From the other threads i've seen, people seem keen on adding drawers to their 4runners. I've never been a fan, as i don't have much i need in my vehicle all the time to necessitate drawers of stuff.
Also, i think many fail to realize how useful the OEM sliding cargo try can be. I am a previous Jeep JK owner, many of them are paying big bucks for inferior slides.

So, with that in mind, i decided i'd like a shelf in the back which allows me to utilize the cargo slide for heavy items, and space to organize smaller, lighter items up top, instead of just throwing everything in the cargo area. This is a first iteration, so i'm open to ideas and suggestions.

Current design uses 4 legs. My initial plan was to utilize the pockets which hold the factory cover, but i had a hard time coming up with a good solution which would be stable, noise free and still hold weight.

Initial fitting:


The rack design allows for easily attachment of some molle bags, plus strapping items down if needed.


Finished product for now. The vertical pieces are movable, also thinking of replacing the one in the middle with one about 1/2 that height.


Also, being an "off the shelf" shelf system, it's very modular and with many accessories available.

Seems as though the pictures weren't showing. Try this.


Initial fitting:


The rack design allows for easily attachment of some molle bags, plus strapping items down if needed.


Finished product for now. The vertical pieces are movable, also thinking of replacing the one in the middle with one about 1/2 that height.

When all that garbage becomes airborne in a crash it will decapitate you

Nah, wire cables with turnbuckles attached to the d-rings on all 4 corners. Only way its moving is to take the back floor with it.

Interesting, creative effort...

Agreed and to the OP thanks for sharing but it does kinda look like someone bolted Ikea back there.

I have that rack in my coat closet! My observations in there....

1) The plastic cup thingies that hold the shelf can dislodge under heavy loads.
2) I'd suspect it would be noisy
3) I'd question sturdiness. Isn't it rated at something like 200lbs stationary?

Could you give us a little detail like make, model, where purchased etc. for the off the shelf stuff.

I could use this for my surf fishin' stuff.

Looks noisy

Looks awesome! Great seeing something different than the normal cargo area mods.

People build drawers to keep things organized and out of sight. There ain't no hiding that.

These were a few of my concerns as well. I'll get a better pic this week, but as noted above, the whole unit is tethered down to the 4 tie-downs with steel braided cable to a turn buckle, attached to the corner of the actual shelf. This ensured the shelf cannot lift up, releasing it from the plastic retainers.

Noise was also a big concern. I can't deal with rattles. The main issue with these is the "resonance" of the horizontal shelf. If you've had one of these shelf systems before, you know, when empty, the shelf is noisy. I've been happy that is been 99% quiet once lashed down. The vertical pieces fit in tight and don't make any noise. The "slides" for the drawers aren't the best fit, but I tightened them down using some cut rubber hose to eliminate the metal to metal contact. My next solution, it was noisy, was just to weld it all together. Hasn't come to that yet.

The shelf is rated for 800lbs according to McMaster-Carr. Of course, I have no plans to get anywhere near that. This weekend it held 2 bookbags, a blanket and a pillow while the bottom was filled with 3 people's luggage for the weekend. The things is actually way overrated for anything that will go back there. I'm more concerned about the legs punching holes through the plastic they sit on than the shelf collapsing.

Replied to your PM


Thanks. Not trying to come up with the perfect solution here, just trying something different. The solutions others here have posted won't work for me, and most people seem to just be doing to the same things. If it doesn't work, i'll try something else.

Totally. And that really isn't a concern for. With even a rubber mat on the shelf, you won't be able to see anything underneath it. It covered nearly the same space the stock cargo cover would cover.

$43k vehicle with a $15 storage solution.

Well, if it works for him, it works. I didn't realize there was a minimum amount of money we had to spent on upgrades....

I'm new, also, but from all the looking around on this forum can't help but notice some of the amazing things that can be done for not a lot of cash...