Adding a trunk to a 3rd gen 4runner!

A

angus

New member
Anyone cut the trunk floor out to add a "trunk" or spare tire well type compartment?

I am considering doing this since I almost never use the tire well in my other cars for the tire - instead I use it for storage - this lack of hidden storage in the 4runner is something I miss "hidden" is the key because theft is an issue and because I hate stuff that I can see in my cars...

Theoretically I would like to look at wrecked cars and cut out the trunk floor, then graft it into the 'runner - something like the Accord Crosstour or Ridgeline - even my FX35 had a nice compartment.

I suppose a spare tire well out of a lot of cars may work - I'd just have to fabricate a door/lid.

Also, I have a 3" body lift which should help it from being visible from behind.
 
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You absolutely could add it. I would imagine it would be as simple as cutting the desired shape out of the rear floor, removing the old sparetire support beams, and installing a fabb'd box w/out a lid to your new hole. Of course it'd be easier to have the dimensions installed within the frame rails.

Do it, post pics :)
 
I'd keep the space under the truck filled with a spare tire, myself. If you want hidden storage, what about a false floor with a cargo mat over the top? Or a bungie net slung up against the ceiling?
 
I think if you remove the carpet and look at the metal and then remove the spare tire and look at the metal you will see that this isn't a very practical idea.

I guess you could weld a box underneith and drop the spare tire into it .... our spares are pretty big though.
 
If you're worried about people seeing your stuff, why not get a cargo cover? I picked up a factory one from a junkyard and use it to hide my toolbox in the back.
 
absalom said:
You absolutely could add it. I would imagine it would be as simple as cutting the desired shape out of the rear floor, removing the old sparetire support beams, and installing a fabb'd box w/out a lid to your new hole. Of course it'd be easier to have the dimensions installed within the frame rails.

Do it, post pics :)
Click to expand...

I am going to look at vehicles that already have one so I can just cut the part out and weld it into the floor.

I took a look and there is some space to put a compartment in without cutting into the tire supports.

If you've seen the one in a 96-up pathfinder I think that one would fit for sure.
 
KidVermicious said:
I'd keep the space under the truck filled with a spare tire, myself. If you want hidden storage, what about a false floor with a cargo mat over the top? Or a bungie net slung up against the ceiling?
Click to expand...

Since I have a 3" body lift, if I were to keep the compartment in between the factory tire supports in the floor then I could still mount a spare there.

As it is, I removed the tire and winch a while ago.

A false floor is not what I would do since it reduces the interior space. The idea is to use wasted space.
 
BrianSD_42 said:
I think if you remove the carpet and look at the metal and then remove the spare tire and look at the metal you will see that this isn't a very practical idea.

I guess you could weld a box underneith and drop the spare tire into it .... our spares are pretty big though.
Click to expand...

I have looked at the floor and my spare is long gone - that is what got me to thinking about the compartment.
 
Robb235 said:
If you're worried about people seeing your stuff, why not get a cargo cover? I picked up a factory one from a junkyard and use it to hide my toolbox in the back.
Click to expand...

I have a cargo cover that came factory, Right no I'm using a tote with a lid to keep all my extra crap in and I can't stand it.
 
Yeah the main issue I see with this is that the tire support is a crossbeam rail for the frame, so it needs to be there or moved if you want to use that space.
 
I think this is a great idea. I want to do this after I get a new rear bumper so that it can be fabbed up not reducing the departure angle. It would be nice to keep heavy items like tools and spares low down under the body. Just extra storage keeping the center of gravity low. Put a hinged door on it line it with something to keep it quiet.
 
Nervo19 said:
I think I first read this link from someone on here. Read it and see if you still think a hidden compartment is a good idea.

Alfred Anaya Put Secret Compartments in Cars. So the DEA Put Him in Prison | WIRED
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i think its a great idea. the compartment isn't very hidden imho. you can clearly see it if you look under the car and i don't believe anyone has even mentioned elaborate hydraulic openings utilizing factory controls. Also if there is nothing illegal in your hidden compartment there would never be a problem even if the DEA CIA or whoever else finds it.

I think the one dirtco linked is sweet and i really want one now. My spare tire is on my bumper and it think it would be a perfect place to store items like spare cv axles that aren't used everyday but are in the back everyday.
 
thats an absurd comparison, unless the op is smuggling drugs, in which case it would be absurd to post this project on a public forum.

@OP how big are you going to make your compartment? also you can cut off the spare tire cross member and then cut and weld the hitch in as a replacement. Someone here did that, it will look better with your body lift as well, and give the compartment some protection. and yeah you could keep spare parts and tools in it.
[MENTION=50784]Full_Throttle[/MENTION]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/120028-my-build-thread-imogene.html#post1121743
 
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Nervo19 said:
I think I first read this link from someone on here. Read it and see if you still think a hidden compartment is a good idea.

Alfred Anaya Put Secret Compartments in Cars. So the DEA Put Him in Prison | WIRED
Click to expand...

It will not be anything even remotely close to that type of compartment - although I do like the idea of a small thing like that for valuables etc. (LEGAL ONES) - BUT the risk of having it be misconstrued as something bad would probably keep me from doing it.
 
4x4runner2002 said:
i think its a great idea. the compartment isn't very hidden imho. you can clearly see it if you look under the car and i don't believe anyone has even mentioned elaborate hydraulic openings utilizing factory controls. Also if there is nothing illegal in your hidden compartment there would never be a problem even if the DEA CIA or whoever else finds it.

I think the one dirtco linked is sweet and i really want one now. My spare tire is on my bumper and it think it would be a perfect place to store items like spare cv axles that aren't used everyday but are in the back everyday.
Click to expand...

The one in the link is cool and along the lines of what I want but I think I want to use some factory tire well from another car for form/function and also for ease of construction - my idea is to simply find the right car and "cut/paste" just cut it out of the "donor" car and drop into my car with a few welds and seam sealer.

Like I said it'll be no different than any car with a spare tire well so I don't see it being an issue with the idea or cia...
 
D Farms said:
thats an absurd comparison, unless the op is smuggling drugs, in which case it would be absurd to post this project on a public forum.

@OP how big are you going to make your compartment? also you can cut off the spare tire cross member and then cut and weld the hitch in as a replacement. Someone here did that, it will look better with your body lift as well, and give the compartment some protection. and yeah you could keep spare parts and tools in it.
[MENTION=50784]Full_Throttle[/MENTION]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/120028-my-build-thread-imogene.html#post1121743
Click to expand...

Exactly - absurd. There will be nothing "secret" about the space, it'll just be hidden from plain view - you'd obviously see it with just a quick glance under the truck or lifting the carpet. BTW, I will most likely need to bring the carpet to an upholstery shop to have the edge trimmed and stitched so it can just lift up instead of being pinned under the trim - anyone with ideas for doing that?

I'd make this specifically visible and have the door clearly visible to avoid any problems in fact since I would hate to have some issue crossing a border.

Part of my motivation is actually to have a spot to put an amp and sub if I decide to go that way, but I will have to see how big I can make it because at my age, the storage for tools etc. almost outweighs the need for bass...

I think for lots of us, the little one that is in the 96-up pathfinder would fit no problem because it'll fit without modifying the tire crossmember.

I want to make it as big as I can without too much hassle - I think if I were to cut the cross braces in the floor and the tire crossmember I could use the entire tire well from maybe a civic or something which are quite large. I like the fact that most OEM tire wells have stamped ridges etc. to make them stronger - this way I won't really be losing any structural integrity by cutting out those braces in the floor.

It's funny that you did your hitch that way because I just inherited a Tacoma hitch for free and I was trying to figure out how to weld it to my frame.

Does anyone think that If I welded the hitch in like that, I could lose the tire crossmember in the frame without issue? I mean it would actually seem MORE structurally sound since you are basically boxing in the frame at the end rather than the frame rails just hanging loose at the ends.
 
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