I’m curious how you guys set up your 3rd gen for a overland trip. I’m interested in storage ideas, and what you bring for the trip. What you have learned. What you need and don’t need. Please share photos.

I took out the back seats and built two bins along the sides and a platform to level out where the seats were, all out of plywood and 2x4s. Then stapled carpeting to it, and used the d-rings already on the floorboard to tie them down. I'm 6'3 and I can lay flat on my back in between. The carpet goes across to velcro so that everything is hidden from anyone curious to look inside.

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Everything including the kitchen sink .

https://www.boundarywaterscatalog.co...l-roll-up-2903 This is the latest thing I bought , haven't even used it yet . My plan is to keep it rolled up in the drawer and then hang it on the inside of the swingout when cooking . I'm trying a few things to cut down our setup time . Hard with kids though .

I carry a lot. Most of the stuff is packed into these two heavy duty tubs. They are not cheap but a 200 lb person can stand on one empty and it will hold your weight.


Two of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TOJ9DY/

Two of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YSFT7S/

Plus a 65q Coleman cooler that is apparently no longer for sale.

Of course a quality bait tray for holding stuff (not fish, sorry) at the top of the cooler:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ballyhoo-Ba...y/322426474459

And if the trip is longer than 3 days I bring my RTIC SoftPak 30 cooler.
https://www.rticcoolers.com/shop/coo...oftPak-30-Grey

And I don't have one but I am seriously looking at this for future trips where it may be just more than my wife and I. This slim Thule is only 12" high and I figure I could put a lot of the lightweight bulky items in it that take up so much space. Most rooftop carriers are about 15-18" high and look like overkill for my needs.
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/77994


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I did something similar. I built a half width, double decker open box. The cooler and tools and other heavy stuff go in the bottom and the upper level has plastic bins with miscellaneous stuff. I wanted to put carpet on it but haven't got that far yet. Turnbuckles and hooks to secure it to the existing D rings. I can stuff lightweight things between it and the inside wall above the wheel well. I sleep along the other side.

Over where the seats used to be I'll put more plywood down with acccess hatches to get at stuff under there.

It works well if I'm alone but with someone else not so much... I will probably build a more traditional full width enclosure that is as high as the wheel wells. You sleep on top with all your stuff underneath it.

I have a full length roof rack for large light items, or dirty stuff like max trax.

I’ll post some photos of how my truck looks like right now packed.

I’ve been looking at front runner wolf pack boxes. I hear good and bad things. But I see a lot of people recommending these boxes. Does anyone have these and could possibly share their opinion?

Anyone know their gross weight after all packed and ready to roll? Especially those who are fully armored !

Also of topic but related to overland. I was at west marine and I saw that they just started selling a 12v fridge. Anyone who is interested in a none brand name fridge could go locally and visually check it out. It’s called Norcold. The one I saw was 45quarts at $599. It looked very well built. Even had battery shut of settings. Old school way, with a button. I took photos of the fridge and I’ll post them once I’m home. Here’s a little video I came across. Again, this could be a good option for someone, plus west marine might offer a extended warranty.

https://youtu.be/kh6VMPiccnI

They look good. There is a YouTube video on their site. What more do you need

I use a couple heavy duty totes. One for my stove, pots, pans, etc. Another for other strange stuff I don't need easy access too, extra fluids, extra toilet paper, paper towels, etc. Then I have all my tools in a fairly large, yet very study plastic tool box. Camping chairs go in the rear floor boards along with spare CV.

The rear seat bottoms come out also. If it's just me I pack the totes, cooler, tool box, etc. onto the passenger side of the truck and sleep on the driver side. If the girlfriend is with me then the totes go outside, under the truck or on the roof, and the cooler goes in one of the front seats. Our bags with clothes, laptop, etc. go in the front seats as well. I have though about building a platform, but it seems like it isn't worth it. My system works pretty well, and when I'm not camping I don't carry the extra weight, or loose the space. It is also nice to be able to sit upright in the back of the 4Runner, which I wouldn't be able to do if I had a platform.

As for weight, I had my truck weighed once a couple years ago. I had everything I have today, minus the winch and rear bumper. I was 5,000 pounds then with me in the truck, and a full tank of gas, plus my normal gear I carry.

So I'd say now I'm closer to 5,200 pounds without any gear. Throw everything I'd take on a long trip, and assuming it's just me and it's probably 5,500 pounds. Add in another person and easily 5,700 pounds. With me and 2 extra people like when I went to Moab, the truck was probably close to 6,000 pounds. I wanted to weigh it on my last trip all loaded down, but I didn't get a chance to.

I have a yakima top box. Took out the bottom half of the rear seats so that I can lay down fully in the back. Store a cooler on one side and a large suitcase on the other. put most stuff up in the Yakima, whatever won't fit goes in the back while driving, and then put it in the front when sleeping. I like not having a platform in the back because I can sit up all the way, but it is a bit of a hassle moving everything up to the front seats when it's time to sleep.

Bike, hike, clothes, shoes, gear, maps/books, off-roady recovery stuff and hi-lift, tools- a lot of it is in the crate, some under seats/bike/and between front seat and rear. Have to leave the seats open for shuttling runs.


Gas, toilet, end results bucket, shower room and cheap-a-roo. Sometimes things like the tailpipe too. Oops.


Oh, we also pack another truck. I think it's called 'The Parts Truck'. This way if I need something for my 96 I can just take it off his.


More clothes, bike and hike gear, food and jet-boil, cooler, awning, tent and sleeping gear for 3, other tools and cv on the rack I'd originally built for the 96 and under seats and next to cooler.


And bikes, and chairs and table and more gas.

Nice stuff people. I'm old fashion & have been camping for 46 years. Everything goes in assorted size duffel bags or my external frame hiking backpacks. They take up less space than totes, they compress on each other & the smaller ones can stuff anywhere if needed. I have 3 dogs so no building anything fancy in the back for me. Plus who needs the weight along with the armor. I've had the rear seats out since 2014 since me & my girl aren't having kids. The dogs go in the cargo area & gear goes where the back seats should be.

I used to go backpacking a lot so I have no need to bring every gadget/luxury item camping & all of my gear is lite weight. I could rough it in the rain for 5-6 days straight. No car camping, (that's easy) hiking up a trail & staying there.

Instead of taking up more space & adding weight with a fridge think about a good cooler & get some dry ice from your local ice cream distributor. No need to spend $200 on a cooler or Fridge. A nice $45 Igloo or Coleman will do just fine. LOL

PS, I do like those Plano totes that Brian shared. I might get a few for my garage & store extra 4Runner parts in there.

Here is how I am packed for Virginia trip for 3 nights.

On the roof rack I have 2 4gal rotopax with a rifle case for more storage. There will be a set of TREADS and 2 5gal water cans on there to.


This is the trunk. So currently I am using regular home storage boxes for some items. The Dark green one has items such as: blow up mattress, hammock, fordable chair and few other things. The clear one has all the kitchen stuff. Small set of pans and bowl, BBQ utensils, cutting board and other stuff. There are 2 tables. Black one is small, the white one is half table half for BBQ to be placed on so its of the ground. 3 fordable chairs,Weber grill, 4 person tent, shower/privacy tent, tool bag, jumper cables and few other things. In the wooden storage box, one drawer has recovery tools, and other important stuff. The other drawer her small miscellaneous stuff from knifes, bug spray, fire starter, baby wipes and more. Under each draw there is a board that I have properly prepped to handle food safe. And behind the storage box there is a spare part room. I have: 1 cv axle, both outer tie rods, both LBJ, coil pack, spark plugs, and belts.




Behind my seat there is a 54qt Dometic fridge. The other seat behind the passenger will be to store our clothes, pillows and blanket.


*I plan on ordering wolf pack boxes and keeping items more organized better, this trip will teach me on what stuff I need on the roof rack in the rifle case, what I need in my drawers and what I need in storage boxes. I wish I had little more room for dry foods and couple other things. But you can't have it all can you?

Here are some photos I took of the fridge at West Marine for people who might be interested.








I was very shocked how of quality it felt.

Rethink that for a second. I hungry bear will be more then happy to smash out a window to get that cooler. Now, his(or her) head and torso are half in the cab. Would you be able to start the rig and drive off? Just food for thought.

I have a very similar set-up when going for long weekends. One thing I do is put the cooler under the passenger side rear tire. There's about 3" of a gap between it and the muffler.

Same bear comes and gets in my cooler. I'm inside so I hop in the drivers seat and fire up the rig. Then I stomp the gas giving him a face full of fumes and dirt. I'm not saying that any of this will ever happen to either of us but if it does who's set-up would you rather have at that time? lol