What was the rear compartment actually for?
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octanejunkie
Elite Member
I keep jumper cables, spare T20 bulbs and Oreos in mine.
Just me?
Just me?
RunningA3rdGen
New member
I've got survival stuff back there just in case.
theesotericone
New member
I'm pretty sure it was for storage. lol
Victor_inox
New member
In many countries around the globe fire extinguisher and first aid kit is required. illegal to operate the car without them.
The squared off portion with straps was for a Toyota road side emergency kit. It came in a box and had a triangle cone things (2 or 3?) and a vest I think. I've seen them before online but can't seem to find any pictures now. Certain countries require than stuff.
Edit: Found it!
Edit: Found it!
hellsbells
New member
rope, rags and bottle of chloroform.
MN4runnerman
Senior Member
You too?????
TheDurk
Elite Member
My Brazilian '97 HiLux SW4 (basically a Surf) came with triangle and First Aid in the rear and the fire extinguisher under the driver's seat. Brazilian law requires all three. The triangle went in the strap rack. That's what I have there now along with three road flares and a flashlight. First Aid with repellent and sunscreen under driver's seat.
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On this note, I just unsubbed from this thread......
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StreetCreeper
New member
TorqueOfTheDevil
Member
My surf didn't have strap mounts in there.
It's just a storage space.. there aren't enough in the 3rd gen in my opinion.
Even less now in mine as I used that space to flush mount a subwoofer.
AntleredRuin
New member
Agreed. I never understood why car manufacturers never put more of these in. I know they made the access panel bigger in the later year 3rd gens, but who thought that it wasn't worth making it EVEN bigger, or maybe with multiple access doors? It's not like the space isn't there, and it's not like the extra plastic they have to carve around actually provides any side impact protection...
And why the hell leave the driver's side completely alone? Was a panel on that side that much more difficult/ expensive?
Lets take a standard overlanding / 4x4 vehicle and give it as little factory storage space as possible. No one needs recovery and safety gear...
My old Rav4 has more storage panel space than my 4runner...because the 2 kid soccer moms need concealed storage like you couldn't imagine...
T4R2014
Elite Member
Can it even be called that based off its basic design? The 18.5 gallon fuel tank doesn't exactly provide the range you'd want in an overland vehicle. It was more of a special alternative to a boring sedan. They just didn't realize that everyone was too clueless or lazy to know how to move a lever to engage 4WD or to understand why that "rr diff lock" button isn't locking the rear door.
AntleredRuin
New member
I agree, with the 18.5 gallon tank, maybe 'overland' is a bit much
But they had to realize that the baby brother of the almighty Land Cruiser was definitely going to get some offroad use, and could use a bit of extra storage space. I mean the dang thing looks very similar, cost half as much, and had a 'real' 4x4 option.
All 4x4 aside, though, my point still stands in the ridiculous lack of forward planning with this thing, especially with this gen having 7 years under its belt. Surely with all the other design tweaks as the years progressed, they could have thrown in a driver's side panel.
Most people use it as a DD, but even DDs need storage. I don't like having to use up rear cargo space for my tools for work, as I like to keep my rear seats and cargo area clean for hauling random furniture and equipment. A little extra storage space in the side panel could fix that so I don't have to rearrange my cargo several times a week.
