Storage hacks and ideas

[leaffan1988]

After downsizing from a full size pick up, I've had to downsize my camping/overlanding gear to fit the smaller bed and cab. I prefer the look of pickup over SUV so don't want to get a bed cap or rack and roof rails are a no go because I use the soft top regularly.

The pop-up trailer is also loaded up, but doesn't always come on trips. So without adding on racks and caps, what have you done to fit more in your gladiator?

I've considered:
Strapping things to the roll bar on the inside (recovery straps, blankets).
Behind rear seats, I have tarps, first aid. But could remove plastic panels and fit more items.
Under body, there's a lot of dead space under the bed on either side, could mount an air compressor or build storage.

I've heard people put stuff under the hood, what else has been done? ...and shouldn't be done.

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[Thunderspud]

Whatever you choose, you may hit the payload limit well before you end up with all the things you want to haul tucked away somewhere.

The best storage hack is just to not even store things in the truck at all. Trailer life is where it's at. I'm lazy as hell, everything I could possibly need for either a cross-country trip or tailgating on a Sunday just stays on the trailer year-round.

Enjoy being the first person to finish setting up at camp, and the first person to be packed up and on the next trail.

 

[Gvsukids]

So without adding on racks and caps, what have you done to fit more in your gladiator?

Downsize what you carry, similar to backpacking.

 

[Glad Jeeper]

Water proof bins in the bed. Before I installed the Decked Drawer system I used the bins. Worked great for my use.
1 for recovery and tool, 1 for camping stuff including tent and bathroom stuff, 1 for dry food and utensils and 1 for misc crap.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Whatever you choose, you may hit the payload limit well before you end up with all the things you want to haul tucked away somewhere.

The best storage hack is just to not even store things in the truck at all. Trailer life is where it's at. I'm lazy as hell, everything I could possibly need for either a cross-country trip or tailgating on a Sunday just stays on the trailer year-round.

Enjoy being the first person to finish setting up at camp, and the first person to be packed up and on the next trail.

Neat trailer. Is there plans to enclose it or do you just plan to keep the bottom open as shown so you can 'tailor it to the mission' so to speak.

Reminds me of a trailer I saw at Atlanta Motor Speedway back in February. It was open, similar to yours so he could load whatever he wanted for a given trip, but up top was an RTT.

I've seen a lot of creative setups while offroading and campings, but I have probably seen just as many oddities in the tent section of a NASCAR Cup race

 

[ChrisNLA]

After downsizing from a full size pick up, I've had to downsize my camping/overlanding gear to fit the smaller bed and cab. I prefer the look of pickup over SUV so don't want to get a bed cap or rack and roof rails are a no go because I use the soft top regularly.

The pop-up trailer is also loaded up, but doesn't always come on trips. So without adding on racks and caps, what have you done to fit more in your gladiator?

I've considered:
Strapping things to the roll bar on the inside (recovery straps, blankets).
Behind rear seats, I have tarps, first aid. But could remove plastic panels and fit more items.
Under body, there's a lot of dead space under the bed on either side, could mount an air compressor or build storage.

I've heard people put stuff under the hood, what else has been done? ...and shouldn't be done.

It sounds like you may camp and stuff a lot more than me - none of my camping or hitting the woods gear lives in the truck, aside from a hand saw and a hatchet that I often use at my girlfriends place when working in the yard.

I do carry a lot of tools though, which all reside in the bed of my truck. Under the back seat is more weather sensitive items. Towels, first aid, etc. I keep hats and an old jacket tucked behind the roll bars.

This leads me too....

Downsize what you carry, similar to backpacking.

This. I tend to keep my camping gear relatively simple so that it's not a chore to pack up and carry. Of course, that may not work for everyone. I like to stay simple enough that I could go camp out of my Camaro SS if I wanted to.

Water proof bins in the bed. Before I installed the Decked Drawer system I used the bins. Worked great for my use.
1 for recovery and tool, 1 for camping stuff including tent and bathroom stuff, 1 for dry food and utensils and 1 for misc crap.

This as well. I have three Magellan water proof cases I carry. Two mediums and a large. One is general camping gear, one is the 'kitchen' and food, the last one (large) is bedding and shelter gear. Throw them in the bed, throw my folding bike on top, and my fridge or cooler and roll out. Simple. All three boxes usually stay loaded. I open them, check contents before a trip, add food, and load them in bed. No hiding things all around the truck, etc.

 

[Jaxmax]

I am amazed that all my recovery gear and other stuff fits under and behind the seats , but your camping gear if not doing a rear seat delete should be in tubs in bed and perhaps a lot on back seat. Under the hood there is not much space and it is very , very hot I didn’t install my air compressor under the hood or in fender well cause of heat concerns. Downsizing and only taking what you really need is important, both for space and weight. Good luck…..Jack

 

[leaffan1988]

It sounds like you may camp and stuff a lot more than me - none of my camping or hitting the woods gear lives in the truck, aside from a hand saw and a hatchet that I often use at my girlfriends place when working in the yard.

I do carry a lot of tools though, which all reside in the bed of my truck. Under the back seat is more weather sensitive items. Towels, first aid, etc. I keep hats and an old jacket tucked behind the roll bars.

This leads me too....



This. I tend to keep my camping gear relatively simple so that it's not a chore to pack up and carry. Of course, that may not work for everyone. I like to stay simple enough that I could go camp out of my Camaro SS if I wanted to.



This as well. I have three Magellan water proof cases I carry. Two mediums and a large. One is general camping gear, one is the 'kitchen' and food, the last one (large) is bedding and shelter gear. Throw them in the bed, throw my folding bike on top, and my fridge or cooler and roll out. Simple. All three boxes usually stay loaded. I open them, check contents before a trip, add food, and load them in bed. No hiding things all around the truck, etc.

I forgot to mention I have 2 dogs, a kid, and a wife with high standards...
We go for 5+ day trips, and prefer to be over prepared; regardless we can't fit everything and the items we choose to leave behind end up being the items we end up needing most.

 

[HeartwoodJT]

Whatever you choose, you may hit the payload limit well before you end up with all the things you want to haul tucked away somewhere.

The best storage hack is just to not even store things in the truck at all. Trailer life is where it's at. I'm lazy as hell, everything I could possibly need for either a cross-country trip or tailgating on a Sunday just stays on the trailer year-round.

Enjoy being the first person to finish setting up at camp, and the first person to be packed up and on the next trail.

Tell us details on the trailer!

 

[ChrisNLA]

I forgot to mention I have 2 dogs, a kid, and a wife with high standards...
We go for 5+ day trips, and prefer to be over prepared; regardless we can't fit everything and the items we choose to leave behind end up being the items we end up needing most.

Make sense!

I can't / wont pack that much junk for the sake of camping, so I told my girlfriend and three some day step kids that we don't camp - we pack backs and get a cabin / Air BnB / hotel, LOL.

As I don't really see my old Jeep friends anymore - my camping is mostly solo nowadays.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

I forgot to mention I have 2 dogs, a kid, and a wife with high standards...
We go for 5+ day trips, and prefer to be over prepared; regardless we can't fit everything and the items we choose to leave behind end up being the items we end up needing most.

DO a 60 rear seat delete so you can get dogs and kid in back seat and also some storage underneath. A decked drawer seems to be where I'd head next since you won't be doing the shell or racks.
Don't forget about the multiple options for overhead Molle Racks as well.

I REALLLLY want to do a overland trailer but my wife doesn't "camp" without Air Conditioning so my overlanding is limited to what my RV can handle lol

 

[leaffan1988]

DO a 60 rear seat delete so you can get dogs and kid in back seat and also some storage underneath. A decked drawer seems to be where I'd head next since you won't be doing the shell or racks.

Don't forget about the multiple options for overhead Molle Racks as well.



I REALLLLY want to do a overland trailer but my wife doesn't "camp" without Air Conditioning so my overlanding is limited to what my RV can handle lol

I need the seats for the daily, and on trips dogs sit up front, wife sits in the back. Occasionally we bring 1 person with us, so 3 sit in the back.

Not a true overland trailer, but the pop-up is lifted as high as the jeep, and could accommodate an AC unit, but my 2 lithium batteries cannot.

 

[rharr]

I stuff cloths i am not wearing into the tail pipe for storage. I also store my propane tanks under the hood, since there are some perfect spots under there for them to fit.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

I need the seats for the daily, and on trips dogs sit up front, wife sits in the back. Occasionally we bring 1 person with us, so 3 sit in the back.

Not a true overland trailer, but the pop-up is lifted as high as the jeep, and could accommodate an AC unit, but my 2 lithium batteries cannot.

I guess I shouldn't have assumed the size of the dogs lol.. My Single German Shepherd is too big for the front seat

I like the lifted pop-up. I wondered if they were liftable but never took the time to check to see how the axles were set up.

 

[djthumper]

Whatever you choose, you may hit the payload limit well before you end up with all the things you want to haul tucked away somewhere.

The best storage hack is just to not even store things in the truck at all. Trailer life is where it's at. I'm lazy as hell, everything I could possibly need for either a cross-country trip or tailgating on a Sunday just stays on the trailer year-round.

Enjoy being the first person to finish setting up at camp, and the first person to be packed up and on the next trail.

I have a cargo trailer that I currently use for most things. I want to do an axle flip to raise it up some. I love this for just going camping and ready to go.

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