Managing storage in your car

[Wanderer]

I have looked at vans, trucks and now (To be fair) cars.

The Scion XB DOES peak my interest....


I mean face it, unless you have a HUGE van or truck, you HAVE to manage space efficiently....

So how do you manage yours?

 

[WriterMs]

Unless one is a very good woodworker, the secret word is "plastics." LOL

When you look at dozens and dozens of van and cargo trailer builds, the thing almost ALL have in common is stackable plastic draws and plastick totes. They organize things, keep things dry, keep dust out, are able to be moved about and changd out easily, etc.s

For cars, I think Suanne loves soft duffles and totes... see her site (scroll down just a bit in the right hand column and you'll see her topics about HOW she lives out of her Prius):

http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/

And Brent in his Prius seems to have made an art form of using every little space. His blog is here but you'll have to search for older posts about his interior:

http://macaloney.blogspot.com/

 

[highdesertranger]

on a side note Toyota is phasing out Scion. in other words no more Scion. highdesertranger

 

[Konaexpress]

Look and see how the boat builders do it, they are the masters of small places.

John

 

[Suanne]

When I considered living the vandweller lifestyle in my car, I took inspiration from thru hikers; those individuals who spend months on the trail, thriving with only what they can carry on their backs. If they could do it, then living out of my Prius would seem like living in luxury by comparison.

Six years later, only a little of my gear is similar to those thru hikers; and neither is the way I pack my Prius very similar to those who live in a van. Although I started out using some drawers and bins, I've replaced those plastic storage containers with duffle bags.

Duffle bags are space efficient; when they are half full, they are half the size. Unfortunately duffle bags also make my car look semi-messy, at best.

Regardless of how you store items in a car, organization is absolutely key. Although it's counter-intuitive, it's much easier for me to loose an item in my Prius, than in my sticks and bricks. So, I live by the old adage, "a place for everything, and everything in its place."

The best to you in the search for the best vehicle for you.

Suanne

 

[introverting]

Following are a few videos put together by a guy about how to organize for livinig in a Prius: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLvXSuAUSv0BGSgJNmLPhQw

 

[SUV_RVing]

I travel and camp in a RAV4, which isn't quite as small as a Scion but is pretty darn close. I've found that making use of otherwise "dead" vertical air space is very useful. So in other words, stacking stuff up high, hanging stuff from the ceiling, and having a shelf. Here's the rear shelf I use to give me a bunch of storage space above where my feet are when sleeping:

[img=640x480]

The two big plastic bins are down there during the day and can be put on top of the shelf at night to create sleeping/leg space. I made PVC support legs for the shelf to help make sure it can hold the load.

Suanne's point about using soft-sided storage is a good one. When you have multiple soft-sided bags, they kind of mush together and will conform to fit around each other. Less wasted space.

And of course, a hard-sided rooftop cargo box (or cargo rack) would dramatically expand your storage potential if you aren't too concerned about stealth.

 

[RamblinRogue]

I have looked at vans, trucks and now (To be fair) cars.

The Scion XB DOES peak my interest....


I mean face it, unless you have a HUGE van or truck, you HAVE to manage space efficiently....

So how do you manage yours?

I created a diagram of the space available in my Rio and designated use for every square inch. Bearing in mind that I don't plan to sleep in the car much as the seats don't accommodate the practice so I didn't have to allow for that. 

I have one Insta-crate in the trunk for "car needs" -- tools, compressor, jumper, fix a flat, oil, transmission fluid, etc. A second Insta-crate for non-perishable foods and cooking utensils as well as my two butane hot plates. Gallons of water down the middle between the two with the tent, two camp chairs, utility/shower tent and tarp between them and the back seat. Shoes, boots, small duffle tucked into the space between the Insta-crates and the back (opening) of the trunk with half-gallon jugs of water and bags of craft supplies tucked along the sides. I have a 4" folding table under all this. The collapsible potty along with the fold-up stool lies on top -- somewhere.

Back seat has the Koolatron fridge behind the driver, personal products and first aid in the middle (under them is the boxes with my finished chainmaille jewelry, etc.), large clothing duffle on the passenger side (and I have a feeling that something will be going under this, probably more food/cooking stuff). The floor behind the passenger side has my chainmaille supplies. The "hump" has another gallon of water with three more on the floor behind the driver -- which means there's space for light or squishy things on top.

The passenger floor in front is where all the bedding and linen goes (although if I decide to go with the tow hitch rack. . .) and all my electronics will ride either in the passenger seat or, if I decide to get a dog, they'll be on the floor on top of the linens and he/she will be in the seat.

I'm sure there's something I'll be finding spots for but that the main layout for now.