Factory sliding cargo tray. yay or nay?

[Plumbrunner]

Ordering an 18 pro. Ive done a lot of searching because i didnt want to be "that guy" but swear i couldnt find what i was looking for. Im looking for opinions on what people think about the factory sliding tray/floor? Pros', cons etc. Money isnt an issue I just personally dont know if I would want or need it. I see just as many posts of guys trying to buy them as guys taking them out.

Thanks for the help.

 

[jk24runner]

I ended up picking one up second hand and I like it a lot. Not something you use every day, but if you are sliding big objects in and out of the back you can pull it out to protect your bumper. Also makes a great changing table for the kid lol

 

[Magnetic]

I ordered/like the sliding tray.

I pull it out to load heavy items (tires, etc.) and slide it back in after loading/unloading.

When pulled out, it exposes a shallow storage area which I have filled with tools, spares and recovery items.

The exposed area (18"s front to back), for which I have created a removable insert, extends the flat area behinds the seats, creating a sleeping platform which is around 79"s.

It was one of my must have's along with KDSS and the premium options...

 

[Plumbrunner]

What are the Pro's of no slider? Do you gain more cargo area height? The only one i saw in person had the slider. I havent seen on without it to see how big of a space diff it makes.

 

[I35it]

Sliding cargo tray for the win! Love it, makes changing diapers easy, feeding the family is easy cause its like a little picnic table, plus I cook off it and the fumes dont get all crazy in the cab, theres spots to store tools and such underneath. Down side is that its a pain to clean all the spots underneath.

 

[Titanpat57]

Meh

Having had it in the first 4runner, and not in the second 4runner, I don't miss it

 

[tacoyota]

You dont really need it honestly unless you plan on camping a lot or move boxes. I've only really sat on mine a handful of times.

 

[KP Texan]

Wife’s has it and mine doesn’t. As with anything, it’s got its pros and cons, but I personally prefer without.

It rarely gets used, and seems to just complicate the back cargo area. It makes the overall flat area smaller, things get stuck in the crevices, and it’s more difficult to clean back there. One thing that is nice about it, is that it levels out the full length cargo area when the middle seats are folded flat. This would be nice if you wanted to sleep back there, but we have yet to do it in almost 6 years of ownership.

 

[2barevo]

Have been useful for big loads; tires, wheels, heavy boxes . Great also to use as a table when camping or tailgating. You can sit on it and moves you away from he rear bumper. Although, I would prefer a 3rd row over it for the extra passenger capacity. If anyone would like to trade, pm me. Socal.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

 

[comtn4x4]

I would vote no. It's too singular in purpose. When you load up it really doesn't work unless it's a relatively low flat load. Yes it works as a table if little or nothing else is on it. And if your load goes over onto the wheel wells or onto the small cargo pocket behind and it and try to pull it out everything falls all over the place and even worse falling behind it is a big pain. Also, all the tie downs are not on the tray. So if you tie your load down you can't pull it out at all. If you want to flatten the cargo area so it's flat with the hatch sill there are homemade options or goose gear makes a plate which will bring it flush. Mine is coming out to make way for low drawers shortly.

 

[Plumbrunner]

I would vote no. It's too singular in purpose. When you load up it really doesn't work unless it's a relatively low flat load. Yes it works as a table if little or nothing else is on it. And if your load goes over onto the wheel wells or onto the small cargo pocket behind and it and try to pull it out everything falls all over the place and even worse falling behind it is a big pain. Also, all the tie downs are not on the tray. So if you tie your load down you can't pull it out at all. If you want to flatten the cargo area so it's flat with the hatch sill there are homemade options or goose gear makes a plate which will bring it flush. Mine is coming out to make way for low drawers shortly.

This pretty much made my mind up. For me personally so far it seems like the cons are way more than the pros.

 

[2flyfishin]

I like the sliding tray. I have used it to help unload heavy items many times but for me I like having the hidden storage under and in front of it the most. I store tools , tarp, gloves, etc., in the storage areas created by it which is one less storage bag in the back. I also like the fact that it creates a flat surface when the seat is folded down for when I need to load and unload larger objects. You can easily push them all the way forward to put other things in behind because it's flat. I also needed to sleep in back once due to an emergency and having it flat was a huge bonus. It isn't the end all to be all for me and if I didn't have it , I don't think I would miss it but I do like having it.The only time I could see it being a negative is if you plan on putting storage drawers back there eventually. The 4 to 5 inches of height you gain by not having inside isn't that usable as you are limited by the opening of the back to load and if you're putting things that tall inside, you're going to eventually screw up your headliner ( ask me how I know but luckily not in this vehicle).

 

[(none)]

I like the sliding tray...with modifications.

The tie down item mention can be rectified with eye bolts. There are already holes in the front edge of the tray for up to 4 bolts if you want to add them for tying.

I don't like that the entire floor doesn't move, i'm working on adding a metal tray to the end of the slide, so when you pull the slide out, everything comes out and it uncovers the cubby.

And i believe it would be a much better option if a shelf was available for the back. I strap my fridge to the slider and have been experiementing with a a few different shelf ideas which will go above the fridge (about level with the rear seat back) for light items. They've worked great so far, always improving.

 

[2flyfishin]

I would vote no. It's too singular in purpose. When you load up it really doesn't work unless it's a relatively low flat load. Yes it works as a table if little or nothing else is on it. And if your load goes over onto the wheel wells or onto the small cargo pocket behind and it and try to pull it out everything falls all over the place and even worse falling behind it is a big pain. Also, all the tie downs are not on the tray. So if you tie your load down you can't pull it out at all. If you want to flatten the cargo area so it's flat with the hatch sill there are homemade options or goose gear makes a plate which will bring it flush. Mine is coming out to make way for low drawers shortly.

Lol, I hate to sound insulting but you have to be smarter than the tray. If your load is sticking over the edge of the tray or if you have a load on it that things may fall off it when you move it, just load and unload like you would have to without the tray. Just because you have it doesn't mean you have to use it. There are times you use it and times you don't. I also like that the tie downs are not on the tray as it makes for more secure wider tie down points. If your load on the the tray is that precarious that it needs to be tied down when you move the tray, you probably shouldn't be sliding the tray out with that load anyways and should be unloading like you would without the tray. Work smarter, not harder. As far as only using it for a low flat load, I have used mine to load a box that was 170 lbs, and was 30" tall and it made "much" easier to unload. Like I said earlier if I didn't have it, I don't think I would miss it and I do understand not wanting it if you are going to install drawers but if you're not going to install drawers, I really don't see a negative to having it.

 

[SwayzeExpress]

Ordering an 18 pro. Ive done a lot of searching because i didnt want to be "that guy" but swear i couldnt find what i was looking for. Im looking for opinions on what people think about the factory sliding tray/floor? Pros', cons etc. Money isnt an issue I just personally dont know if I would want or need it. I see just as many posts of guys trying to buy them as guys taking them out.

Thanks for the help.

If you have snowy winters or a lot of rain it will save you from having wet/dirty shins or knees from touching the bumper if your truck is dirty. I wanted one but couldn't get one on my 16 trail premium at the time. I would love to get one installed

 

[comtn4x4]

No insult taken. This all just opinion after all and certainly requires no rebuttal or explanation. Nor was my expression of my opinion meant to diminish anyone else's. After 4 years with it in many situations my experiences are as I expressed. I have never found a realistic way to be "smarter" than the tray that met my needs. But I'm sure my uses and needs are different than yours as well as from everyone elses. The small amount of storage behind and below the tray are of nominal benefit to me when the truck is loaded. Both are after all trapped behind and below the storage tray and require unpacking or unstrapping in order to access them. As I travel with 2 adults, 2 pre teens and two 80 pound dogs, unpacking to access gear at every stop is unrealistic. The xtra inches of vertical space is to me far more worthwhile and useable. Especially when considering the addition of drawers.


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Lol, I hate to sound insulting but you have to be smarter than the tray. If your load is sticking over the edge of the tray or if you have a load on it that things may fall off it when you move it, just load and unload like you would have to without the tray. Just because you have it doesn't mean you have to use it. There are times you use it and times you don't. I also like that the tie downs are not on the tray as it makes for more secure wider tie down points. If your load on the the tray is that precarious that it needs to be tied down when you move the tray, you probably shouldn't be sliding the tray out with that load anyways and should be unloading like you would without the tray. Work smarter, not harder. As far as only using it for a low flat load, I have used mine to load a box that was 170 lbs, and was 30" tall and it made "much" easier to unload. Like I said earlier if I didn't have it, I don't think I would miss it and I do understand not wanting it if you are going to install drawers but if you're not going to install drawers, I really don't see a negative to having it.

 

[00Sebby]

Honestly, if my 4R didn't come with the tray I would probably have never put one in. But since I've had and used the tray I would not order another 4R without it. :thumb:

 

[blue$]

Pros and cons...mine came with it and I'm fine with that. Had it not, I'd have been fine with that as well.

I guess I feel strongly both ways. :noidea:

 

[STX4Runner]

You're getting a ton of different opinions, of course. Didn't read them all. For camping in the back it's great as the floor is flat from front to back with the seats folded down. Also, I have a tarp folded up under it as there's a little space under there. I like it.

 

[Starsky]

Sorry to resurrect this necro-thread, but it was very helpful for me to decide to get the sliding tray. For me, the ability to have a flat area for sleeping was even more important than the functionality, but I wanted to add one minor thing that nobody has mentioned for future readers...

I always use my sliding cargo cover to hide my gear, especially when I'm transporting my guns. What I've found is that by using the cargo tray, I don't need to keep sliding the cargo cover back and forth to uncover the back when I load/unload. I can just slide out the tray and grab whatever I need and do the same thing when I load up. It also saves my back and knees since I don't need to move or load anything while I'm bending over - that can be a problem for an old guy like me. It was a 'must-have' on my list when finding the right 4Runner and will be in my next one too if it's still an option.