Cab storage ideas for a road trip

This week we’re going to the upstate of SC for a few days. It’s me and my two boys with all their stuff, a medium soft side cooler so we aren’t eating out every meal, and since I don’t have a topper or cover, a plastic bin + travel locks.

My question is, what simple storage ideas can y’all share for the cab of the truck? It’s a small space so I’d like to maximize it. Any suggestions or ideas?

 

Cheap tonneau cover? Or you could DIY and buy a 3/8” sheet of plywood, secure it with L-brackets bolted to the tracks.

Kind of like this guy but no need to get fancy with the hinges.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/homemade-tonneau.200183/#post-4416535

It’d be miserable with all the stuff in the cab with the 2 kids. I’d avoid that if possible. But if you must, I don’t know of any smart storage ideas for space that small. Just cram it all in there.

 

Just get some more plastic tubs with lids and throw them in the bed. As far as in the cab, make sure to use all of the storage behind and under the rear seats

 

A good Tarp would help!! You never know when it's gonna rain. and It keeps the nosy people away.

 

Any containers in the cab makes you lose storage area. Just stuff half of the rear seat area with your stuff and move on.

 

I always forget the storage behind and under the seats. Good call.

 

That’s awesome...and if I decided I didn’t want it anymore, no guilt about getting rid of it.

 

You’re right, I needed to hear this. My last vehicle was a minivan, had it for 10 years. This is our first trip in the truck and so we’ve got to strategize a little bit.

 

Smart, thanks!

 

Just get a roll up tonneau cover for about $150, it is well worth it.

But if you really just want to go cheap, just do more bins in the bed with a tarp.

Its a “few days” trip, how much stuff do you need to take that you have to try and stuff it all into the cab?

 

My suggestion for in cab storage is make sure, if you have multiple bins, that they are clear-sided. Rummaging through dark bins of unknown contents sucks. Three or four well-organized clear stacking bins, that allow you to see the contents, is super helpful when tying to quickly grab something.

 

Heavy stuff against the cab, lighter stuff toward the gate. A bed bar will keep tubs from sliding around if the bed isn't full.

 

Since no one has mentioned it yet, what about some mole racks on the ceiling and the rear cab wall? Other than a cubby pockets, you're pretty limited for in-cab storage. Personally, I'd leave the interior space for yourselves and utilize your bed space. There's all kinds of plastic totes available for in-bed storage. Depending on the trip I use some combination of Action Packers and a Contico "Utility Tuffbin", which is lockable.

 

This is gold - I’ve loaded my bed several times and wondered how I should be distributing the weight. Thanks!

 

Remove the rear seats for the trip?

Edit-Saw the but about the boys. Remove the 60% section