CSL
New member
Using a 3rd gen as a camping vehicle for a family of five and an 80 lb dog is always a challenge. Here is my newest way to cram a little more stuff inside of it.
I removed the black insert inside the storage compartment in the rear cargo area, and what an difference it made! This is a permanent modification as the only way to remove the box is to break the tabs (they are kind of melted together). However, the door still works and when closed you can't tell any difference.
When popping the panels loose, be careful and patient, so you don't break any plastic. Remove the screw at the top of the side panel (near the rear door)
Remove the brackets for the interior cover and remove the kickplate at the base of the door opening. Pop out the 12 volt outlet recessed peice from the top. Then pop out the interior paneling just enough to get a screw driver between the black box and the panel. Break the box loose and then pop the panel back in.
I moved the hole for the condensate tube to the bottom, as in the stock position is slightly cuts across the newly created space beneath the base of the removed black box. You can see the old hole on the side, I will get a rubber stopper for it soon.
I used some metallic tape that I had (for ductwork) to tape the condensate line into the bottom corner of the area
Here is just an example of what I easily fit in, with room to spare: 6 foot thermarest inflatable matteress, tire lug nut wrench, 2 quarts of oil, can of spray paint (just as a size reference for you all to see the space), big first aid kit, small axe, rolled up package of diapers and wipes (the blue thing in the photo)
Here is all the same stuff inside the old black box. Remember, the stuff inside would never actually have stayed in place in the box when it was up on it's side inside the truck.
There you go. Easy and free. I am not sure yet what I will put in it (this stuff was just for the photo), but I will post up with a list when it's packed full!!
I removed the black insert inside the storage compartment in the rear cargo area, and what an difference it made! This is a permanent modification as the only way to remove the box is to break the tabs (they are kind of melted together). However, the door still works and when closed you can't tell any difference.
When popping the panels loose, be careful and patient, so you don't break any plastic. Remove the screw at the top of the side panel (near the rear door)
Remove the brackets for the interior cover and remove the kickplate at the base of the door opening. Pop out the 12 volt outlet recessed peice from the top. Then pop out the interior paneling just enough to get a screw driver between the black box and the panel. Break the box loose and then pop the panel back in.
I moved the hole for the condensate tube to the bottom, as in the stock position is slightly cuts across the newly created space beneath the base of the removed black box. You can see the old hole on the side, I will get a rubber stopper for it soon.
I used some metallic tape that I had (for ductwork) to tape the condensate line into the bottom corner of the area
Here is just an example of what I easily fit in, with room to spare: 6 foot thermarest inflatable matteress, tire lug nut wrench, 2 quarts of oil, can of spray paint (just as a size reference for you all to see the space), big first aid kit, small axe, rolled up package of diapers and wipes (the blue thing in the photo)
Here is all the same stuff inside the old black box. Remember, the stuff inside would never actually have stayed in place in the box when it was up on it's side inside the truck.
There you go. Easy and free. I am not sure yet what I will put in it (this stuff was just for the photo), but I will post up with a list when it's packed full!!
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. Hopefully, the relatively soft things I have in there will keep rattling and denting to a minimum! I thought about trying ti stuff my D-ring shackles in there, but I'll jist keep them in the cabin until I build my bumpers and then just leave the shackles on there.
