In-Bed Storage

I just freshly bought my first Tacoma yesterday, a 2023 Sport with long box. It was an easy decision for me as I wanted some a more off-road than my previous 2013 Ridgeline and keeping a midsized truck. However, one thing the Ridgeline does really well is built-in storage which the Tacoma does not. The Ridgeline even has a full trunk in the back half of the floor box.

So I got the crazy idea, could I cut into the floor to create a similar space in the Tacoma? Seems like there is space to accommodate a small compartment. Thoughts appreciated.

 

Cut into the floor of the cab? Maybe post a pic of what you’re thinking, I’m doubtful there would be a large enough unused void to store anything useful. What are you trying to store?

If you’re not planning on using the rear seats you could delete them and build some storage, see here for some inspiration https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-seat-delete-decks.632134/

 

Thanks. Interesting ideas but not sure if I want to commit to deleting seats altogether.

In terms of my original post, I was referring to cutting in the floor of the box, not the cab. Pic below is what the Ridgeline has which obviously can't be replicated as big as this in a Tacoma but was thinking some smaller version of it.

 

Won't be the same. The Tacoma has frame rails running under the bed where as the Ridgeline is a uni-body so it doesn't really have a "frame."
Ive seen someone make storage compartments into the bed sides...

 

I'm familiar with the Ridgeline setup. I've looked at their dual-swing tailgate a number of times...

The Ridgelines lower space is in the same area as the Tacoma's spare tire. You'd need to either go without the full size spare, or mount it somewhere else.

There is that Australian company that makes pull out storage areas behind the tail lights, but actual purchasing seems to be difficult. Price quotes I've seen also are expensive(involves a comma, per side), and they seem to only make a global model for the Toyota Hilux, but not one specifically for the american tacoma
But the Hilux and Tacoma are likely similar enough to only need minor modification to work.


But if you wanted to try the trunk idea, biggest step is going to be figuring out the closure/fastening/stop method, and how to add stops and trim to the opening. Most times in fabrication, this would be done by purchasing 1-4 additional sacrificial parts, and then cutting them up to make one cohesive assembly.

In this case. You would need to purchase additional truck beds(check scrap yards for trucks with front end damage), and have some very good fiberglass/composite building skills.

A real professional finished idea, with a gasket like the Ridgeline, could easily end up costing upwards of $10,000(gotta figure no yard will let a composite bed out for less than $2k-5k, then there's a couple thousand in composite materials, and then at least 2 months of full time work in sanding and prep)for a custom project like that. Far more if you were to pay shop labor prices instead of doing the work yourself.

 

Did you consider just getting a tonneau cover? Then you’ll have an even larger in-bed trunk. Not as secure as the RL one because the Tacoma tailgate lock is so easy to pop.
I test drove a RL when shopping I found the in-bed trunk to be a nice feature. Although, upon further thought I realized that if I needed anything in the trunk such as the spare while the bed was loaded it would be a problem. Like you I wanted something with better ground clearance and certainly more approach angle so opted for the Tacoma and a DB cover.

 

Probably not worth it.

1) pull off the bed,
2) cut the spare tire mount
3) build a new storage box
4 put the bed back on
5) cut a door in the bed
6) ????

 

So you've filled (I presume) a 6' box and the double cab, and you still need room for more stuff in your truck?

And so cutting up the bed for more storage (at the expense of the spare tire, no less) sounded like a good idea because you saw it in a completely differently vehicle?



IDK, maybe try carrying around less stuff?



Or do like every overlander on the planet, and cover the rig in racks and pelican cases/rotopax.