Rear shelf/divider for XLT model?

[St.rAnger96]

On my 1996 XLT I have what looks like a space just above the rear folding seats for a divider or shelf to slot into, complete with curved notches for something to "lock" into under the shoulder belt plastics. I haven't been able to find any information on this online.
The interior is all stock and super clean, so I know it's not some aftermarket stuff going on.

Any help would be appreciated as it's been driving me crazy since I noticed it.

 

[RobbieD]

Sounds like the factory roll-out "window shade" cargo cover. Do you have what looks like a handle on the cab's inside back wall? If so carefully pull it toward the front of the vehicle; it will hook into those "curved notches".

 

[St.rAnger96]

Wild! No I don't have this but I wish I did. I've never even seen this option before. Do all rangers in this year range have the notches?

 

[St.rAnger96]

I just checked out the area where this would have mounted, and there is a massive gap there. Now I gotta find one. Damn!

 

[James Morse]

On mine it's balky, you can pull it out, it goes back in but with difficulty. I think what it needs is to get it out of there and lube or free up the retract mechanism, it's basically a window blind type of thing. To get it out I believe at least one side of the inside corner panels needs to come out or get loosened enough to get the ends out. And the rear panel that goes over it can't bind on it either. I haven't wanted it enough to start taking off panels, I can do that, but it's not my favorite thing.
To me it's limited usefulness because depending on where you like your seat position it can be too far back for the thing to engage the slots. Also with the tinted rear windows it's pretty hard to see in there anyway. But if you want it, search junkyards I guess and make sure it retracts nice before installation.
I suspect what happened is that it was binding/springs weak and wouldn't retract then it is setting there worse than not being there so someone just took it out.
You didn't say if your truck is 4x4, I was curious because looking at the sales brochure it looks like you could have got manual xfr case and manual hubs with an auto trans which I think you could not get in '97, if you got auto trans you were limited to auto hubs/elec xfr case. I swapped out my hubs for manuals.

 

[RobbieD]

The "cargo area cover" wasn't on the base / lower trim models; look for an XLT, STX or Splash trim level truck in the junk yard.

You can see a sales brochure here:
https://www.therangerstation.com/articles/ford-ranger-brochures/

Look around at the tech articles and other resources here; there's a gold mine of stuff.

 

[James Morse]

I can't tell in the first pic above if it has the rear seats. There's actually quite a bit of storage inside the seats storage area. To me that whole area is set up way better than the next gen.
I like no hump in the back.
This is making me feel like I oughta fix mine because I hate not having stuff 100% even if I don't use it lol. It acts just like old window blinds where you have to keep pulling it out a little to get it to creep its way to be wound up. It has to be either binding, or weak springs, or both. Not horribly complicated.

 

[St.rAnger96]

Yeah that's pretty cool - I actually really like that, and now... I gotta find one!

 

[OldBlue61]

My ‘94 XLT has one. Never really use it though because my dog rides back there, though it is kinda cool that it has one and it works great.

 

[St.rAnger96]

My ‘94 XLT has one. Never really use it though because my dog rides back there, though it is kinda cool that it has one and it works great.

That's cool I wonder if it's the same for a 96... seems like it would have to be. Lemme know if you wanna sell it.