brian2sun
Elite Member
So... those of us who have earlier model 3rd gens all wish we had the bigger storage area that the '99-02s have (I'm talking about the compartment in the passenger side rear side panel). Behind the little door there is a "tub" that is riveted onto the inside of the panel to hold stuff. That tub on the early 3rd gens is only a little bit bigger than the door itself and can only hold a few small items.
Well, from stuffing things in that compartment over the years, the weight of the stuff in there finally broke all but one of the rivets holding the tub on and it was banging against the inside of the quarter panel and driving me nuts. So this weekend I took the whole side panel off and removed the tub altogether. Wal-la, no more noise and without that stupid tub I gained ~ 3 or 4 times more storage area in there.
Now, the inside of the quarter panel is exposed so I wouldn't recomend putting heavy tools in there since it could dent the panel from the inside, but you can fit a few jugs of coolant, oil, ATF, etc.. along with softer items like tow straps, rags/towels, blankies, teddy bears, ya know whatever.
I didn't take any pics because it was getting dark when I did it and it's pretty self-explainatory anyways. I might upload a pic later if I get around to it. You could always go out and find a panel off a '99+ 4runner and have the bigger access door too, but this is a free and easy mod anyone can do to get more storage in their '96-98 3rd gen.
*Notes:
1) When taking the rear side panel off, there is only one screw which is located on the top corner near the rear dome light. The rest of the panel is all held on by pop rivets and tabs so just pull it off.
2) My tub was 90% broken off, but you may need to pry yours off with a screwdriver or something so be careful not to crack the panel or anything.
3) The rear pass. seat belt is also strung through the panel so I choose to do the work in the back of the truck with enough slack in the seatbelt to lay the panel down flat. Otherwise, you can remove the seatbelt anchor bolt and slide it through if you want to take the whole panel out and do it inside the garage or house.
Well, from stuffing things in that compartment over the years, the weight of the stuff in there finally broke all but one of the rivets holding the tub on and it was banging against the inside of the quarter panel and driving me nuts. So this weekend I took the whole side panel off and removed the tub altogether. Wal-la, no more noise and without that stupid tub I gained ~ 3 or 4 times more storage area in there.
Now, the inside of the quarter panel is exposed so I wouldn't recomend putting heavy tools in there since it could dent the panel from the inside, but you can fit a few jugs of coolant, oil, ATF, etc.. along with softer items like tow straps, rags/towels, blankies, teddy bears, ya know whatever.
I didn't take any pics because it was getting dark when I did it and it's pretty self-explainatory anyways. I might upload a pic later if I get around to it. You could always go out and find a panel off a '99+ 4runner and have the bigger access door too, but this is a free and easy mod anyone can do to get more storage in their '96-98 3rd gen.
*Notes:
1) When taking the rear side panel off, there is only one screw which is located on the top corner near the rear dome light. The rest of the panel is all held on by pop rivets and tabs so just pull it off.
2) My tub was 90% broken off, but you may need to pry yours off with a screwdriver or something so be careful not to crack the panel or anything.
3) The rear pass. seat belt is also strung through the panel so I choose to do the work in the back of the truck with enough slack in the seatbelt to lay the panel down flat. Otherwise, you can remove the seatbelt anchor bolt and slide it through if you want to take the whole panel out and do it inside the garage or house.
