Another 5th Gen Storage Solution

[Fenix84]

So after reading so many storage solution threads I thought I'd try it out myself.

Thanks to the members who posted write ups on removing the useless 3rd row of seats on the Limited.

Along with the extra > 3 cubic feet of extra space the storage area weighs as much as one of the seats so I did get some weight loss benefit out of it.

My goal was to create a storage area that looked as factory as possible. I couldn't find an exact match for the carpet but this seemed to be close.

I wanted the door of the storage area to be flush with the floor but because of the thickness of the carpet the door protrudes above the floor a bit. Hopefully after awhile the carpet flattens and the door becomes flush with the floor. Maybe wishful thinking...

I'm still waiting on my gas structs to arrive but other than that this is pretty much it.

BTW I have some 3rd row seats available in the Calgary area if anyone is interested.

 

[st8rocks]

Wow that looks factory. Well done mate.

 

[harkco]

Looks great! I wish Toyota would make something like this an option on the 4runner.

 

[marazaii]

is that a '13 model?! I have the '14 and the storage comps on the wheelwells are no longer there on the 2014 models... at least you have two more than we have. Looks great BTW. I have the sliding cargo tray.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

is that a '13 model?! I have the '14 and the storage comps on the wheelwells are no longer there on the 2014 models... at least you have two more than we have. Looks great BTW. I have the sliding cargo tray.

My 14 Limited wheelwells look just like the ops with the compartments.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I see you removed the 3rd seat seat belts. Did you completely take them off or just remove one end and hide them out of the way? I am looking to do this on my conversion.

 

[Okki]

There have been a lot of "custom" storage builds that were posted recently. Quite a few use the full top lid like this build. I just wanted to point out that once you load your truck up with camping gear etc, you will have to unpack the entire back to get what is in the storage.

For most people the storage will contain things they don't use a lot (like recovery gear, first aid etc). You really don't want to have to unload your entire truck to get to that stuff when you are in a situation when you need to get to it.

My recommendation is that you cut the top lid to have a 20 inch section closest to the hatch that is hinged so you can open part of the lid. If you don't have drawers, that will give you easier access and not have to unload as much.

If your storage solution is higher than the factory floor, another option is to cut an access door into rear facing wall as a secondary means of access to the storage area.

YMTC

Okki

 

[inv1GRated]

My 14 Limited wheelwells look just like the ops with the compartments.

x2 what he said

 

[Okki]

x2 what he said

The storage in the rear wheel wells comes with factory 3rd row models. My limited didn't have the 3rd row and thus doesn't have the storage.

Okki

 

[Fenix84]

I see you removed the 3rd seat seat belts. Did you completely take them off or just remove one end and hide them out of the way? I am looking to do this on my conversion.

I left them attached to the car. I unbolted the connection to the floor and stuffed them into the connection to the ceiling/wall.

 

[SigSense]

Very professional looking, good job.

 

[F1scher]

There have been a lot of "custom" storage builds that were posted recently. Quite a few use the full top lid like this build. I just wanted to point out that once you load your truck up with camping gear etc, you will have to unpack the entire back to get what is in the storage.

For most people the storage will contain things they don't use a lot (like recovery gear, first aid etc). You really don't want to have to unload your entire truck to get to that stuff when you are in a situation when you need to get to it.

My recommendation is that you cut the top lid to have a 20 inch section closest to the hatch that is hinged so you can open part of the lid. If you don't have drawers, that will give you easier access and not have to unload as much.

If your storage solution is higher than the factory floor, another option is to cut an access door into rear facing wall as a secondary means of access to the storage area.

YMTC

Okki

I agree -

However, a drawer system is generally more complicated for people to make themselves, and takes up more space for the same amount of storage. This is especially true when the box is recessed into the floor like this; cant really effectively access a box like this from anywhere other than the top. I made my box w/ two top doors, so you can at least move your gear to one side, and still get to the box.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I left them attached to the car. I unbolted the connection to the floor and stuffed them into the connection to the ceiling/wall.

Thanks, I will try that.

 

[Fenix84]

There have been a lot of "custom" storage builds that were posted recently. Quite a few use the full top lid like this build. I just wanted to point out that once you load your truck up with camping gear etc, you will have to unpack the entire back to get what is in the storage.

For most people the storage will contain things they don't use a lot (like recovery gear, first aid etc). You really don't want to have to unload your entire truck to get to that stuff when you are in a situation when you need to get to it.

My recommendation is that you cut the top lid to have a 20 inch section closest to the hatch that is hinged so you can open part of the lid. If you don't have drawers, that will give you easier access and not have to unload as much.

If your storage solution is higher than the factory floor, another option is to cut an access door into rear facing wall as a secondary means of access to the storage area.

YMTC

Okki

I wouldn't be able to add the drawers and keep the existing plastic cover. The drawer system would reduce the already limited space.

Adding multiple opening areas will require additional supports which would reduce the cargo area. I wanted as much continuous space as possible.

 

[Antman]

I wouldn't be able to add the drawers and keep the existing plastic cover. The drawer system would reduce the already limited space.

Adding multiple opening areas will require additional supports which would reduce the cargo area. I wanted as much continuous space as possible.

*My first storage area was one big lid too.

Storage area/flat cargo floor

*Second time around I spilt the lid lengthwise- front-back. It really did work out a lot better for me.

Storage box #2

*Now I'm back to one big lid with a slideout lid on the deeper driver's side compartment.

Expedition Style Storage box/with slideout table and sleeping platform


All three work well, but I gotta say the one big lid was kind of a PITA after a little while.

Nice job on your storage box!

 

[Lolrax]

Very very cool. Well done dude. Thinking of doing something like this in my GX which has the same useless 3rd row setup. Nice to see another Calgarian on the board!

 

[Okki]

I wouldn't be able to add the drawers and keep the existing plastic cover. The drawer system would reduce the already limited space.

Adding multiple opening areas will require additional supports which would reduce the cargo area. I wanted as much continuous space as possible.

I didn't mention anything about multiple storage areas; just make the top lid hinged in two places. All the way in the back by the rear seats so you can open the lid in it's entirety. This section would have the gas struts. measuring about 20 inches from the front of the lid (near the lift gate) cut the top lid side to side and add a hinge. This will allow you to provide access to the entire storage area through a 20 inch opening when you are fully loaded.

If you are not fully loaded, you "roll" the first hinged section back and open the lid all the way (the open lid will kinda look like a letter "L").

Because your lid has a continuous support ledge on both sides, you will not weaken the lid, because the small section of the lid is as supported as the rear (large) section of the lid. 20 inches should be enough to get things like a rolled up snatch strap or hilift out of the storage area.

Just food for thought. Either way you did a very nice job on the build.

Okki

 

[salong53]

Seems like you could do this mod without the lid at all and eradicate the grocery-ejector-slope problem. It could just be a recessed cargo area. Nice work!
[MENTION=112139]Fenix84[/MENTION] Quick question: Did you have to cut any of the existing floor in front of the plastic trim piece at the bottom? In mine it seems like there's a few more inches of floor there between the trim piece and the back of the 3rd row seats.

 

[Fenix84]

Sorry its hard for me to visualize and remember the procedure. I don't recall having to trim that piece.

I did have to trim the piece on the right side next to the sub-woofer. It had a tab coming out that connected to the sea that needed to be removed. Nothing major

I had to trim the back plastic panel cause it also had tabs that connected to the seat. I only trimmed the tabs because i used them to connect to the storage instead.

Hopefully this picture is helpful

 

[salong53]

Hopefully this picture is helpful

Perfect, thanks!