In-cab storage ideas (overhead/platforms/racks/hilift/etc)

Here we go @Hp4Play
But no, that does give me an idea for overhead storage in the back... Who needs to see out the back window anyways. Lol.

 

holy shit balls! if i wasn't deaf before i sure would be. haha

 

Deaf and shaky vision. Guess they don't need head rests... the bass just cushions any potential impact

 

Lol. It really does give me ideas though. As far as how he mounted the whole thing in. Looking closely, it appears he built a whole section of panels into the back area to the roof and bolted in the enclosures side to side. That would be awesome for storage compartments. Maybe one day I could. Thatd be a lot of work. Mines gonna look kinda goofy. Being only 4 feet wide (taking advantage of using the easy 2x4 sections they sell instead of larger sheets needing cut to extend all the way across) I'll have some gaps on the sides. But it'll do.

 

what are you trying to store in there? why not a bed box thingie?

 

Anything and everything. Tools. Spare parts. Recovery gear. Camping gear. Water. Maybe a fridge. Eventually going for an expo/camping type setup. And the only thing I want external is my bed rack and rtt, once I get it. I'll probably need some extra cases or something anyways though. But not into the bed tool boxes or campershells or anything. Maybe some pelican type cases. But that's it. Mostly because of cost. It will be far cheaper to build some storage compartments in the cab rather than buy a bunch of cases or a camper shell. I don't want bad weather to ruin any planned trips. I thought about a topper, but I really don't like them. I do like the low profile bed racks for the rtt tho. Just the issue of storing other gear that needs to be weatherproof.. If I do happen to run into a good deal on a topper, even if I'm not looking, I may go that route. There's a LOT more you can do with one. Hell by the time I'm ready for an rtt setup, I may just change my mind. Could make it a sleeping camper, along with lots of extra gear storage or even bed drawers. Ha. That would Probly be cheaper than doing an rtt by itself.. Idk, it's really all up in the air atm. Who knows.

But with the rtt and bed rack that I want, along with all the gear i wanna get as well as additional rear bumper to match my front I just ordered, is gonna set me back quite a bit as it is. Not to mention other maintenance related stuff I need to do before she's ready for anything. Ha.. Hard enough just to save for all that stuff..

I know I won't be able to fit everything in the cab. But quite a bit. And maybe one big case for the bed for extra camping gear that I can easily remove and store when not needed. So mostly all my recovery gear and spare parts will be in the cab. I wanna be prepared. Lol..

 

yeah, i hear ya.the limited space the excab tacomas have is some what annoying. i'm actually trying to decide what i want to do with my truck. i picked up a 98 5 speed 4runner for 1200 over the holidays. I couldn't pass that deal up. so not sure which i want to make my play rig or just both of them. I got tired of not having but only one seat when i went out in the dirt. but now i have the best of both worlds.

 

I'm working on the better half to do some in cab modifications to the back. She says, where will people sit?!?... Where do they fit now? But that's why we have the 4Runner. Anyway, as for the Upper storage area, do you have a sliding rear window? Possibly just do a left and right side upper storage area and leave a pass thru/see thru? mounting would be more of a PITA though as you would need upper support, but an idea.

 

Noice!!! Yeah I'm kinda being a bit optimistic about my storage space in the extra cab, when I look back there in person and realize, it's really not that much room. Ha. I'm not gonna fit a whole helluva lot! What the hell am I doing!? Lol. But feel it can be done. And it's a learning experience. More so for possibly future vehicles.. Which a small part of me would rather just get an entirely different rig instead like a 4runner. Ha. Which is another reason I don't wanna go crazy with this one. But I love it, and feel pretty lucky to have it..

Lmao!! That's too funny. We said the same damned things!! Lol.
But yeah, sliding window. Not sure I'm gonna go that route at all with overhead in the back. Lol. But I may sometime in the future if I get bored and find the time to redo it all properly as a completely closed off section (that looks similar to that 16 woofer setup). That would seriously be awesome. I've got 5% tint and can't see shit anyways. Don't even have a rear view mirror. Just the sides. Heh. I'm finding I actually drive better as it doesn't make me as paranoid. Will evetually have a backup camera too and I really only need to look back when I'm in reverse anyways.

So yeah...We'll see. For now, it's just gonna be my sub enclosure to start. With some simple drawers (with Teflon sliders, nothin fancy) on top of that. Then I'll be focusing on an overhead console for my cb and a cubby to store small stuff in, maybe an Android tablet tray that hangs down. Idk. That's as far as I can see for sure happening atm.

 

What are the brackets to mount your hi lift? Where do you get them? Nice setup man. Good job. Thanks

 

"4XRAC" mounts by hilift.

And thanks. I've kinda put this project off for a while. As far as building on to it. I'll get to more eventually.

 

Hi lift mounted to my cage using muffler clamps and a spin on handle: