Planning to build Trunk Lid Storage

[Spektyr]

After the excitement I had getting closer-than-I'd-like seats to an inattentive driver slamming into stopped traffic at over 70mph and stopping to help with the injuries and give a witness statement, I started thinking about how to improve the overall "readiness" of my GR86.

I was lucky that time in the fact that I was coming back from a work trip and my luggage took up enough room in the trunk that my first aid kit didn't have any "room to roam". It was exactly where I'd left it and it was an easy grab-and-go.


Going forward I'd like to have it and a few other (lightweight) critical tools securely attached to the underside of the trunk lid. I looked around online and there were things like this sold for the Mustang a dozen years ago or so, as well as the 3-series BMW. You commonly find organizers for the top-half of a motorcycle hardshell saddlebag.

I'm thinking about velcro - the hook side would probably stick reasonably well to the trim panel but repeated attach-removal cycles would probably "fuzz" it pretty badly. Magnets might work, but to make them secure you're talking about some pretty hefty magnets, meaning whatever you put there is either going to have a rare-earth magnet attached to it semi-permanently, or you're putting a piece of metal on that tool and a big-honkin' magnet on your trunk lid. My guess is that you're going to attract a non-zero amount of ferrous "dust" on the outside of the trunk, right on the paint, if you do that.

I pulled that trim panel off and it's fairly... well "flimsy" isn't the right word, but I could push an upholstery needle through it easily enough if I wanted to. So there's also the idea of maybe sewing straps to it, or maybe some velcro. I saw a thread here about someone who replaced that trim panel entirely with Molle, which is cool, but I don't need the tactical vibe.


Ultimately my plan is to put most of the roadside assistance stuff (jumper cables, tow strap, stuff like that) under the trunk deck where the spare tire thing is. All the stuff that doesn't have a lot of urgency. Then put the stuff that when you need, you need quickly (first aid kit, emergency lighting/reflective triangle, etc.) on the trunk lid where it doesn't interfere with the daily use of the trunk or move around during "spirited driving".

Anyone have ideas/suggestions?

EDIT: Finished the project - here's the link.
https://www.instructables.com/Trunk-Lid-Organizer/

[timurrrr]

Have you looked into simply installing an OEM cargo net and storing the urgent stuff in that net?

[Spektyr]

You mean inside the body of the trunk, instead of out of the way on the trunk lid?

[timurrrr]

Yes

[Spektyr]

Anything that retains the location of tools near the entrance to the trunk retains those tools in the way of easy access of the trunk.

The cargo net is useful for some people, in some applications, but if I used it in that way I would either have to move it anytime I wanted to put something in the trunk, or find a way to move that thing around the cargo net. It's not a large opening. I don't want to obstruct it.

There are multiple trunk organizers and other solutions that will solve part, but not all of the problem. I want the trunk to be easy to use for whatever I want to do without having to move something out of the way and back each time.

The underside of the trunk lid is effectively wasted space unless you fill the trunk perfectly full so that the lid closes with no extra clearance.

So it's the ideal solution.

[EndlessAzure]

Somebody has already done this in the past on this forum IIRC: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136414

I've seen iterations on reddit too: https://www.reddit.com/r/ft86/commen...unk_organizer/




Personally, I just have a cargo tote in the back I put everything in. It all comes out as one piece, so being in the way isn't really a problem. I don't like the idea of putting something on the lid because: 1. it makes the lid heaver (you might want to beef-up your trunk shocks), and 2. the clearance is no longer obvious for large items that sit close to the limit of the enclosed space

[soundman98]

I just netted off the driver's side of the trunk for all that stuff. Tool bag, first aid, emergency water, towels, shopping bags. The towels and bags fill the spaces between the tools and first aid kit, so nothing really moves.

Just about any time I actually use the trunk, I'm always close to the limit of the lid closed capacity, so I'd be guaranteed to wrinkle the trunk lid If I added it all to the underside of the lid... The sides of the trunk are much more useless to me.

But if your dead set on taking up the central space, look up molle panels

[Spektyr]

I did specifically mention the Molle panels - not really my cup of tea. I want to be able to pop the trunk at a grocery store parking lot and not give people the impression I think I'm some kind of high-speed, low-drag operator.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just not me. Publicly.

Originally Posted by EndlessAzure

Somebody has already done this in the past on this forum IIRC: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136414

I've seen iterations on reddit too: https://www.reddit.com/r/ft86/commen...unk_organizer/

That second one is pretty cool - I like that.

Originally Posted by EndlessAzure

1. it makes the lid heaver (you might want to beef-up your trunk shocks), and 2. the clearance is no longer obvious for large items that sit close to the limit of the enclosed space

I'm not too worried about #1 for a couple reasons. First, I'm not planning to put much up there. I'm thinking of it as a "seconds count" kind of storage area. Emergency lights, first aid, that kind of thing. Second, I believe the geometry of the trunk hinges will allow fairly significant weight when fully open if it's at the bottom of the trunk lid when it's in the open position. That weight is back almost directly over the point of pivot, so it shouldn't take much work on the part of the shocks to hold it open.

Upgraded shocks is definitely an option, but provided I don't get crazy, I think it'll be fine.

#2 is a definite thing, but in the rare instance where I need the full vertical capacity of the trunk all the way to the back of the car I could simply pull the stuff off and throw it in the back seat. Or even simply bungee the trunk lid down as snug as it will go. I have a pickup, so if I'm maxxing out the cargo capacity of the GR86 I made a significant error in vehicle selection before I left anyway.

[Spektyr]

Originally Posted by soundman98

I just netted off the driver's side of the trunk for all that stuff. Tool bag, first aid, emergency water, towels, shopping bags. The towels and bags fill the spaces between the tools and first aid kit, so nothing really moves.

I'd be interested in seeing how you did that.

[Grosbard]

Originally Posted by Spektyr

I'd be interested in seeing how you did that.

Me too!

[soundman98]

it's just a standard cargo net, i want to say this one came out of either an oldmobile alero or from a surplus camper parts store. using the carabiners to alter the hook locations to where i need.

the front is hooked on i believe the carpet edge on the bottom, and an access hole on top. the 2 rear holes were drilled in those locations. i originally had the carabiners just hooked in those spots and they'd fall off randomly. there's actually 3 first aid kits in there now because i can't decide which one i'd prefer to have on hand, the big black bag is my on-the-go tool bag. enough tools to solder, tape, hose clamp, or fix anything that generally goes wrong across any make of car...










never more than about 10 seconds to grab anything in that corner as it's needed.

[Spektyr]

That's definitely functional. My complaint would be that in order to get to anything underneath the trunk floorboard you'd have to wrestle with that or pull it all out.

Not a big concern, but annoying which makes me want to keep thinking.

I'm a multiple first aid kit guy as well. There's 3 basic classes of car first aid kits as far as I'm concerned. I keep a little basic kit in the glove box. Minor cuts, insect stings, stuff like that. For those "hey, do you have a bandaid" moments when you don't want to get weird looks. Then I have a roadside kit that's for things like car accidents or other events where people really get hurt. I'm not EMS, so it's still fairly simple, but it's meant to help people until the real paramedics arrive. Finally, I have one "serious" kit that moves from car to car.

It's all about right tool for the job.

Back to the topic though, I have this roadside emergency kit in another vehicle (jumper cables, flashlight, etc) that has a velcro-ish bottom so it doesn't slide around on carpet. Combining that thought with the subwoofer in your picture - I wonder about making an open-top cargo organizer tote that would fit into that little alcove with some velcro to keep it in place. Maybe a bungee as backup, though if it can work with velcro alone it would be easy to just pull it out as a single unit, access whatever you need under the floorboard, then put it right back.

I'm a fair tailor, so I can probably make that. I'll just need to pattern it and get some nice-looking canvas.

For now I'm looking at the pegboard idea as my front-runner. Ikea has a notch-style pegboard and bungees with built in hooks that fit it for pretty cheap. Add to that some spacers behind it (I'll 3D print mine) and some paint - should be a quick, clean-looking solution.

It'll probably be a few weeks before I can get it done - I have a pretty big project list already.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Spektyr

That's definitely functional. My complaint would be that in order to get to anything underneath the trunk floorboard you'd have to wrestle with that or pull it all out.

agreed. the way i figure it though, i'm already in trouble if i need anything under there. all that's under there is the spare tire, tow strap, tow hook, and foldable lug wrench.

[Spektyr]

Originally Posted by soundman98

agreed. the way i figure it though, i'm already in trouble if i need anything under there. all that's under there is the spare tire, tow strap, tow hook, and foldable lug wrench.

Fair point.