Idea for more storage space

gizmopt2002

New member
I don't like the fact that I can't put more stuff into the 4Runner with it being an eyesore, so I'm thinking of fabbing up something out of wood, and put carpet in it, with rubber on the bottom of the storage compartment. It would go right by the back seat in the trunk, and as tall as and wide as the wheel wells. I'll draw it soon, but I gotta get ready for school. It was a thought that popped into my head.
 
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Yeah... didn't you just describe the double decker shelf? I bought a rubbermaid under-bed storage bin for like $10 to put under the DD shelf. Works well.
 
Appreciate the ideas, lol, but I think I wanna be different this time, make my own, ya know. Once I get the schematics together you'll see my idea, it's even gonna have a cooler! lol, hopefully if it goes according to plan.
 
gizmopt2002 said:
Appreciate the ideas, lol, but I think I wanna be different this time, make my own, ya know. Once I get the schematics together you'll see my idea, it's even gonna have a cooler! lol, hopefully if it goes according to plan.

Sweet, just dont let XZIBIT talk you into a plasma screen! :biggrin2:
 
Nope, sorry ric, my idea is completely different. lol. Here it is, my original plan was a slimmer, only as tall as the wheel well, but it got bigger.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/felipe-toscano/1262344019/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/1262344019_9a404687fe_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="RD_1" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/felipe-toscano/1262398885/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1139/1262398885_f06978ade0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="RD_2 copy" /></a>
 
gizmopt2002 said:
Nope, sorry ric, my idea is completely different. lol. Here it is, my original plan was a slimmer, only as tall as the wheel well, but it got bigger.

It's a good start, and I will commend you for being brave enough to submit your idea for discussion. The packaging is very clever. Just to clarify, the sliding hinges, as represented by the soft green lines, are they intended to slide the whole thing forward, towards the front of the vehicle? Also, the setup looks a little difficult to access, because it is set deep into the rear space, trying to put items into it will not be easy. If you intend to have the slides move the box towards the rear of the vehicle, it renders the space behind it somewhat useless, as you will need to constatnly move stuff around to slide the box in and out. I'd suggest a box roughly the same footprint as the custom cargo mats, with the left and right side protrusions aft of the wheel wells serving as the cooler areas.
 
That box looks a bit big. It might be awkward to remove and you'll lose some flexibility if and when you need to move something larger. I would avoid integrating a cooler as that will just introduce more complexity than necessary.

Something like the original double decker shelf or projecct trail lex's box looks ideal IMO. Flexibility of configuration is key.
 
Yea, I like the idea of a cooler, not a really a problem, its not like ill be putting ice in there, only like the little bricks. My original plan was for a smaller one not this massive. I am a person that doesn't mind going back there for stuff. One of the main reasons for the cooler idea is so that when I go to school, and go on longer trips i have something to keep liquids and food cool (I'm not a hot food or cold food person, more like in between.)
 
If you're just worried about people seeing the items in the back of your runner, then just slide out the tonneau cover. That way you can just use a regular old Igloo cooler if you wanted, use some commercially available oganizer trays to keep things neat, and then just slide the tonneau cover out so it's all hidden. And even if you dont want stuff to be seen by opening the lift gate, just access it through your rear window!

Just trying to save you alot of time and work for something you might find is not as user friendly as you envisioned. Like said, it looks a bit tall, and being deep in the cargo area, you'd never be able to see down inside it to find anything unless you crawled over the back seat, or crawled up into the cargo area some, kinda defeating it's whole purpose of being an easy access storage area that's incognito. And the idea of making it slide out would help with the access problem, but like said, anything you store between it and the rear hatch, would have to be moved out of the way first. PLUS, you'd need some pretty serious slides, and some serious attach points, to make it slide in and out properly and hold up to much use.



As for the cooler side, it'd be easy to make. Build the compartment, line it with 2" thick white foam board, then seal it off with two layers of fiberglass cloth, about 6oz plain weave, and some white gel-coat on top of that to make it pretty. or you could make a positive plug and mold the inner cavity from that, attach the foam to the outside of the fiberglass cooler cavity, and pop it in the opening of your storage box....

Just some things to think about....;):
 
Well I'm sort of an idea guy. I'm not gonna make that massive one, I'm gonna make a smaller one, you see I'm an anal person, I like the trunk to be clutter free which means that many things wouldn't work for me. Still, I wish we got the double decker system, because I could have little boxes down there. Its all good though, A little box between the wheel wells for the little stuff, like a tire compressor, maybe a blanket for the winter, and maybe some water. I dunno yet, lol.
 

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