Question - DIY drawers or cargo storage in general

[gundrted+t4r]

I'm looking at picking peoples brains about DIY drawers / cargo storage.

I don't overland full time. I take 2-3 trips a year that are less than a week long. I'm not doing rock crawling and just do easy/moderate fire roads to out of the way camping spots. Its hard for me to justify a fully blown drawer setup that just sits and does nothing more of the time or I'm just really cheap .. haha.

In my '08 4dr Wrangler Rubicon I would grab whatever plastic bins I had in the garage and play Tetris.

My '17 TRDORP with sliding rear deck has a lot more room and I thought I should put a little thought into cargo storage. Ok ... honestly the 4Runner is so much nicer than the Wrangler I don't want the back to look like a mess ... LOL.

I've done Googling and really didn't find much of interest. Most of what I found was permanently installed or very large.

80-90% of the time my 4Runner is a daily driver going to and from school or the mountains around Denver for various activities. I do have a Thule Altas 1200 roof box and use if for skiing in the winter or storage of soft goods for camping. Things like tent, sleeping bags, clothes and so on. I really would like something removable because my 4Runner lives on the street. Granted I live in a pretty safe area, I don't want to invite the passing smash and grab. I also have two large dogs that like to go to the dog park .

I have also come to love the sliding rear deck and it has to fit on the deck.

I'm not set on metal, plastic or wood. I'm more about function. I've got no issue with stuff from Harbor Freight or plastic tool boxes. Also I'm good with with rehabbing and recycling a yard sale find.

The short version

• Doesn't need to a 'drawer'. Tool boxes or creates are fine.
• Removable for secure storage when not in use.
• Possibly have different pre-setup configs (skiing, mountain biking, camping and so on)
• Fits on the OEM sliding deck.
• I can leave room for a cooler, fridge (maybe a future purchase) or small LP tank.
• Doesn't look like $hit ... LOL ... this may be the most important :becky:.
• Securable in the rear. I don't want to be killed by my gear.

Any thoughts, recommendation or experiences would help a lot.

 

[giantkeeper]

I’m using a Northern Tool SUV drawer. Does well for my needs, locks and fills the space pretty well. I secured it to the D-rings to keep it in place and to help deter theft.

 

[gundrted+t4r]

I’m using a Northern Tool SUV drawer. Does well for my needs, locks and fills the space pretty well. I secured it to the D-rings to keep it in place and to help deter theft.

Is this the one you use

Better Built Silver Short SUV Drawer Tool Box — Aluminum, 26in., Model# 76217119
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200497001_200497001

 

[SierraMare]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/212482-post-pics-your-drawer-storage-system.html


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/167831-whats-everyone-using-storage-boxes-their-toyota-4runner.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/233971-%5C%5C-mitzenfaukers-custom-drawer-system-sleeping-extension-build-%5B5th-gen%5D.html

 

[3wbdriver]

Academy Sports sells a Plano storage trunk that fits across the inside of the 4Runner like it was meant for it. It also has wheels on one end for easy movement when unloaded from the vehicle. There are tie down hooks at each end and I use para-cord to hold mine down to my aftermarket sliding tray. There are even hooks facing the other way so you can tie down a couple camp chairs on top of it with bungees. If stored crosswise it will leave roughy half of your tray available for other storage, or you could use 2 of them. I usually have a cooler and some other gear closer too the rear hatch.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/plano®-storage-locker#repChildCatid=1584797

 

[gundrted+t4r]

Academy Sports sells a Plano storage trunk that fits across the inside of the 4Runner like it was meant for it. It also has wheels on one end for easy movement when unloaded from the vehicle. There are tie down hooks at each end and I use para-cord to hold mine down to my aftermarket sliding tray. There are even hooks facing the other way so you can tie down a couple camp chairs on top of it with bungees. If stored crosswise it will leave roughy half of your tray available for other storage, or you could use 2 of them. I usually have a cooler and some other gear closer too the rear hatch.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/plano®-storage-locker#repChildCatid=1584797

That looks nice and for under $30 you almost can't to wrong. There were no pics of the inside. Is it one big open compartment?

 

[TX med]

Academy Sports sells a Plano storage trunk that fits across the inside of the 4Runner like it was meant for it. It also has wheels on one end for easy movement when unloaded from the vehicle. There are tie down hooks at each end and I use para-cord to hold mine down to my aftermarket sliding tray. There are even hooks facing the other way so you can tie down a couple camp chairs on top of it with bungees. If stored crosswise it will leave roughy half of your tray available for other storage, or you could use 2 of them. I usually have a cooler and some other gear closer too the rear hatch.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/plano®-storage-locker#repChildCatid=1584797

Will the storage locker be compatible with the rear cargo cover? Or does it look like it sits higher than the cargo cover spot on the side

Thanks!

 

[gundrted+t4r]

I'm not sure of the size but the concept looks nice

Keter 24in. Sliding Tool Chest, Model# 17191709
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200493581_200493581

 

[3wbdriver]

That looks nice and for under $30 you almost can't to wrong. There were no pics of the inside. Is it one big open compartment?

One big open compartment. No dividers or slots for any. I have most of my hard gear in plastic ammo boxes or plastic Sterilite boxes that are stacked in there like Legos. Soft stuff is fitted above ,between, and around the boxes. It measures about 36" long across the top and 33" at the bottom. It's 12" deep on the bottom and 12" high to the lid. If you open the lid to 180 degrees it can be removed. I'm thinking about adding a couple of cable stays to the sides to hold the lid at 120 degrees so I can leave the chair attached without it pulling the lid off the hinges. Mind you it's a $30 trunk. But I've had mine for a year and keeping in mind it's not steel or industrial strength plastic it has held up fine. I would not be willing to use it as a camp seat.

Will the storage locker be compatible with the rear cargo cover? Or does it look like it sits higher than the cargo cover spot on the side

Thanks!

My sliding tray is 5 or so inches higher than the floor, and sitting on that the top of the locker looks like it would be just touching the bottom of a cargo cover (the cover would lay across the top without showing a bulge). I believe the factory cargo tray sits lower but I am not sure.

 

[Khjphoto]

https://vimeo.com/233535202

 

[gundrted+t4r]

One big open compartment. No dividers or slots for any. I have most of my hard gear in plastic ammo boxes or plastic Sterilite boxes that are stacked in there like Legos. Soft stuff is fitted above ,between, and around the boxes. It measures about 36" long across the top and 33" at the bottom. It's 12" deep on the bottom and 12" high to the lid. If you open the lid to 180 degrees it can be removed. I'm thinking about adding a couple of cable stays to the sides to hold the lid at 120 degrees so I can leave the chair attached without it pulling the lid off the hinges. Mind you it's a $30 trunk. But I've had mine for a year and keeping in mind it's not steel or industrial strength plastic it has held up fine. I would not be willing to use it as a camp seat.



My sliding tray is 5 or so inches higher than the floor, and sitting on that the top of the locker looks like it would be just touching the bottom of a cargo cover (the cover would lay across the top without showing a bulge). I believe the factory cargo tray sits lower but I am not sure.

How much weight do you think you have in the trunk?

I assume the interior boxes are broken down into uses. Stuff like first aid, cooking, tools and so on.

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

Academy Sports sells a Plano storage trunk that fits across the inside of the 4Runner like it was meant for it. It also has wheels on one end for easy movement when unloaded from the vehicle. There are tie down hooks at each end and I use para-cord to hold mine down to my aftermarket sliding tray. There are even hooks facing the other way so you can tie down a couple camp chairs on top of it with bungees. If stored crosswise it will leave roughy half of your tray available for other storage, or you could use 2 of them. I usually have a cooler and some other gear closer too the rear hatch.
]

What is the aftermarket sliding tray you are using?

 

[giantkeeper]

Is this the one you use

Better Built Silver Short SUV Drawer Tool Box — Aluminum, 26in., Model# 76217119
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200497001_200497001

That’s the one!

 

[3wbdriver]

How much weight do you think you have in the trunk?

I assume the interior boxes are broken down into uses. Stuff like first aid, cooking, tools and so on.

I'm guessing between 50-75 pounds of gear in there. Mostly recovery and tie down stuff That I might actually need in daily use. Some camp clearing tools are scattered around where they fit. It's a stout one man lift but I can still manage it. My cooking gear goes in a tub that is only used for actual trips.

 

[3wbdriver]

What is the aftermarket sliding tray you are using?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/193036-beyond-cargo-sliding-cargo-tray.html

I also just found this while reading and doing a different search. I know nothing about these though.

http://www.cargoglide.com/products/4x-glide/

 

[2012sr5]

Academy Sports sells a Plano storage trunk that fits across the inside of the 4Runner like it was meant for it. It also has wheels on one end for easy movement when unloaded from the vehicle. There are tie down hooks at each end and I use para-cord to hold mine down to my aftermarket sliding tray. There are even hooks facing the other way so you can tie down a couple camp chairs on top of it with bungees. If stored crosswise it will leave roughy half of your tray available for other storage, or you could use 2 of them. I usually have a cooler and some other gear closer too the rear hatch.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/plano®-storage-locker#repChildCatid=1584797

One other option is the Plano 1919 trunk. The only difference is 4 latches instead of 6 and a totally unbroken channel all the way around the lid for you to add weatherstripping to. I bought 3 of these from Amazon for $40 shipped each.

The trunk Academy sells is cheaper, has 6 latches, is the same size, and does NOT have the weatherstripping channel inside the lid. It's the 1819, I believe.

Here's a link to the 1919:
https://www.amazon.com/Plano-191900-Parent-1919-Sportsmans-Trunk/dp/B00HZ09ZV8#customerReviews