Hi,
I have a 2006 HHR. I am a massage therapist and mom of 3. When we travel we travel between 900 miles and 2500 miles (one way).
We make these trips about 4-6 times a year and I have some modifications I would like to try.

1. Cobalt front dash panels and front seats.

2. move the shifter and e-brake forward about 3-5 inches and get rid of the rear cup holder completely.

3. folding back seats, where the bottom pulls forward and back lays down face up. Turning into a bed.

4. the frame area under the back seat- cut two holes and turn one side into a cooler and the other side into a bread box style storage with a accordion closing door.

5. the rear cargo side panels/ flat sheets rather than the curves for holding the floor mat down.

6. back hatch door- cut it into two parts so it opens like a cargo van rather than with a lifting door. So each side can open independently of each other or together.

7. back passenger doors- modify sliding van doors.

8. Solar panels and battery for cooler and accessories like charging ports that can be used without it drawing on the same power as everything else.

9. Cargo roof rack, the solar panels can attach to the sleigh style rack without concern of damage to the panels or losing storage space.

10. dvd headrests (I never thought I would be that parent but honestly 2500 miles that they have seen 20 times- you run out of conversation pieces).

I think that covers the gist of it. I am in the research/budget down time stage. Since it’s my daily work car I need to figure out how long it will be down for so I have a plan B.

I know head room is an issue for a lot of people but I’m 5’4 so I don’t really have that concern but some of my family is 6’2 and taller. I was wondering about going full conversion style and lifting the head space a couple inches? All that can be mapped out later though. This is the main guts of my idea- any suggestions or do’s and don’t would be helpful.

 

Welcome to the site, there’s nothing you can do that can’t be done, all modifications are possible, some not plausible nor practical, like the conversion van roof idea, wouldn’t look very good, but I suppose with a talented fibreglass specialist it could be done, or at lot of time with an English wheel and planishing hammer, sheet metal could be made to work.
I would be concerned with the extra weight up there and the solar panels, to top heavy.

You might need a few HHR’s

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/02...ck-wagons/amp/

 

Honestly. Get rid of the HHR and find a more appropriate made/equipped vehicle. Some type of cargo van or something.
Those mods for the HHR would be VERY expensive. I'll bet like in the $25k or higher range if you had to pay someone for the work.

 

Keep the HHR and tow it behind the motor home. Probably cheaper then all the modifications and easier.


And I know a shop will start this project and then it’ll stall and sit, you’ll have to find another shop, they won’t like the first shops work and start all over. Its a money pit and never finished.

 

Dodge & Ford make van (toasters) that are tall inside. You will regret chopping up an HHR that was never intended for these top heavy mods.

 

Then again, the possibility of simply renting a motor home, still much cheaper then buying one or converting the HHR

 

very interesting thinking out loud

1. junkyard leather seats hhr can be nice zip code & car-part may have a color that works with what you have

2. get rid of the rear cup holder completely u-pull it yard donor plastic experiment gear selector on column nah current ride gets very very cantankerous when I mess with electric harnesses

3. sounds like a cut in half futon that if laden with passengers would have me justifiably arrested in my state
U frame catches up top and shoulder belt bolts that should be hit with some heat B4 putting torx key on
would need to be re imagined to retain safety

4. the frame area under the back seat is very shallow next hhr panel you see look at two lock boxes in person

5. AA5 back quarters flat sheets stained curved thin plywood (starting to feel the shag carpet impulse)

6. back hatch door , HHR pickup mods internet image search play with half that

7 sliding van doors over the long term a gravity mod drag

8. panels had a plug hack for DC/AC converter setup GM#12085487 acd#PT109 haven't played with yet
soft solar stow able panels internet hunt or just daydreaming

9. Cargo roof rack thought big shallow deep fryer style basket modded in some how in the past

10. dvd headrests may be most do-able but some phones I see kids bust out now look almost the same size
maybe they could purchase two dvd headrests every second month for what thier phone bill might be

second vehicle in the future?
used to look in Vanning before selling gladiator

 

Might be better off buying a mini Cooper Clubman LOL. Already has your car door doors in the back

 

If you have welding and mad metal fabrication skills and tools to do everything about $40,000. I would suggest a early Transit Connect and go for a WC53 ambulance style. If you watch Motor Trend channel there are several builders who could do it for $150-200,000.

 

OP was a one and done. I think they were just trolling us.