Simple storage solutions

60seriesguy

Adventurer
One of my biggest obsessions is to have gear that is:

1. Properly/safely stowed
2. Within easy reach of the pilot/co-pilot
3. A compromise between the absolutely necessary and the "nice to have"

My Cruiserhead buddies always make fun of the fact that I put a LOT of thought on the location of my gear, but that's because I've spent too much time hunting around in the dark, or in the cold, or in wet weather, for gear that I was *sure* I knew where I stashed just a few days earlier. Keeping a laminated list helps, but it's nice to have stuff within reach.

I'm currently working on the design of a cargo barrier with quick pull-pins that allow it to hinge backwards (from the top) to give me access to the cargo area from inside the truck. This is important to me because I have a rear bumper with dual swingouts and I just got cargo drawers made. I'd like be able to grab stuff from the back without having to get out of the truck. Part of the frame that holds cargo barrier in place will allow me to mount a nylon cargo mesh across the top, so I can stow jackets, blankets and other light/soft gear. The net that came stock with my wife's 4Runner happens to be the perfect size.

I'm curious to see what others have done to keep their cargo safely stowed and within easy reach.

Cheers!
 

Scott Brady

Founder
60seriesguy said:
Part of the frame that holds cargo barrier in place will allow me to mount a nylon cargo mesh across the top, so I can stow jackets, blankets and other light/soft gear. The net that came stock with my wife's 4Runner happens to be the perfect size.

You sound like a man who has spent a few nights in the bush... It is funny how everyone starts off in the hobby worried about lift inches, and ends up focusing on the things that really matter... like storage and accessibility.

I really like your cargo mesh idea. I had considered the idea many years ago in one of my first Jeeps, having seen it in practice on the Camel Trophy. I forgot all about it until your suggestion here.

I do use netting to secure items on top of my drawer system.

platform.jpg


Sorry that I do not have a more detailed shot of the drawers. I have yet to work on the installation article for it.

For the bed of the truck (under the roof tent platform), I use these Stormcase units from Pangaea:
stormcases.JPG
 

gjackson

FRGS
One of my biggest obsessions is to have gear that is:

1. Properly/safely stowed
2. Within easy reach of the pilot/co-pilot
3. A compromise between the absolutely necessary and the "nice to have"

Oh yeah, there are others like me out there! ;-)

My wife was actually the one who built our rear storage solution. She took a heavy duty filing cabinet and made 4 drawers in the rear cargo area of the Defender. Lower two are for tools and spares. Upper two are for food and cooking gear. There is a long stowage compartment beside each set of drawers. And, yes, you can fit a bunch of tools and spares in those 2 drawers. (See pics!) In the food drawer we have a set of plastic containers to further subdivide. The silver thing on top of the drawers is a table with folding legs, also made by my wife. It latches down to the deck to stop it from moving around. We have a storage net in the ceiling of the load bay for light, daily use items like jackets. The drawers do not go the full depth of the load bed, so we have room in front for more storage. Next to the drawers are two long top loading boxes for clothes and chairs and other gear.

I like to keep as much as possible out of the way and out of sight and well tied down. Washboard can make a real mess if everything isn't tied down!

That's the rear part of our storage solution. Sorry about the poor quality of the pics.

cheers

Graham
www.africaoverland.org
 

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Scott Brady

Founder
Great pictures Graham... I am off to Florida in a few minutes, but should be able to check in and provide a better reply in a day or so :D
 

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pangaea

Adventurer
Gear organization is definitelt on my "top ten" of useful modifications. Being the pesismist that I am, I secure all of my heavy, not needed on the road gear behind a dog guard in my vehicle, and then in front of it put the stuff that I'll need on the go, ie fridge, camera gear, maps, laptop, etc.

In the attached picture, I keep tools and recovery gear in the right drawer, camping gear in the left drawer. The green case has spares and fluids; the black case has a stove and dry foods; and the orange case is a first aid kit. What isn't in this pic, but is usually hiding behind the black case is a jerry can and a power tank....

disco1drawersdusty.jpg
 

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MaddBaggins

Explorer
Graham, I've been kickin around some ideas in my head for some kinda drawer system. You sir have inspired me to take a few more measurements and see if I can make the file cabinet system work. :bowdown:
 

offroad_nomad

Adventurer
I've got some write-ups bookmarked on building some rear cargo drawers I've been gathering in developing something for the 4Runner, you might find these useful (hopefully they are new to you):

FJ60 Heavy Duty Roll Out Drawer By Jim Brantley.
A nice design with 6 pages of drawings in a PDF file about halfway down the site.

Heavy Duty Rollout Drawer for the 80 Series Land Cruiser
P5200117_THB.jpg


1997 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Rear Camping Storage Shelf
A simple, clean design for any type vehicle.
rearrack5.jpg


Another Rear Cargo Box

Drawer System w/Add Ons on MUD
Several nice cargo boxes pictured on this thread with pics

Another MUD thread on Building Rear Cargo Boxes
 

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Scott Brady

Founder
Some of the work features by NoCalDoug is incredible. The finish and attention to detail is just awesome :bowdown:

I like the truck vault units (having seen them in person), but am just thrilled by the StormCases... It allows the storage to be more modular and better protected. I can switch and move things around, and still maintain a lower weight. It might not be the best solution for everyone, but It works great for me...

There is a little space I have between the top of the cases and the bottom of the tent platform (about 4"). It would be nice to run some long drawers there, suspended from the platform. They could hold lighter camping type equipment, etc.
 

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gjackson

FRGS
Graham, I've been kickin around some ideas in my head for some kinda drawer system. You sir have inspired me to take a few more measurements and see if I can make the file cabinet system work.

Yeah! Get out the nibbler start cutting!!

The real amazing person here is my wife. She took the nibbler to the filing cabinet and made it work. Total cost was $10 on fasteners since we already had the filing cabinet. Only thing I don't like are the gold drawer handles. Have to replace them with something a bit more black.

Works very well though. Thousands of miles of NASTY washboard and everything still rolls great.

cheers

Graham
www.africaoverland.org
 

+ d

Adventurer
great thread, some good ideas here.

Unfortunately i don't have brilliant ideas of my own in use; for now i just use about 9 clear homedepot storage tubs with the flip open tops. They lock themselves in pretty good and i skirt the perimeter w/ 1/16" solid neoprene to protect the interior from abrasion (i gotta keep this thing 'mall-rated' too)

However if i roll, it's all going everywhere :(

I've had http://www.americanvan.com/ bookmarked for a while. Their catalog is quite inspiring for this sort of thing.

They have some pretty beefy looking modular storage solutions...
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BajaTaco

Swashbuckler
I like the idea that 60seriesguy is working on. When you say cargo net across the top - I am picturing the net suspended horizontally, like a "gear loft" kind of thing. Is that what you mean? I am actually thinking about trying that out for my camper too. I have started adding some eyelets to the inside of my roof rack brackets, that can be used for some net hooks to fasten to. I thought it would be nice just for maybe a fleece jacket or hat, and some maps - to be able to easily grab them.

I really dig Graham's file cabinet drawers! Those are cool. My compliments to your wife.

Here is an article on my storage setup. It is not accessible from the front seats though. I have an x-cab Toyota Tacoma, and behind the seats I have a fridge and a white plastic bin. The bin holds stuff like my road maps, a fire extinguisher, and things we want access to while on the road (books, snacks, neck pillow, etc.)

camper08.jpg



Here is my friend Steve's setup for access to things behind the seats in his Tacoma X-cab.



And here is the forum's very own Viking Vince's storage setup in his Tacoma. I don't think I have any pics of behind his seats inside the cab (note to self: "take pics of Vince's cab in November")

L_vince05_07.jpg
 

GeoRoss

Adventurer
Due to me not using the same vehicle for everything (I sometimes have to take out a motor pool 4WD), I am leaning toward a more modular approach. The other thing is that I carry the spare inside and until I can come up with way to store it verticle or the money for a rear bumper, I have alot of floor space occupied by the spare. I am going with the molded plastic equivalent of ammo boxes that are larger. Those pangea boxes look interesting too. My other problem is water, still looking for a better solution for that.

Ross
 

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MaddBaggins

Explorer
I have a subwoofer box in the rear with 2 8" woofers in it, so my drawer system will have to be my own to accomadate that box. File cabs might work for me.
 

gjackson

FRGS
Bajataco, that system looks a lot like what the South Africans use. African Outback makes a pretty nice drawer system for the bed of a Toyota that can include water tanks, a bed, a roll out fridge etc. Some friends rented one in Africa -- see attached pics.

I think Nathan also sells those:
http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com/africanoutback/index.html

Pretty rugged stuff.

cheers

Graham
www.africaoverland.org
 

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BajaTaco

Swashbuckler
gjackson said:
Bajataco, that system looks a lot like what the South Africans use. -- see attached pics.

Very nice!! Seeing those screens reminds me that I bought some screen that I need to get made into full-length removeable screens for my windoors. Not as much of a worry now that summer is over.

Nathan has some super top-notch stuff. I am going to try to talk Scott into letting me play with one of his Storm cases to determine which size I might like to get. I want to get one (or two) for the roof rack.
 

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