How do you keep all those loose items sorted?

[gjackson]

One continual frustration I have when overlanding is containing all of those items you need ready access to. Jackets, camera, water bottles, all seem to end up on the floor or in a huge pile where I can't get at anything.

We've tried a net close to the ceiling to some success and a special rack, but there have to be other solutions.

What do you do to keep things tidy?

cheers

 

[Scott Brady]

Hey Graham, you and I are on the same wavelength.

I am working on this very problem right now, by looking to simplify and create some equipment systems and storage solutions. As of now, the Storm Case units and various HD cordura bags store everything.

I look forward to other folks ideas :chowtime:

 

[RobinP]

No matter what great storage system you have there are two key things to managing your stuff on the road.

1) Pair down. Simplify, and get used to less. Focus on the trip, the life, the lifestyle. Your gear is secondary.

2) Though your gear is secondary, you have to keep it in its place. As well as the literal (put it away after you use it), I also mean that you cannot let your technology and your stuff run your life. Therefore, a strict discipline is required to manage it all. Think like a sailor: everything has a place, everything gets accounted for, and everyone takes part in that effort.

With those 2 points in mind, here are the practical things we do:

- Eliminate cables. Mount stereos, XM radio, GPS, VHF, internally in dash, centre console, or on the ceiling. Have nothing portable and temporary. Combine units into one where possible. We have nothing plugged into a 12V socket. Convert your gps to bluetooth if you use a laptop to navigate.

- Have two drinking bottles (nalgene or whatever), one for driver, one for passenger. Choose between cold drinks or hot drinks. Don't try to have 2 insulated mugs and 2 water bottles. They have to fit in the centre console.

- Utilize space under the front seats. We keep binoculars, garbage bags, flip flops/runners and my wife's purse.

- Toilet paper belongs on a gear shift.

- Have a garbage bag (just a plastic grocery store bag) hung from the other gear shift.

- The area between but behind the front seats gets a custom box/shelf system for papers, books, maps, laptop, jackets, cameras.

- Use a docking station for the laptop. Keep a decent battery in it. The laptop stays behind you while you're driving, and when it's required for navigation the navigator unclips it from the docking station and it sits on a lap. Ram mounts are neat, but they take way too much real estate. I've rarely needed the navigation while driving for longer than 10 minute stints at a time. Once we used it for a few hours straight navigating through the forest in Belize, but then it wasn't a problem - sitting on the passenger lap was ideal.

If you have any more stuff required while you're driving, you've got too much.

 

[Nullifier]

I used some of my door panel pocket space to dedicate to my camera and binocs. I got some of the pelican case foam and formed it to fill the door pocket then I trimed it to hold my Binocs and point to shoot camera.

For sun screen, bug dope, map of area, sunglasses, frs radio,sharpe paper, and quick access documents I use this. http://www.michellessacs.com.au/default.asp?ID=&catID=1402&pagetype=productlist&selectedcatid=1169

I really want to do something to my glove box. Make something to work as an organiser but have not put the time into it. Using the pelican foam in the center console is another easy project for for delicate items like slr camera's etc.

 

[Nullifier]

THese are also great I am using the seat organiser as well.

http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=15&sku=7032

http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=15&sku=7031

http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=15&sku=7033

 

[Andrew Walcker]

THese are also great I am using the seat organiser as well.

http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=15&sku=7032

http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=15&sku=7031

http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=15&sku=7033

X2! I am using the litter bag for non-litter items and also one of their collapsable "boxes" as shown in the first issue of the O.J.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I'm in a Reorg as well. I HATE stuff on the floor. Around here it is a quick way to get it wet. I have been caught in a sucker hole that was not much more then 6 feet longer then the truck and I sunk the truck up to the headlight and the brake peddle was under water. The truck was on 35's.Thankfully I had everything up and stored so nothing important was soaked.

Everything up and in something that will hopefully save it from water.

I often travel alone and in a small truck so as much room as it takes up I had to put my laptop on a stand up front when I could operate it from the driver seat when pulled off the road.

I'm running nRoute for on road navigation and it has talking directions that I can repeat by hitting the space bar so I don't have to look at it when driving. Camera is center console. I have a back pack I hang on the back of the passenger seat when out alone that holds First aid and other items like gloves, spare socks and bag of Beef Jerky and anything I might need in reach from the driver seat.

Another critical thing here is this is as much about safety as organization. Anything "hard" or "heavy" needs to be secured so that it doesn't become the item that "kills" you in a roll over. A camera in a roll and make you look like you got popped by Evander Holyfield.

 

[60seriesguy]

I've always used seat organizers to hold stuff like binocs, extra film (in the days before digital), batteries, maps, two-way radios, etc...I'm constantly trying to pair down and consolidate gear, and be very organized. There's nothing worse than being on a long stretch of lonely highway at dusk and not being able to quickly (and safely) access the gear you want. I also make it a point that all gear *should* be accessible to both pilot and copilot, and I try to shoot for logical placement.

I like a cargo net mounted high for clothes and hats, to keep them out of the way but easily accessible. I am also a huge fan of Plano tackle boxes to keep small items organized. Any tackle box will work, but Plano in particular offers dozens of different sizes. I just recently found some at Cabela's that fit snugly in the long skinny compartment of the cargo area of the 100 series (copilot side on a LHD vehicle), two of them lengthwise. Perfect to keep extra bulbs, fuses, relays, connectors, ARB mend kit and pin tool, etc. Tackle boxes are cheap and light and can be stacked, kept inside the center console, in the door pockets, in the glovebox. If carefully packed, they won't rattle and it's easy to customize the compartments or even cut out the fixed ones to adapt to your needs. Some of them are even waterproof.

 

[Harald Hansen]

I'm with Robin on the dicipline bit: Everything that comes out of a bag (or pocket, net, nook or cranny) has to go back again, the second you don't use it longer. It's essential both for camping and long car trips. Otherwise all the fancy racks and other systems won't do yo a bit of good.

BTW: I found that a mounted rubbish bin did wonders in the Caravelle (Vanagon for USAnians).

 

[articulate]

I'm dying to try one of those smittybilt GEAR seat covers. As seen in Overland Journal Winter 07 :

 

[Martyn]

Are we the only people who duct tape things to the ceiling of the vehicle?

 

[flywgn]

...What do you do to keep things tidy?

cheers

I leave Diana and Scooter home.

(No, no, Diana, I'm just kidding... :violent-smiley-031: Ow, dammit that hurt! I said it was just a joke.)

We don't really have a solution. We begin a trip with great intentions, but it seems that by the first pit stop things are 'floating' around.

Our problem is sorting through the 'What-ifs' before loading. Many of our winter trips begin in the snowy north and go south to Baja. We try to put different layers into different duffels. That helps some.

I do have one mandatory rule. All solid, i.e. hard, items like flashlights, thermos, cameras, binoculars, etc., go into a cargo box that is then secured to the bed of the vehicle. I've been in a roll-over accident. To see the damage done to the inside of a vehicle by a loose 3-cell flashlight is frightening.

The container method has its disadvantages in that often photo ops, especially those of wildlife, mean you need quick access to your photo gear.

Years ago our CJ5 had a great space between the two front seats that accommodated an ammo box that I insulated with foam to keep my camera (a Pentax Spotmatic at the time) and an extra lens. I changed the closing mechanism on the box to allow for quick opening/closing. This worked. I should have never let that box accompany the CJ when we sold it.

The console in the Expedition is big and accommodating and I use it. The problem here is that I have to fight Scooter for access. He's usually lying right on top. (Scooter, a Jack Russell Terrier, is not easily persuaded to relinquish territory on the spur of the moment.)

The Xterra's console is large enough for a couple of small SureFires.

I do concur with previous posts above that paring down before the journey is the key. Our 'What-ifs' need to change to 'Probably-nots'.

With Harry in tow, it allows us to be a bit more generous in our carry-on baggage, but, even there, Diana and I (Yes, I'm just as quilty.) tend to overload.

Regardless of the number of items we try to organize the boxes and duffels into three categories: 1. immediate use, 2. tonight in camp, and 3. the 'What-ifs'.

I'd like to say that we adhere to this system 100% of the time, but we don't.

Allen R

 

[TJVach]

I'm dying to try one of those smittybilt GEAR seat covers. As seen in Overland Journal Winter 07 :

Oh I definitely second that!!!

I use a bunch of those shallow plastic storage containers that you find at the local hardware store. I keep everything from electrical tape to dental floss in them. That seems to work out well for all the little loose items. For items I need to have easy access I keep in the center console easy for both the driver and passenger to get to.

For example:
Bandannas
Batteries
Cell Phone Chargers
Compact Binoculars (Waterproof)
Deck of cards
Extension Cord - 12v
Flashlight
FRS / GMRS Radios w/ Charger
Fuses
Gloves (Mechanic and Insulated)
Hats (Full Brimmed, Knit, BB)
Headlamps
Napkins
Pen & Pad
Sharpies (Fine & Med)
Swiss Army Knife
Staun Deflators
Tire Gauge

For items like jackets and other clothing I keep in a bag (duffel or backpack) in the back or if its a in and out of the truck kind of day I just attach it to the passenger seat or roll bar. Maps somewhat float everywhere. Other than that I keep everything as packed as possible in the back of the truck.

 

[offroad_nomad]

I got a couple of behind the seat organizers for all those little things:

http://www.caselogic.com/back_seat_organizer/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=57181

 

[Sgt Grunt]

Graham, Do you still have the rear seats in your 110??? and do the rear doors open up until they are at 90 or so degrees to the truck???

The best mod I ever made to my old 80 was roller drawers in the rear.