Storage options

I am looking for the best/cost effective solution to adding extra cargo storage for my Tacoma. The storage will only be needed for longer road trips with the family+dog, but I still want the bed space for the occasional furniture/plants/ect hauls. Also I would like for this storage to be able to be locked/secure.

Here are my ideas,

Tonneau cover: I like this idea, but paying close to $1000 or over for a cover that leaks just doesn’t make sense to me. It seems based off reviews that they are good for while then start to wear quite quickly. The Bakflip MX4 would be the main contender here.

Bed cap: no thanks

Soft Topper: this truck is my daily, and the durability of the Soft Topper concerns me long term.

Diamond Back cover: Really like these, but giving up the empty bed option is the only drawback. Plus the price is higher. But buy once cry once.

Bed Bars w/ Thule box: The Thule Pulse M is the perfect size + C4 Fab lo pro bars. This is what I think will be the best, but I currently live in an apartment and do not have a place to store the cargo box when not in use. If I had a place for it, I wouldn’t be writing this thread. Also I don’t think this will be the most attractive looking option.

I’d love to hear yall’s thoughts and experiences. Thanks in advance.

 

Not seeing anyone else chiming in, but I went with a used DB cover. Love it.

I mostly haul my fishing gear and luggage under the cover with a bed mat and haven't had any issues with water leaking. My Tacoma is my daily as well and this cover gives me the peace of mind that my gear is locked up tightly. This lets me just leave work and hit the beach is great without worrying somebody will jack my gear.

I have helped a buddy move and had larger items that I just strap down like it's a flatbed on top and small items just stuck under the cover. This basically doubled my bed space. Utility wise, its great but does mean you gotta plan what you are hauling and play some Jenga rather than just throwing shit into the bed.

Which did you end up going with?

 

Ended up not doing anything. Which worked out due to me moving and needing a completely open bed. I still like the idea of the bed bars with the Thule Pulse Medium, due to it being completely reversable if I need the completely open bed.

 

If I win the lottery, I’ll buy a Decked drawer system. Until then, I have a cheapo toolbox.

 

Sounds like you already take issue with the Softopper, but personally, I've found it to be a fantastic solution. I wish I could have a standard fiberglass topper but I find myself needing full use of the bed way too often for bulky stuff, yard of dirt or mulch...etc.

If you don't have room to store a cargo box then maybe you don't have room to store the Softopper but it's a different form factor so maybe you have room to stash it somewhere? It's super easy to remove/install so you could just throw it on whenever you needed. I originally was doing FULL install/removal for each trip and then put my tonneau cover back on between. But, now I just keep it on full time (truck sits covered in the driveway between uses) but when I do remove it, I keep the rails bolted to the bed. With the rails bolted on the install takes about 5min compared to about 15-20min if you're installing the rails as well.

 

I love those, but loosing the depth concerns me. You can find some deal on FB Marketplace.

I have thought about that as well. I think they look great.

 

You could always do what folks used to do before fiberglass and metal tonneau covers were popular- make one out of plywood. Not that hard to do if you have a few skills and a couple of tools and the inside cargo track would make it easy to secure and remove. Storage is easy as it's just a flat sheet of plywood. Either paint it or better yet, use roll on bed liner. Some weather stripping would make it weather resistant (these beds are hard to seal well due to the design). Unless you really made it ghetto looking nobody is going to notice it.

 

We just use those black plastic boxes with the yellow lids from Home Depot and strap them in for trips when we need extra dry cargo space. Cheap and easy. They don't lock, but they get removed when we get where we're going anyway.

: )B