say this looks like an after thought or it looks tacky, but it's no way near as tacky as the BMW grocery gripper. Like someone else mentioned you could remove the carabiners when you are not using them. I personally would not hang bags in the trunk. It's more for keeping bags upright. Great idea.

That's exactly what I use it for. It's perfect setup for Paper grocery bags (Trader Joes, Weggins) that are filled with food. Keep them from falling over.